ERA5 almanac comparison — 8 years of real data
Big Sur vs Los Angeles: weather in March
Los Angeles edges out Big Sur for sun in March: 25% clear historically versus 1% (8-year ERA5 average, a 24-point gap). Big Sur also sees measurably more rain than Los Angeles this month (46% vs 30% of days). Both are viable — Los Angeles is the safer bet.
What you are reading: 8-year historical averages, not a forecast.
Either destination can still surprise you this specific March. For this
week’s actual forecast, each destination links to its live page below.
Big Sur
CA
- Clear days, March
- 1%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 58°F
- Early March (1st–15th)
- 0%
- Late March (16th–end)
- 2%
- Rain frequency
- 46% of days
Los Angeles
CA
- Clear days, March
- 25%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 68°F
- Early March (1st–15th)
- 18%
- Late March (16th–end)
- 32%
- Rain frequency
- 30% of days
Compare Big Sur vs Los Angeles in another month
All percentages are historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 8 full years (2018–2025). “Clear” means avg high ≥ 72 °F, precipitation < 1 mm, and a non-precipitation weather code. This is history, not a forecast. The live 7-day outlook for any destination is on its own page and may differ from the long-run average. Data from Open-Meteo.