FAIRFIELD — Someone who doesn’t like the weather in Solano County can often solve the problem simply by traveling a few miles.
On a recent July summer afternoon, Vacaville simmered under 105 degrees. Meanwhile, just over the hills, Fairfield was in the mid-90s. Further south in Vallejo along the San Pablo Bay, temperatures never even got into the 80s.
Solano County’s microclimates were in full display in just over 20 miles.
The basic Mediterranean climate is in place throughout the entire county – warm, dry summers and mild, rainy winters. But exactly what the weather is on a typical day depends on location. Topography influences how hot, cold, windy or rainy any particular area is.
Vallejo has a Bay Area climate and often starts summer days under a cloud cover that sometimes extends to south Fairfield. But the coastal hills block those clouds from reaching Vacaville and Dixon. This is the Central Valley and hotter summer temperatures are the rule.
The hot, rising air in the Central Valley can begin drawing in the cooler Bay Area air. That, in turn, creates the afternoon, southwest winds that often cool Fairfield and Suisun City.
In the winter, tule fog might cover Dixon and Vacaville areas, blocking out the sun and leading to temperatures in the high 40s or low 50s. Meanwhile, Vallejo might bask in the sun and have temperatures several degrees higher.
Fairfield and Suisun City are again in the middle of this battle between the Bay Area and Central Valley climates. The tule fog may or may not reach these cities.
Given its central location, Fairfield may best qualify as having “typical” Solano County weather.
Winters see Fairfield getting about 19 to 20 inches of rain on average. Storms usually start rolling through in earnest in November and become more scarce by April. Most of the area’s rain falls during a five-month period.
January is the coldest month of the year. Fairfield typically sees a winter high temperature of 55 degrees and a low temperature of 37 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.
Fairfield sees both hot and cool days during the summer. After a streak of days with high temperatures reaching the 90s and even topping 100 degrees, that cooling wind usually begins rushing through gaps in the coastal hills to the warmer interior valleys. These winds serve as Fairfield’s natural air conditioner.
July is the hottest month. The average high in Fairfield is 89 degrees.
Solano County’s climate ever since pioneer days has proven a selling point for the region. The Suisun City-based Solano Republican sang the praises of the weather in June 1877, when an ocean breeze broke a hot spell, as happens virtually every summer.
“At present writing, a delightful, moist zephyr from off the old ocean’s bosom plays among our locks and vivifies and inspires all of nature,” a reporter wrote.
Weather like this, along with the area’s rich farming soil, has inspired people for generations to come to Solano County.
Reach Barry Eberling at 425-4646, ext. 232, or [email protected].
