Modoc Plateau & Northeast
California's coldest ground — high desert with a continental winter.
A lava plateau at 4,000-5,000 feet east of the Cascades, with the Warner Mountains along its eastern edge. It is high, dry, far from the ocean and in the rain shadow of everything to the west, which gives it the most continental climate in California: Alturas has fallen to -40°F, and frost is possible in any month. Precipitation is modest and spread more evenly through the year than anywhere else in the state, because summer thunderstorms actually contribute here.
- Elevation range
- 4,000 ft → 9,892 ftHigh point: Eagle Peak, Warner Mountains
- Relief
- 5,892 ftTop to bottom, inside this region
- Span
- 83 × 128 miEast–west by north–south
- Annual rainfall
- 10–25″Driest to wettest ground here
- Köppen types
- BSkDsb3 counties
Map of Modoc Plateau & Northeast within California.
The four seasons here
NOT A GENERIC SEASON WITH THE PLACE NAME SWAPPED INWinter
Cold, with light snow and long stretches of clear nights that drive temperatures far below zero.
Spring
Late. Hard freezes continue through May.
Summer
Warm days, cold nights, and genuine afternoon thunderstorms.
Autumn
Short. The first hard freeze usually lands in September.
Places in this region
2 PLACES, LOWEST FIRST| Place | Elevation | Jan high | Jan low | Jul high | Jul low | Annual precip | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Susanville | 4,180 | 43° | 22° | 88° | 53° | 13.0″ | — |
| Alturas | 4,370 | 44° | 21° | 90° | 46° | 11.7″ | — |
National Parks in this weather region
FIELD NOTES FROM THE PARK TRANSECTTerrain and gradients
WHAT THE ELEVATION ACTUALLY DOESRanges and passes
A PASS IS A WIND FEATURE FIRSTWho forecasts it
OFFICIAL FORECASTS AND WARNINGS COME FROM HEREGolden State Weather is not a source of watches or warnings. For those, go to the offices above.