Expert: Ernest Tufft - 9/18/2010

Question
my wife and i are doing califoria and the golden west march 18th 2011 for 16 days  and we need to know what the weather will be so we know what to pack. we are going to san diego,las vegas,yosemite,san francisco and los angeles

Answer
This is a very similar question on one I recently answered, so please review that one, which asked the same weather question, except for the month of April, if I recall correctly.  I recommend using a weather website for more specific information.

In any case, March weather can vary considerably in Northern CA, from rainy days and cold nights, to warm days and cool nights.  Yosemite may still have some snow, but usually the valley is beginning to break toward Spring.  Nights will still be cold in Yosemite at this time, and the Tioga Pass, as well as a number of other passes over the Sierra Mountains, remain closed until at least late April.

Weather in Las Vegas and the desert areas will be very warm during the day, but not yet impossibly hot.  San Diego will be warm and pleasant during the day.  The night and morning marine layer of fog familiar to both San Francisco and San Diego from May through June is not normally a feature during the Month of March.  San Francisco will be about 10 degrees cooler than San Diego, but surprisingly warm compared to most parts of the USA at this time.

Probably too early for shorts, except in Vegas during the day, so bring plenty of light weigh sweaters or fleece.  Heavy jackets won't be necessary, except possibly in Yosemite.

Hope this helps...