Urban Ag for Southern Californians (March 2015) | Page 8

Desert Region
The Desert Region of Southern California does not share the Coastal Region’s Mediterranean
Climate. Both the Mojave Desert and the Colorado Desert are characterized by low rainfall,

caused by the rain shadow of mountain ranges to the west of each desert. The Mojave Desert
receives between 3 to 10 inches of rain per year, mostly during the winter, while the Colorado

Desert receives between 2 to 6 inches, in winter and late summer. The Mojave Desert’s

temperature is extremely varied, due to it’s differences in elevation (282 feet below sea level, up
to 5,000 feet in elevation). At it’s highest elevations, winter temperatures can dip down below
0℉. At it’s lowest elevations, in Death Valley, summer temperatures can reach upwards of 130℉.

On the other hand, the Colorado Desert doesn’t face quite as many extremes, due to it’s less
varied elevation (below 1,000 feet). Summer temperatures can reach 120℉, and winter
temperatures don’t reach freezing.