Atascadero summers are hot and dry — temperatures regularly hit the high 90s°F (35°C+) from late June through early September. The advantage is reliable sunshine and the run of outdoor events at Sunken Gardens; the disadvantage is that midday outdoor walks become unpleasant. Locals plan early mornings or evenings around the pavilion.
Spring (March–May) and autumn (September–October) are the sweet spots. The hills are green in spring, the Paso Robles vineyards are in fruit by harvest, and Colony Days falls in mid-October. Winters are mild and wet, with daytime temperatures in the 50s°F; it almost never snows.