The California Current and its latitude mainly influence California’s Mediterranean climate along its coast.

California’s coastal Mediterranean climate is shaped by the California Current and the state's latitude. The California Current is a cold oceanic current flowing southward along the coast, which helps cool the air and moderate temperatures. This cooling effect, combined with California’s location at a latitude conducive to mild winters and hot, dry summers, creates the classic Mediterranean climate. In this climate, winters are wet, while summers are dry, with temperature variation being relatively mild. These conditions make California’s coastal regions ideal for diverse vegetation, including the famous coastal plant species that thrive in such climates.