Climate in Alturas (California)

The climate of Alturas is arid continental, with cold winters and hot summers, and with strong temperature variations between night and day.
The town (once called Dorris Bridge) is located at 1,300 meters (4,260 ft) above sea level, in northeastern California. We are in the small part of California belonging to the Great Basin, the arid plateau that occupies the western United States. North of the city, we find Lake Goose, a partially endorheic lake divided between California and Oregon and located at 1,400 meters (4,600 ft) above sea level.
In winter, the temperature can drop below -20 °C (-4 °F). In 2017, it dropped to -30.6 °C (-23 °F), and in February 1989, to as low as -35 °C (-31 °F). In one year, 76 cm (30 in) of snow fall, from November to April.
In summer, it can be very hot during the day, but also cold at night. On the hottest days of the year, the temperature usually reaches 38/39 °C (100/102 °F). In 2007, it reached 41 °C (106 °F).

Best Time

To visit Alturas, you can choose the months of May and September. It is true that it rains a little more often than in summer (especially in May), and that it gets colder at night, but in this way, you can avoid the heat that can occur in summer. September is probably the best month.

Alturas - Climate data

In Alturas, the average temperature of the coldest month (December) is of -0.8 °C (30.5 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 20.1 °C (68.1 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Precipitation amounts to 295 millimeters (11.6 inches) per year: it is therefore scarce. It ranges from 5 mm (0.2 in) in the driest months (July, August) to 35 mm (1.4 in) in the wettest ones (January, March, April, December) Here is the average precipitation.

Alturas - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -0.1 °C (32 °F), with a minimum of -6.3 °C (20.6 °F) and a maximum of 6.1 °C (43 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -17.5 °C (0 °F). However, it dropped to -30.6 °C (-23.1 °F) in January 2017.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14 °C (57.5 °F). However, it reached 22.8 °C (73 °F) in January 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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February is generally a cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 1.6 °C (35 °F), with a minimum of -5 °C (23 °F) and a maximum of 8.1 °C (46.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -14 °C (7 °F). However, it dropped to -23.3 °C (-9.9 °F) in February 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 16 °C (60.5 °F). However, it reached 22.2 °C (72 °F) in February 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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March is generally a quite cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 4.2 °C (40 °F), with a minimum of -3.1 °C (26.5 °F) and a maximum of 11.5 °C (52.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -11 °C (12 °F). However, it dropped to -18.3 °C (-0.9 °F) in March 2012.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (70 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in March 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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April is generally a quite mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 6.8 °C (44 °F), with a minimum of -1.1 °C (30.1 °F) and a maximum of 14.7 °C (58.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8 °C (18 °F). However, it dropped to -12 °C (10.4 °F) in April 2009.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25 °C (76.5 °F). However, it reached 28.9 °C (84 °F) in April 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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May is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 11.4 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 2.9 °C (37.2 °F) and a maximum of 19.9 °C (67.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24 °F). However, it dropped to -10 °C (14 °F) in May 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 33.9 °C (93 °F) in May 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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June is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 15.7 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 5.7 °C (42.2 °F) and a maximum of 25.7 °C (78.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -6 °C (21.2 °F) in June 2001.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 34.5 °C (94 °F). However, it reached 38.3 °C (100.9 °F) in June 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 42%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 20.1 °C (68 °F), with a minimum of 8.4 °C (47.2 °F) and a maximum of 31.7 °C (89.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3 °C (37.5 °F). However, it dropped to -0.6 °C (30.9 °F) in July 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37.5 °C (99.5 °F). However, it reached 41.1 °C (106 °F) in July 2007.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 32%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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August is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 18.8 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 6.8 °C (44.2 °F) and a maximum of 30.7 °C (87.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (35.5 °F). However, it dropped to -2.2 °C (28 °F) in August 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (98 °F). However, it reached 40 °C (104 °F) in August 1992.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
The average humidity is 34%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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September is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.7 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 2.9 °C (37.2 °F) and a maximum of 26.5 °C (79.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3 °C (27 °F). However, it dropped to -5.6 °C (21.9 °F) in September 2004.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F). However, it reached 38.9 °C (102 °F) in September 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
The average humidity is 38%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).

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October is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 8.6 °C (47 °F), with a minimum of -1.5 °C (29.3 °F) and a maximum of 18.7 °C (65.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -8.5 °C (16.5 °F). However, it dropped to -18 °C (-0.4 °F) in October 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82.5 °F). However, it reached 33.9 °C (93 °F) in October 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 25 mm (1 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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November is generally a cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 3.1 °C (38 °F), with a minimum of -4.2 °C (24.5 °F) and a maximum of 10.4 °C (50.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -14.5 °C (6 °F). However, it dropped to -21.1 °C (-6 °F) in November 2015.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (69.5 °F). However, it reached 23.9 °C (75 °F) in November 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 7 kph (5 mph).

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December, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of -0.8 °C (30 °F), with a minimum of -6.7 °C (20 °F) and a maximum of 5 °C (41 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -17.5 °C (0 °F). However, it dropped to -30 °C (-22 °F) in December 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 13 °C (55.5 °F). However, it reached 16.7 °C (62.1 °F) in December 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 10 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).