Climate in Crescent City (California)

The climate of Crescent City is oceanic, with mild, rainy winters and cool, sunny summers.
The town is located in the extreme northwest of California, near the Oregon border, at the 41st parallel. The climate is particularly cool and rainy, very different from the rest of California. We are north of Redwood National Park, where the tallest tree in the world is found, the sequoia called Hyperion (whose exact location is secret though).
Fog can form all year round, even in summer, at night and in the early morning.
Winter temperatures are similar to those of Rome, Italy (after all, we are at the same latitude), however, the rains are more abundant. In winter, there are fairly frequent waves of bad weather, with rain and strong winds. However, snow is very rare. On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature generally drops to 0/-2 °C (28/32 °F), although it dropped to -7 °C (19.5 °F) in December 1990.
Summer is particularly cool because of the cold current flowing in the ocean. Besides, as mentioned, the summer is sunny, although there may be morning fogs. The maximum temperature remains below 20 °C (68 °F) even in July and August. Also, in the afternoon a lively breeze blows from the sea, cool if not cold.
The warmest days of the year, when the temperature can reach or exceed 25 °C (77 °F), typically occur in September and October (and sometimes even in May), when a bit of warm air arrives from the deserts of California, which, however, are far away. The temperature exceeds 30 °C (86 °F) very rarely, even though it reached 35 °C (95 °F) at the end of September 2020.
The average temperature of the coldest month (December) is of 9.1 °C (48.3 °F), that of the warmest month (August) is of 14.7 °C (58.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 1,475 millimeters (58 inches) per year: it is therefore quite abundant. It ranges from 10 mm (0.4 in) in the driest months (July, August) to 285 mm (11.2 in) in the wettest (December). Here is the average precipitation.

On average, there are around 2,500 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

The sea temperature ranges between 11 °C (52 °F) and 14 °C (57 °F). So, it is cold all year round. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Best Time

The best time to visit Crescent City is from June to September, as it is the mildest and driest of the year.

Back to California.

Crescent City - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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January is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.5 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 5.5 °C (41.9 °F) and a maximum of 13.4 °C (56.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it dropped to -3 °C (26.6 °F) in January 2007.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18 °C (65 °F). However, it reached 23.9 °C (75 °F) in January 2014.
Precipitation amounts to 240 mm (9.4 in), distributed over 17 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 42% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 11 °C (52 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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February is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.6 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 5.8 °C (42.4 °F) and a maximum of 13.4 °C (56.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (34 °F). However, it dropped to -1.7 °C (28.9 °F) in February 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). However, it reached 24.4 °C (75.9 °F) in February 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 175 mm (6.9 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 48% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 11 °C (51.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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March is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.6 °C (49 °F), with a minimum of 6 °C (42.8 °F) and a maximum of 13.2 °C (55.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (35 °F). However, it dropped to -1 °C (30.2 °F) in March 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17 °C (63 °F). However, it reached 20.6 °C (69.1 °F) in March 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 200 mm (7.9 in), distributed over 18 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 50% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 11 °C (51.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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April is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.4 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 6.9 °C (44.4 °F) and a maximum of 14 °C (57.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2.5 °C (37 °F). However, it dropped to 1 °C (33.8 °F) in April 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18 °C (65 °F). However, it reached 27 °C (80.6 °F) in April 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 130 mm (5.1 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 11 °C (52 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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May is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 11.8 °C (53 °F), with a minimum of 8.4 °C (47.2 °F) and a maximum of 15.2 °C (59.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (40 °F). However, it dropped to 2.2 °C (36 °F) in May 2010.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (67.5 °F). However, it reached 31.1 °C (88 °F) in May 2013.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 11.5 °C (53 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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June is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 13.0 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 9.6 °C (49.3 °F) and a maximum of 16.4 °C (61.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6 °C (42.5 °F). However, it dropped to 3 °C (37.4 °F) in June 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 20 °C (67.5 °F). However, it reached 28.9 °C (84 °F) in June 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 14 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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July is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 14.1 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 10.9 °C (51.6 °F) and a maximum of 17.2 °C (63 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (46 °F). However, it dropped to 5.5 °C (41.9 °F) in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C (67.5 °F). However, it reached 26.7 °C (80.1 °F) in July 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 4 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 10 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 67% of the time.
The average humidity is 86%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 13 °C (56 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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August, the warmest month of the year, is generally a very mild month. The average temperature is of 14.7 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 11.6 °C (52.8 °F) and a maximum of 17.9 °C (64.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46.5 °F). However, it dropped to 5.5 °C (41.9 °F) in August 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (69.5 °F). However, it reached 27.8 °C (82 °F) in August 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 65% of the time.
The average humidity is 87%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 13.5 °C (56.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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September is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 14.1 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 10.1 °C (50.2 °F) and a maximum of 18.1 °C (64.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (44 °F). However, it dropped to 3.8 °C (38.8 °F) in September 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 23 °C (73.5 °F). However, it reached 35 °C (95 °F) in September 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 64% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 13.5 °C (56.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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October is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 12.6 °C (55 °F), with a minimum of 8.4 °C (47.2 °F) and a maximum of 16.8 °C (62.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39 °F). However, it dropped to 0.6 °C (33.1 °F) in October 1999.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 24 °C (75.5 °F). However, it reached 31.1 °C (88 °F) in October 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 105 mm (4.1 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 55% of the time.
The average humidity is 82%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 13 °C (55.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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November is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 10.6 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 6.7 °C (44 °F) and a maximum of 14.6 °C (58.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (35.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1 °C (30.2 °F) in November 2003.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 19.5 °C (67 °F). However, it reached 23.9 °C (75 °F) in November 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 200 mm (7.9 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 41% of the time.
The average humidity is 81%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 12.5 °C (54.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.

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December, the coldest month of the year, is generally a mild month. The average temperature is of 9.1 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 5.2 °C (41.4 °F) and a maximum of 12.9 °C (55.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0.5 °C (33.5 °F). However, it dropped to -5 °C (23 °F) in December 1998.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17.5 °C (64 °F). However, it reached 21.6 °C (70.9 °F) in December 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 285 mm (11.2 in), distributed over 18 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.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 33% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 15 kph (9 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cold for swimming.