Climate - Salem (Oregon)

The climate of Salem oceanic with Mediterranean influences. In fact, winter is mild enough, but not as in the Mediterranean climate, and rainfall is frequent for many months a year, but summer is hot and sunny, albeit with cool nights.
The city is the capital of the state of Oregon and is located 80 km (50 mi) away from the coast, in the Willamette Valley, the plain between the Oregon coastal chain and the Cascade chain.
In winter, fog can form at night and in the early morning. On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature generally drops to -7/-8 °C (18/19 °F), but sometimes it can also drop below. In February 1989, it went down to -18 °C (-0.5 °F), and in December 1990, it went down to -14 °C (7 °F). Sometimes it can snow, although heavy snowfalls are rare. On average, 9 cm (3.5 in) of snow fall per year.
In summer, there are strong temperature variations between night and day. On the hottest days of the year, the temperature usually reaches 37/38 °C (99/100 °F). At the end of June 2021, during an exceptional heat wave, the temperature reached 47 °C (116 °F).
The average temperature of the coldest month (December) is of 5.1 °C (41.2 °F), that of the warmest month (July) is of 20.7 °C (69.3 °F). Here are the average temperatures.

Precipitation amounts to 1,020 millimeters (40.1 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 5 mm (0.2 in) in the driest month (July) to 175 mm (6.9 in) in the wettest (December). Here is the average precipitation.

On average, there are around 2,465 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average sunshine hours per day.

Best Time

The best time in Salem is from mid-May to late September. The driest and sunniest period is generally from mid-June to early September, but it can sometimes get very hot, especially in July and August. You can therefore go from mid-May to mid-June and in the month of September.

Back to the climate of Oregon.

Salem - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the weather in Salem is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.6 °C (42 °F), with a minimum of 2.1 °C (35.8 °F) and a maximum of 9.1 °C (48.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -5 °C (23 °F). However, it dropped to -10.6 °C (12.9 °F) in January 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 15 °C (59 °F). However, it reached 18 °C (64.4 °F) in January 1997.
Precipitation amounts to 155 mm (6.1 in), distributed over 18 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 27% of the time.
The average humidity is 84%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In February, the weather in Salem is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 6.7 °C (44 °F), with a minimum of 2.2 °C (35.9 °F) and a maximum of 11.2 °C (52.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -4.5 °C (24 °F). However, it dropped to -9.5 °C (14.9 °F) in February 1996.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 17 °C (62.5 °F). However, it reached 21.7 °C (71.1 °F) in February 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 115 mm (4.5 in), distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 4 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 40% of the time.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In March, the weather in Salem is usually mild. The average temperature is of 8.6 °C (48 °F), with a minimum of 3.5 °C (38.3 °F) and a maximum of 13.8 °C (56.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -2.5 °C (28 °F). However, it dropped to -5.6 °C (21.9 °F) in March 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 21 °C (69.5 °F). However, it reached 25 °C (77 °F) in March 1994.
Precipitation amounts to 110 mm (4.3 in), distributed over 18 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 6.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 54% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In April, the weather in Salem is usually mild. The average temperature is of 10.7 °C (51 °F), with a minimum of 5 °C (41 °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 -0.5 °C (31 °F). However, it dropped to -2.8 °C (27 °F) in April 2009.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 25.5 °C (77.5 °F). However, it reached 31.1 °C (88 °F) in April 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 16 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 35 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In May, the weather in Salem is usually mild. The average temperature is of 14.2 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 7.9 °C (46.3 °F) and a maximum of 20.6 °C (69 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (35.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1 °C (30.2 °F) in May 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (87 °F). However, it reached 37.2 °C (99 °F) in May 2008.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 55 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 67%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In June, the weather in Salem is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.1 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 10.4 °C (50.8 °F) and a maximum of 23.7 °C (74.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5.5 °C (41.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0.6 °C (33.1 °F) in June 1991.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91.5 °F). However, it reached 40.6 °C (105.1 °F) in June 1992.
Precipitation amounts to 30 mm (1.2 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 35 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 63% of the time.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In July, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Salem is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 20.7 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 12.8 °C (55.1 °F) and a maximum of 28.6 °C (83.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47 °F). However, it dropped to 5.6 °C (42.1 °F) in July 1993.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (97.5 °F). However, it reached 42 °C (107.6 °F) in July 2009.
Precipitation amounts to only 5 mm (0.2 in), distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 11.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 75% of the time.
The average humidity is 57%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).

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In August, the weather in Salem is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 20.7 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 12.7 °C (54.8 °F) and a maximum of 28.7 °C (83.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8.5 °C (47 °F). However, it dropped to 5.6 °C (42.1 °F) in August 1991.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (97.5 °F). However, it reached 41.7 °C (107.1 °F) in August 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 10 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 10.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 73% of the time.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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In September, the weather in Salem is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.8 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 10.3 °C (50.6 °F) and a maximum of 25.3 °C (77.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in September 2000.
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 36.7 °C (98.1 °F) in September 2003.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 68% of the time.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (5 mph).

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In October, the weather in Salem is usually mild. The average temperature is of 12.4 °C (54 °F), with a minimum of 6.6 °C (43.9 °F) and a maximum of 18.2 °C (64.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). However, it dropped to -6.7 °C (19.9 °F) in October 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 26 °C (78.5 °F). However, it reached 30.6 °C (87.1 °F) in October 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 5.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 51% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).

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In November, the weather in Salem is usually quite mild. The average temperature is of 7.9 °C (46 °F), with a minimum of 3.9 °C (39 °F) and a maximum of 12 °C (53.6 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -3.5 °C (26 °F). However, it dropped to -7.8 °C (18 °F) in November 1993.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 18 °C (64.5 °F). However, it reached 23.3 °C (73.9 °F) in November 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 150 mm (5.9 in), distributed over 18 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 30 minutes.
There are on average 3 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 30% of the time.
The average humidity is 83%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).

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In December, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Salem is usually quite cold. The average temperature is of 5.1 °C (41 °F), with a minimum of 1.7 °C (35.1 °F) and a maximum of 8.6 °C (47.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around -6 °C (21.5 °F). However, it dropped to -13.3 °C (8.1 °F) in December 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 14.5 °C (58.5 °F). However, it reached 20 °C (68 °F) in December 1993.
Precipitation amounts to 175 mm (6.9 in), distributed over 19 days.
The day lasts on average 8 hours and 50 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
There are on average 2.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 27% of the time.
The average humidity is 85%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).