Arcata in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Arcata sees average daytime highs around 51°F and overnight lows near 41°F, with 25.7 in of precipitation over about 44 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 51°F. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 23% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Arcata's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Arcata's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 51°F
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 41°F
- Precipitation
- 25.7 in
- 44 wet days
- Avg wind
- 7 mph
- Travel score
- 2.2
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Arcata in Winter
Across winter, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 51°F.
A typical winter day in Arcata reaches about 51°F and drops to 41°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
Arcata weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51° / 41° | 8.6 | 15.4 | 1.8 | 9.4 | 2.2 |
| Feb | 52° / 41° | 7.1 | 13.1 | 2.4 | 10.4 | 2.4 |
| Mar | 53° / 42° | 7.4 | 14.7 | 2.7 | 11.7 | 2.6 |
| Apr | 55° / 44° | 4.4 | 11.8 | 1 | 13.1 | 3.3 |
| May | 58° / 47° | 2.4 | 7.2 | 0.1 | 14.2 | 4.7 |
| Jun | 62° / 50° | 1.0 | 3.8 | 0 | 14.9 | 6.3 |
| Jul | 66° / 53° | 0.1 | 0.8 | 0 | 14.6 | 8.0 |
| Aug | 67° / 53° | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0 | 13.6 | 8.1 |
| Sep | 66° / 52° | 0.7 | 2.5 | 0 | 12.3 | 7.7 |
| Oct | 61° / 48° | 3.2 | 6.4 | 0 | 10.9 | 5.9 |
| Nov | 55° / 44° | 6.2 | 12.3 | 0.5 | 9.7 | 3.2 |
| Dec | 50° / 40° | 10.1 | 15.4 | 1.7 | 9.1 | 2.1 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 23% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Arcata gets around 25.7 in of rain and snow over 44 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 7 mph across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 9 h 18 min in early December to 10 h 54 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 2.1 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Arcata
In winter, Arcata overlaps its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Arcata's rainy season runs November–March, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Arcata?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Arcata.
What to pack for Arcata in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Arcata sees daytime highs around 51°F and nights near 41°F. Pack a warm layer and rain gear. About 44 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Arcata in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 52°F across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea offshore is warmest in August at about 55°F and coldest in March near 51°F.
The water stays below 68°F all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°F) | 52 | 52 | 51 | 52 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 55 | 54 | 53 | 53 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52 | Bracing |
| Feb | 52 | Bracing |
| Mar | 51 | Bracing |
| Apr | 52 | Bracing |
| May | 52 | Bracing |
| Jun | 53 | Bracing |
| Jul | 54 | Bracing |
| Aug | 55 | Bracing |
| Sep | 55 | Bracing |
| Oct | 54 | Bracing |
| Nov | 53 | Bracing |
| Dec | 53 | Bracing |
UV index in Arcata in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Arcata peaks around June 21 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 15 at about 2 (low).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Level | Low | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Low | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Low |
| Feb | 3 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | Moderate |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 9 | Very high |
| Jun | 10 | Very high |
| Jul | 9 | Very high |
| Aug | 8 | Very high |
| Sep | 5 | High |
| Oct | 5 | Moderate |
| Nov | 2 | Low |
| Dec | 2 | Low |
Air quality in Arcata in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Arcata is worst in September — around 116 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 23.7× the cleanest month (January, 5 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 5 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 12 | 85 | 116 | 16 | 6 | 5 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Moderate | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5 | Good |
| Feb | 7 | Good |
| Mar | 7 | Good |
| Apr | 7 | Good |
| May | 6 | Good |
| Jun | 6 | Good |
| Jul | 12 | Good |
| Aug | 85 | Unhealthy |
| Sep | 116 | Unhealthy |
| Oct | 16 | Moderate |
| Nov | 6 | Good |
| Dec | 5 | Good |
Where is Arcata?
Arcata sits at 40.9°N, 124.1°W, 23 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Bayside, 1.9 mi away.
Topography around Arcata
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Arcata.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Arcata has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,191 ft around an average of 157 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,690 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 7,415 ft.
The land around Arcata is covered by trees (40%) and grassland (29%) within 2 miles, trees (55%) and water (29%) within 10 miles, and trees (67%) and water (27%) within 50 miles.
United States travel facts
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 100% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $90,027
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 98%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 5.8
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 12.7
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Arcata (40.8665°, -124.0828°, elevation 23 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.