Carlsbad in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Carlsbad sees average daytime highs around 59°F and overnight lows near 35°F, with 1.8 in of precipitation over about 8 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 60°F in early December to 66°F by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 58% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Carlsbad's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Carlsbad's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 59°F
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 35°F
- Precipitation
- 1.8 in
- 8 wet days
- Avg wind
- 8 mph
- Travel score
- 5.7
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Carlsbad in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 60°F in early December to 66°F by late February.
A typical winter day in Carlsbad reaches about 59°F and drops to 35°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Carlsbad
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 77 that feel at or below 32°F.
The story in winter is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Carlsbad 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 | 58° / 33° | 0.6 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 10.1 | 5.2 |
| Feb | 63° / 38° | 0.6 | 2.8 | 0.7 | 10.8 | 6.8 |
| Mar | 71° / 44° | 0.7 | 3 | 0.1 | 11.8 | 8.1 |
| Apr | 79° / 51° | 0.7 | 2 | 0 | 12.8 | 8.3 |
| May | 88° / 61° | 1.1 | 4.1 | 0 | 13.6 | 5.5 |
| Jun | 95° / 69° | 0.7 | 4.1 | 0 | 14.1 | 2.9 |
| Jul | 95° / 72° | 1.2 | 5.3 | 0 | 13.9 | 2.8 |
| Aug | 93° / 71° | 1.2 | 6.2 | 0 | 13.2 | 3.5 |
| Sep | 87° / 64° | 1.6 | 5.2 | 0 | 12.2 | 5.7 |
| Oct | 77° / 53° | 1.2 | 4.3 | 0.1 | 11.2 | 8.1 |
| Nov | 66° / 42° | 0.7 | 2.8 | 0.4 | 10.3 | 7.5 |
| Dec | 58° / 34° | 0.7 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 9.9 | 5.2 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 58% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Carlsbad gets around 1.8 in of rain and snow over 8 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 8 mph across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 10 hours in early December to 11 h 12 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 3.9 kWh/m².
Is winter a good time to visit Carlsbad?
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 reasonable time to visit Carlsbad for sightseeing.
What to pack for Carlsbad in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Carlsbad sees daytime highs around 59°F and nights near 35°F. Worth packing: a warm layer and sun protection. About 8 days see rain.
UV index in Carlsbad in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 4 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Carlsbad peaks around June 23 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 3 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 4 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 |
| Level | Moderate | High | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4 | Moderate |
| Feb | 5 | High |
| Mar | 7 | Very high |
| Apr | 10 | Extreme |
| May | 10 | Extreme |
| Jun | 12 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 11 | Extreme |
| Sep | 10 | Very high |
| Oct | 7 | High |
| Nov | 5 | Moderate |
| Dec | 3 | Moderate |
Air quality in Carlsbad 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 Carlsbad is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.7× the cleanest month (October, 9 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) | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 12 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 13 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13 | Moderate |
| Feb | 13 | Moderate |
| Mar | 13 | Moderate |
| Apr | 14 | Moderate |
| May | 14 | Moderate |
| Jun | 15 | Moderate |
| Jul | 16 | Moderate |
| Aug | 12 | Moderate |
| Sep | 11 | Good |
| Oct | 9 | Good |
| Nov | 11 | Good |
| Dec | 13 | Moderate |
Where is Carlsbad?
Carlsbad sits at 32.4°N, 104.2°W, 3,100 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Hobbs, 66 mi away.
Topography around Carlsbad
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Carlsbad.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Carlsbad has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 144 ft around an average of 3,123 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 991 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 5,561 ft.
The land around Carlsbad is covered by artificial surfaces (39%) and shrubs (25%) within 2 miles, grassland (58%) and shrubs (24%) within 10 miles, and grassland (68%) and shrubs (21%) 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 Carlsbad (32.4207°, -104.2288°, elevation 3,100 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.