Monterey weather in January
In January, Monterey sees average daytime highs of 55°F and overnight lows near 51°F, with 4.5 in of rain across 10 wet days and about 9.8 hours of daylight. It is the 8th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 55°F through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% of the time in January, and the air most often feels dry.
Daylight stretches from about 9 h 30 min at the start of January to 10 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Monterey's 12th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Monterey's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- 55°
- 8th warmest
- Overnight low
- 51°
- 4th coldest
- Rainfall
- 4.5 in
- 10 wet days
- Daylight
- 9 h 48 min
- 7:24 AM – 5:10 PM
- Cloud cover
- 54%
- 12th clearest
- Wind
- 10 mph
- 6th windiest
- Solar energy
- 2.7 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 3.6
- out of 10
Monterey is city in Monterey County, California, United States.
- Density
- 893/km²
- people per km²
- Founded
- 1770
Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.
Temperature in January
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 55°F through the month.
A typical January day in Monterey reaches about 55°F in the afternoon and slips back to 51°F overnight — a 3°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 51°F and 59°F. Set against its neighbours, January runs on par with December and on par with February.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°F) | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 |
| Avg low (°F) | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 |
| Avg high (°F) | Avg low (°F) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 55 | 51 |
| 2 | 55 | 51 |
| 3 | 55 | 51 |
| 4 | 55 | 51 |
| 5 | 55 | 51 |
| 6 | 55 | 51 |
| 7 | 55 | 51 |
| 8 | 55 | 51 |
| 9 | 55 | 51 |
| 10 | 55 | 51 |
| 11 | 55 | 51 |
| 12 | 55 | 51 |
| 13 | 55 | 51 |
| 14 | 55 | 51 |
| 15 | 55 | 51 |
| 16 | 55 | 51 |
| 17 | 55 | 51 |
| 18 | 55 | 51 |
| 19 | 55 | 51 |
| 20 | 55 | 51 |
| 21 | 55 | 51 |
| 22 | 55 | 51 |
| 23 | 55 | 51 |
| 24 | 55 | 51 |
| 25 | 55 | 51 |
| 26 | 55 | 51 |
| 27 | 55 | 51 |
| 28 | 55 | 51 |
| 29 | 55 | 51 |
| 30 | 55 | 51 |
| 31 | 55 | 51 |
Monterey weather by month
How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 8th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55° / 51° | 4.5 | 10 | 9.8 | 3.6 |
| Feb | 54° / 51° | 4.5 | 9.9 | 10.6 | 3.3 |
| Mar | 54° / 51° | 3.3 | 9.2 | 11.7 | 3.4 |
| Apr | 54° / 51° | 1.5 | 5.8 | 12.9 | 3.6 |
| May | 54° / 52° | 0.6 | 3.3 | 13.9 | 4.0 |
| Jun | 55° / 53° | 0.2 | 1.3 | 14.5 | 4.6 |
| Jul | 57° / 55° | 0.0 | 0.1 | 14.2 | 5.2 |
| Aug | 59° / 56° | 0.1 | 0.3 | 13.4 | 5.8 |
| Sep | 60° / 57° | 0.1 | 0.7 | 12.2 | 6.2 |
| Oct | 60° / 56° | 0.9 | 2.7 | 11.1 | 6.0 |
| Nov | 57° / 54° | 2.1 | 5.8 | 10 | 4.7 |
| Dec | 55° / 52° | 4.0 | 9.6 | 9.5 | 3.7 |
Cloud cover in January
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% of the time in January, the cloudiest month of the year.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 49%.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 50 | 50 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 51 | 51 | 52 | 52 | 51 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 52 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 52 | 51 | 50 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 |
| Cloudier (%) | 50 | 50 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 49 | 49 | 48 | 48 | 49 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 49 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 50 | 50 |
| 2 | 50 | 50 |
| 3 | 49 | 51 |
| 4 | 49 | 51 |
| 5 | 49 | 51 |
| 6 | 49 | 51 |
| 7 | 49 | 51 |
| 8 | 50 | 50 |
| 9 | 50 | 50 |
| 10 | 50 | 50 |
| 11 | 50 | 50 |
| 12 | 50 | 50 |
| 13 | 51 | 49 |
| 14 | 51 | 49 |
| 15 | 52 | 48 |
| 16 | 52 | 48 |
| 17 | 51 | 49 |
| 18 | 52 | 48 |
| 19 | 52 | 48 |
| 20 | 52 | 48 |
| 21 | 52 | 48 |
| 22 | 51 | 49 |
| 23 | 51 | 49 |
| 24 | 51 | 49 |
| 25 | 52 | 48 |
| 26 | 51 | 49 |
| 27 | 50 | 50 |
| 28 | 51 | 49 |
| 29 | 51 | 49 |
| 30 | 51 | 49 |
| 31 | 51 | 49 |
Chance of precipitation in January
Monterey gets around 4.5 in of rain over 10 wet days in January. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 32% and peaks near 34% on the wettest days.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain chance (%) | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 32 |
| Rain chance (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 31 |
| 2 | 31 |
| 3 | 31 |
| 4 | 31 |
| 5 | 31 |
| 6 | 31 |
| 7 | 31 |
| 8 | 31 |
| 9 | 31 |
| 10 | 31 |
| 11 | 31 |
| 12 | 31 |
| 13 | 31 |
| 14 | 32 |
| 15 | 32 |
| 16 | 33 |
| 17 | 33 |
| 18 | 33 |
| 19 | 34 |
| 20 | 34 |
| 21 | 34 |
| 22 | 34 |
| 23 | 34 |
| 24 | 34 |
| 25 | 34 |
| 26 | 34 |
| 27 | 33 |
| 28 | 33 |
| 29 | 33 |
| 30 | 32 |
| 31 | 32 |
Humidity in January
Most of January feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
By dew point, January lands in the dry band about 99% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry (%) | 98 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
| Comfortable (%) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dry (%) | Comfortable (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 98 | 2 |
| 2 | 99 | 1 |
| 3 | 99 | 1 |
| 4 | 99 | 1 |
| 5 | 99 | 1 |
| 6 | 99 | 1 |
| 7 | 99 | 1 |
| 8 | 99 | 1 |
| 9 | 99 | 1 |
| 10 | 99 | 1 |
| 11 | 99 | 1 |
| 12 | 99 | 1 |
| 13 | 99 | 1 |
| 14 | 99 | 1 |
| 15 | 99 | 1 |
| 16 | 99 | 1 |
| 17 | 99 | 1 |
| 18 | 99 | 1 |
| 19 | 99 | 1 |
| 20 | 99 | 1 |
| 21 | 99 | 1 |
| 22 | 100 | 0 |
| 23 | 100 | 0 |
| 24 | 100 | 0 |
| 25 | 100 | 0 |
| 26 | 100 | 0 |
| 27 | 100 | 0 |
| 28 | 100 | 0 |
| 29 | 100 | 0 |
| 30 | 100 | 0 |
| 31 | 100 | 0 |
Wind in January
Winds average 10 mph in January.
Across January, daily wind ranges from about 10 mph on the calmest days to 10 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (mph) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Feels | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze |
| Wind speed (mph) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 | light breeze |
| 2 | 10 | light breeze |
| 3 | 10 | light breeze |
| 4 | 10 | light breeze |
| 5 | 10 | light breeze |
| 6 | 10 | light breeze |
| 7 | 10 | light breeze |
| 8 | 10 | light breeze |
| 9 | 10 | light breeze |
| 10 | 10 | light breeze |
| 11 | 10 | light breeze |
| 12 | 10 | light breeze |
| 13 | 10 | light breeze |
| 14 | 10 | light breeze |
| 15 | 10 | light breeze |
| 16 | 10 | light breeze |
| 17 | 10 | light breeze |
| 18 | 10 | light breeze |
| 19 | 10 | light breeze |
| 20 | 10 | light breeze |
| 21 | 10 | light breeze |
| 22 | 10 | light breeze |
| 23 | 10 | light breeze |
| 24 | 10 | light breeze |
| 25 | 10 | light breeze |
| 26 | 10 | light breeze |
| 27 | 10 | light breeze |
| 28 | 10 | light breeze |
| 29 | 10 | light breeze |
| 30 | 10 | light breeze |
| 31 | 10 | light breeze |
Sunrise & sunset in January
Daylight runs from about 9 h 30 min at the start of January to 10 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Days grow by about 36 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 7:25 AM to 7:17 AM, and sunset from 4:57 PM to 5:25 PM.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 9.5 | 9.5 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.6 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.7 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 9.8 | 9.9 | 9.9 | 9.9 | 9.9 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.1 | 10.1 | 10.1 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 7:25 | 7:25 | 7:25 | 7:25 | 7:25 | 7:25 | 7:25 | 7:25 | 7:25 | 7:25 | 7:25 | 7:25 | 7:25 | 7:25 | 7:24 | 7:24 | 7:24 | 7:24 | 7:23 | 7:23 | 7:23 | 7:22 | 7:22 | 7:21 | 7:21 | 7:20 | 7:20 | 7:19 | 7:18 | 7:18 | 7:17 |
| Sunset (PM) | 4:57 | 4:58 | 4:58 | 4:59 | 5:00 | 5:01 | 5:01 | 5:02 | 5:03 | 5:04 | 5:05 | 5:06 | 5:07 | 5:08 | 5:09 | 5:10 | 5:10 | 5:11 | 5:12 | 5:13 | 5:14 | 5:15 | 5:16 | 5:17 | 5:18 | 5:20 | 5:21 | 5:22 | 5:23 | 5:24 | 5:25 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9.5 | 7:25 | 4:57 |
| 2 | 9.5 | 7:25 | 4:58 |
| 3 | 9.6 | 7:25 | 4:58 |
| 4 | 9.6 | 7:25 | 4:59 |
| 5 | 9.6 | 7:25 | 5:00 |
| 6 | 9.6 | 7:25 | 5:01 |
| 7 | 9.6 | 7:25 | 5:01 |
| 8 | 9.6 | 7:25 | 5:02 |
| 9 | 9.6 | 7:25 | 5:03 |
| 10 | 9.6 | 7:25 | 5:04 |
| 11 | 9.7 | 7:25 | 5:05 |
| 12 | 9.7 | 7:25 | 5:06 |
| 13 | 9.7 | 7:25 | 5:07 |
| 14 | 9.7 | 7:25 | 5:08 |
| 15 | 9.7 | 7:24 | 5:09 |
| 16 | 9.8 | 7:24 | 5:10 |
| 17 | 9.8 | 7:24 | 5:10 |
| 18 | 9.8 | 7:24 | 5:11 |
| 19 | 9.8 | 7:23 | 5:12 |
| 20 | 9.8 | 7:23 | 5:13 |
| 21 | 9.9 | 7:23 | 5:14 |
| 22 | 9.9 | 7:22 | 5:15 |
| 23 | 9.9 | 7:22 | 5:16 |
| 24 | 9.9 | 7:21 | 5:17 |
| 25 | 10.0 | 7:21 | 5:18 |
| 26 | 10.0 | 7:20 | 5:20 |
| 27 | 10.0 | 7:20 | 5:21 |
| 28 | 10.0 | 7:19 | 5:22 |
| 29 | 10.1 | 7:18 | 5:23 |
| 30 | 10.1 | 7:18 | 5:24 |
| 31 | 10.1 | 7:17 | 5:25 |
Solar energy in January
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 2.7 kWh/m².
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.49 kWh/m² to a high of 7.79 kWh/m² in June across the year — January's 2.7 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.5 | Moderate |
| 2 | 2.5 | Moderate |
| 3 | 2.5 | Moderate |
| 4 | 2.5 | Moderate |
| 5 | 2.5 | Moderate |
| 6 | 2.6 | Moderate |
| 7 | 2.6 | Moderate |
| 8 | 2.6 | Moderate |
| 9 | 2.6 | Moderate |
| 10 | 2.6 | Moderate |
| 11 | 2.6 | Moderate |
| 12 | 2.6 | Moderate |
| 13 | 2.6 | Moderate |
| 14 | 2.6 | Moderate |
| 15 | 2.7 | Moderate |
| 16 | 2.7 | Moderate |
| 17 | 2.7 | Moderate |
| 18 | 2.8 | Moderate |
| 19 | 2.8 | Moderate |
| 20 | 2.8 | Moderate |
| 21 | 2.8 | Moderate |
| 22 | 2.9 | Moderate |
| 23 | 2.9 | Moderate |
| 24 | 2.9 | Moderate |
| 25 | 2.9 | Moderate |
| 26 | 3.0 | Moderate |
| 27 | 3.0 | Moderate |
| 28 | 3.0 | Moderate |
| 29 | 3.1 | Moderate |
| 30 | 3.1 | Moderate |
| 31 | 3.1 | Moderate |
Hazard calendar for Monterey
In January, Monterey sits inside its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Monterey's rainy season runs November–March, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is January a good time to visit Monterey?
Our two travel scores rate January for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
January is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Monterey.
What to pack for Monterey in January
From January's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In January, Monterey sees daytime highs around 55°F and nights near 51°F. Worth packing: a warm layer and rain gear. About 10 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Monterey in January
The nearest coast averages about 55°F in January — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea offshore is warmest in September at about 58°F and coldest in April near 54°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) | 55 | 55 | 55 | 54 | 54 | 55 | 57 | 58 | 58 | 58 | 57 | 55 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55 | Bracing |
| Feb | 55 | Bracing |
| Mar | 55 | Bracing |
| Apr | 54 | Bracing |
| May | 54 | Bracing |
| Jun | 55 | Bracing |
| Jul | 57 | Bracing |
| Aug | 58 | Bracing |
| Sep | 58 | Bracing |
| Oct | 58 | Bracing |
| Nov | 57 | Bracing |
| Dec | 55 | Bracing |
UV index in Monterey in January
Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 3. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Monterey peaks around June 23 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 13 at about 2 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3 | Moderate |
| Feb | 4 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | Moderate |
| Apr | 7 | High |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 10 | Extreme |
| Jul | 10 | Extreme |
| Aug | 10 | Very high |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 5 | High |
| Nov | 2 | Moderate |
| Dec | 2 | Moderate |
Air quality in Monterey in January
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where January falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Monterey is worst in August — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.9× the cleanest month (June, 6 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) | 7 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 17 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7 | Good |
| Feb | 9 | Good |
| Mar | 8 | Good |
| Apr | 7 | Good |
| May | 7 | Good |
| Jun | 6 | Good |
| Jul | 6 | Good |
| Aug | 17 | Moderate |
| Sep | 11 | Good |
| Oct | 10 | Good |
| Nov | 9 | Good |
| Dec | 6 | Good |
Where is Monterey?
Monterey sits at 36.6°N, 121.9°W, 26 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Pacific Grove, 1.9 mi away.
Topography around Monterey
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Monterey.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Monterey has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 843 ft around an average of 197 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,805 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 5,883 ft.
The land around Monterey is covered by trees (37%), artificial surfaces (31%) and water (27%) within 2 miles, water (51%) and trees (28%) within 10 miles, and water (35%), trees (29%) and grassland (25%) 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 Monterey (36.6002°, -121.8947°, elevation 26 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. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).