Salem in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Salem sees average daytime highs around 49°F and overnight lows near 37°F, with 17.8 in of precipitation over about 46 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 48°F in early December to 53°F by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 15% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Salem's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Salem's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 49°F
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 37°F
- Precipitation
- 17.8 in
- 46 wet days
- Avg wind
- 6 mph
- Travel score
- 1.7
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Salem in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 48°F in early December to 53°F by late February.
A typical winter day in Salem reaches about 49°F and drops to 37°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
How winter really feels in Salem
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 0 days that feel above 90°F and 26 that feel at or below 32°F.
The story in winter is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.
Salem 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 | 48° / 37° | 6.1 | 15.9 | 0.7 | 9 | 1.5 |
| Feb | 52° / 38° | 4.6 | 13.7 | 0.8 | 10.1 | 2.3 |
| Mar | 56° / 40° | 5.1 | 15.7 | 0.4 | 11.6 | 3.2 |
| Apr | 61° / 43° | 3.6 | 14.3 | 0 | 13.2 | 4.3 |
| May | 68° / 48° | 2.2 | 9 | 0 | 14.6 | 6.3 |
| Jun | 74° / 53° | 1.2 | 5.9 | 0 | 15.3 | 7.4 |
| Jul | 83° / 57° | 0.3 | 1.9 | 0 | 15.1 | 7.3 |
| Aug | 83° / 57° | 0.4 | 2 | 0 | 13.9 | 7.2 |
| Sep | 77° / 53° | 1.2 | 4.8 | 0 | 12.3 | 7.9 |
| Oct | 64° / 46° | 3.4 | 10.3 | 0 | 10.7 | 5.7 |
| Nov | 53° / 41° | 6.0 | 15.9 | 0.1 | 9.4 | 2.6 |
| Dec | 47° / 37° | 7.1 | 16.8 | 0.6 | 8.7 | 1.2 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 15% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Salem gets around 17.8 in of rain and snow over 46 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 6 mph across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 8 h 48 min in early December to 10 h 48 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 1.5 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Salem
In winter, Salem overlaps its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Salem's rainy season runs October–April, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Salem?
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 Salem.
What to pack for Salem in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Salem sees daytime highs around 49°F and nights near 37°F. Pack a warm layer and rain gear. About 46 days see rain.
UV index in Salem in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 1. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Salem peaks around July 17 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 17 at about 1 (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) | 1 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Level | Low | Low | Moderate | High | Very high | High | Very high | Very high | Moderate | Moderate | Low | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1 | Low |
| Feb | 2 | Low |
| Mar | 4 | Moderate |
| Apr | 5 | High |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 7 | High |
| Jul | 8 | Very high |
| Aug | 7 | Very high |
| Sep | 5 | Moderate |
| Oct | 4 | Moderate |
| Nov | 1 | Low |
| Dec | 1 | Low |
Air quality in Salem 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 Salem is worst in September — around 34 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 5.1× the cleanest month (January, 7 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 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 14 | 34 | 11 | 10 | 8 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7 | Good |
| Feb | 8 | Good |
| Mar | 11 | Good |
| Apr | 11 | Good |
| May | 9 | Good |
| Jun | 8 | Good |
| Jul | 7 | Good |
| Aug | 14 | Moderate |
| Sep | 34 | Moderate |
| Oct | 11 | Good |
| Nov | 10 | Good |
| Dec | 8 | Good |
Where is Salem?
Salem sits at 44.9°N, 123.0°W, 161 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Four Corners, 2.5 mi away.
Topography around Salem
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Salem.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Salem has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 328 ft around an average of 184 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,079 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 5,564 ft.
The land around Salem is covered by trees (44%) and artificial surfaces (39%) within 2 miles, trees (39%), cropland (27%) and grassland (23%) within 10 miles, and trees (71%) 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 Salem (44.9429°, -123.0351°, elevation 161 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.