Salinas in Summer

In summer (June, July and August), Salinas sees average daytime highs around 68°F and overnight lows near 55°F, with 0.2 in of rain over about 1 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the driest season of the year.

Over the season highs climb from about 65°F in early June to 70°F by late August. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 82% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels dry.

Summer is Salinas's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Salinas's year-round climate.

Avg daytime high
68°F
warmest season of the year
Avg overnight low
55°F
Rainfall
0.2 in
1 wet days
Avg wind
5 mph
Travel score
8.4
best season of the year
Months
Jun · Jul · Aug

Temperature in Salinas in Summer

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Over the season highs climb from about 65°F in early June to 70°F by late August.

A typical summer day in Salinas reaches about 68°F and drops to 55°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is August, the coolest June.

40°50°60°70°80°JunJulAug

Salinas weather by month

How the three summer months (June, July and August) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan58° / 45°3.78.49.84.5
Feb59° / 46°3.78.910.64.6
Mar60° / 47°2.98.311.75.1
Apr61° / 48°1.35.112.95.9
May63° / 50°0.62.913.96.9
Jun66° / 53°0.10.414.58.1
Jul69° / 55°0.00.214.38.5
Aug70° / 56°0.10.313.48.7
Sep70° / 55°0.10.412.28.7
Oct68° / 53°0.72.211.18.0
Nov62° / 48°1.65.2106.2
Dec58° / 45°3.37.99.54.6

Cloud cover in Summer

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 82% of the time across summer.

0%25%50%75%100%JunJulAug

Chance of precipitation in Summer

Any precipitation

Salinas gets around 0.2 in of rain over 1 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

0%10%20%30%JunJulAug

Humidity in Summer

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of summer feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

0%25%50%75%100%JunJulAug

Wind in Summer

Winds average 5 mph across summer.

0246810JunJulAug

Sunrise & sunset in Summer

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 14 h 18 min in early June to 12 h 54 min by late August. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AMJunJulAug

Solar energy in Summer

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 7.5 kWh/m².

02468JunJulAug
Planning a trip in summer

Is summer a good time to visit Salinas?

Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.

8.4
Sightseeing
1st-best month of the year
4.4
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

summer is one of the better times to visit Salinas for general sightseeing.

What to pack for Salinas in Summer

From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In summer, Salinas sees daytime highs around 68°F and nights near 55°F. Pack sun protection.

sun protection

Sea temperature near Salinas in Summer

The nearest coast averages about 56°F across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 12 mi away) 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.

52°54°56°58°60°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcool
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan55Bracing
Feb55Bracing
Mar55Bracing
Apr54Bracing
May54Bracing
Jun55Bracing
Jul57Bracing
Aug58Bracing
Sep58Bracing
Oct58Bracing
Nov57Bracing
Dec55Bracing

UV index in Salinas in Summer

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Salinas peaks around June 22 at about 11 (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.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJun 22UV 11Dec 13UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr7High
May8Very high
Jun11Extreme
Jul10Extreme
Aug10Very high
Sep7High
Oct5High
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Moderate

Air quality in Salinas in Summer

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where summer falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Salinas is worst in August — around 22 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.2× the cleanest month (June, 5 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodAug 1920 µg/m³Jun 135 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb8Good
Mar8Good
Apr7Good
May6Good
Jun5Good
Jul8Good
Aug22Moderate
Sep15Moderate
Oct12Moderate
Nov8Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Salinas?

Salinas sits at 36.7°N, 121.7°W, 52 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Prunedale, 6.8 mi away.

Topography around Salinas

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Salinas.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Salinas has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 72 ft around an average of 52 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,383 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 5,883 ft.

The land around Salinas is covered by artificial surfaces (65%) and cropland (24%) within 2 miles, cropland (32%), trees (27%) and grassland (26%) within 10 miles, and grassland (36%), trees (27%) and water (26%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
72 ft
10 miles
3,383 ft
50 miles
5,883 ft
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
Summer weather nearby: Prunedale 6.8 mi · Marina 8.1 mi · Seaside 12 mi · Monterey 14 mi · Pacific Grove 15 mi · Watsonville 17 mi · Hollister 19 mi · Gilroy 23 mi

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
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

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 Salinas (36.6777°, -121.6555°, elevation 52 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.