Sign In Register

Weather & Climate in Arcata, CA

Temperature, precipitation, air quality, natural hazards, and monthly weather data.

Arcata experiences four distinct seasons with an average annual temperature of 53°F (11°C). Winters average 48°F in January while summers reach 58°F in July / relatively mild seasonal variation. The area gets 275 sunny days per year, well above the U.S. average of 205 / making it one of the sunnier locations in the country. Annual precipitation totals 40.4 inches. Air quality is rated Good with a median AQI of 48. The city sits at an elevation of 13 feet.

Temperature

48°F Jan (9°C) 58°F Jul (14°C)
Annual Average52.6°F
3% below US avg
January Average48°F (9°C)
July Average58°F (14°C)
Sunny Days275 days/yr

Geography

Elevation13 ft (4 m)
Area11.0 sq mi (28.5 km²)
Population Density1,972/sq mi
Coordinates40.8623°N, 124.0750°W
TimezoneAmerica/Los_Angeles
CountyHumboldt County County
Nearest AirportRedding Regional (RDD)
96 miles away

Precipitation & Snow

Annual Rainfall 40.4"
6% above US avg
Snowfall 0.0"
Wettest Month (Dec) 8.07"
Driest Month (Jul) 0.20"

Air Quality

AQI Median48.0
RatingGood

Natural Hazard Risk

Overall RiskRelatively High
Risk Score96.8 / 100
Social Vulnerability74.7 / 100
Community Resilience56.4 / 100

Hazard Breakdown

Tornado Very Low
Earthquake Relatively High
Wildfire Relatively Moderate
Flood Relatively High
Hail Very Low
Strong Wind Very Low
Heat Wave Relatively Low
Winter Weather Very Low
Lightning Relatively Low
Drought Relatively Moderate
Cold Wave No Rating
Landslide Relatively High
Coastal Flood Relatively High
Tsunami Relatively High
Volcano No Rating
Avalanche Very Low
Source: FEMA National Risk Index v1.20 (Dec 2025)

Earthquake History

5,196 earthquakes (M2.5+) recorded within 150 km since 1990. Strongest on record: M7.2.

Apr 25, 1992 The 1992 Petrolia, California Earthquake M7.2 60 km 10 km
Sep 1, 1994 121 km W of Ferndale, California M7.1 145 km 10 km
Mar 10, 2014 77 km WNW of Indianola, California M6.8 89 km 16 km
Feb 19, 1995 126 km W of Ferndale, California M6.6 145 km 5 km
Apr 26, 1992 32 km SW of Ferndale, California M6.6 67 km 22 km
Jan 10, 2010 The 2010 Eureka, California Earthquake M6.5 57 km 29 km
Apr 26, 1992 30 km WSW of Ferndale, California M6.5 63 km 19 km
Aug 17, 1991 30 km SSW of Scotia, California M6.0 70 km 8 km
Feb 4, 2010 61 km WSW of Ferndale, California M5.9 90 km 23 km
Mar 9, 2020 69km W of Petrolia, CA M5.8 101 km 3 km
Jan 28, 2015 40 km SW of Ferndale, California M5.7 75 km 17 km
Mar 16, 2000 85 km WSW of Ferndale, California M5.7 111 km 5 km
Sep 3, 2016 124 km WSW of Ferndale, California M5.6 149 km 29 km
Jan 22, 1997 33 km SW of Scotia, California M5.6 70 km 23 km
Feb 13, 2012 26 km NNW of Willow Creek, California M5.6 39 km 27 km
Jun 23, 2019 6km SSW of Petrolia, CA M5.6 68 km 9 km
May 21, 2023 108km W of Petrolia, CA M5.6 137 km 10 km
Oct 4, 1997 100 km WNW of Samoa, California M5.5 109 km 7 km
Jan 13, 2001 off the coast of Northern California M5.4 99 km 2 km
Feb 26, 2007 51 km W of Ferndale, California M5.4 71 km -1 km
Source: USGS Earthquake Catalog (M2.5+, 1990–2025). Sorted by magnitude.

Tornado History

7 tornadoes (EF0+) recorded within 100 km since 1950. Strongest on record: EF2.

Date Rating Distance Path Fatalities
Mar 29, 1958 EF2 10 km 2.0 mi 0
Dec 30, 1992 EF1 99 km 0.2 mi 0
Dec 11, 1992 EF1 99 km 0.2 mi 0
Jan 25, 2018 EF0 10 km 0.0 mi 0
Jan 20, 1996 EF0 99 km 0.1 mi 0
May 13, 1960 EF0 77 km 0.1 mi 0
Jan 10, 1958 EF0 99 km 0.8 mi 0
Source: NOAA Storm Prediction Center (EF0+, 1950–2024, US only).

Tsunami History

4 tsunamis recorded within 500 km. Highest wave on record: 3.1 m (10 ft).

Year Location Cause Max Wave Deaths Distance
1873 N. CALIFORNIA Eruption + Earthquake 3.1 m — 127 km
1992 CAPE MENDOCINO, N. CALIFORNIA Earthquake 1.8 m — 59 km
2024 CAPE MENDOCINO, N. CALIFORNIA Earthquake 0.1 m — 97 km
1994 N. CALIFORNIA Earthquake 0.1 m — 145 km
Source: NOAA/NCEI Historical Tsunami Database.

Nearby Volcanoes

1 volcano within 200 km. Closest: Shasta (169 km).

Name Type Elevation Last Eruption Distance
Shasta Stratovolcano 4,317 m (14,163 ft) 1250 169 km
Source: Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program (GVP).

Wildfire History

20 wildfires (100+ acres) recorded within 100 km. Largest: MONUMENT (226,125 acres, 2021).

Year Name Acres Burned Distance
2021 MONUMENT 226,125 70 km
2021 HAYPRESS 204,549 96 km
2020 RED SALMON COMPLEX 147,535 63 km
1999 MEGRAM- ORLEANS 125,337 57 km
2006 PIGEON 100,962 74 km
2008 SISKIYOU-BLUE 2 COMPLEX (BLUE 2) 100,823 91 km
2021 MCCASH 95,762 98 km
2015 RIVER COMPLEX 78,531 60 km
2008 PANTHER 71,448 95 km
1987 YELLOW 2 53,626 88 km
2008 BEAR WALLOW COMPLEX (UKONOM) 40,029 84 km
2023 MOSQUITO 36,111 76 km
2015 ROUTE COMPLEX 35,444 54 km
2008 IRON AND ALPS COMPLEXES (EAGLE) 32,397 79 km
2015 PATTISON 31,129 58 km
2022 CAMPBELL 30,392 45 km
2008 IRON AND ALPS COMPLEXES (BUCKHORN) 29,446 68 km
1994 JACK 1 28,007 93 km
2008 LIME COMPLEX (LIME) 27,234 69 km
2008 LIME COMPLEX (MINERS) 25,680 72 km
Source: NIFC/IRWIN Wildfire Records (100+ acres).

Monthly Weather

Month Avg Temperature Precipitation Summary
January 48°F (9°C) 7.4 in
February 48°F (9°C) 6.5 in
March 49°F (10°C) 6.5 in
April 51°F (11°C) 3.4 in
May 54°F (12°C) 1.9 in
June 58°F (14°C) 0.8 in
July 58°F (14°C) 0.2 in Driest
August 61°F (16°C) 0.6 in Warmest
September 60°F (15°C) 1.2 in
October 56°F (13°C) 3.4 in
November 50°F (10°C) 7.6 in
December 46°F (8°C) 8.1 in Coldest, Wettest

Arcata has a seasonal temperature swing of 14°F / from 46°F in December to 61°F in August. Total annual precipitation is 47.6 inches, with December being the wettest month (8.1") and July the driest (0.2").

View full profile of Arcata, CA →