Elk Creek, CA climate
Elk Creek has mild winters and hot summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 96°, a January night drops to 36°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Elk Creek feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Elk Creek weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57° | 36° | 4.6" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 42° – 53° |
| February | 60° | 38° | 4.2" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 43° – 55° |
| March | 65° | 41° | 2.8" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 45° – 59° |
| April | 71° | 44° | 1.3" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 51° – 61° |
| May | 80° | 50° | 1.0" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 55° – 72° |
| June | 89° | 57° | 0.5" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 67° – 79° |
| July | 96° | 63° | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 0 | 75° – 83° |
| August | 95° | 60° | 0.1" | 0 | 0 | 0 | 74° – 82° |
| September | 90° | 56° | 0.2" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 69° – 77° |
| October | 79° | 48° | 0.9" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 59° – 70° |
| November | 64° | 41° | 2.1" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 44° – 57° |
| December | 56° | 35° | 4.0" | 0 | 12 | 0 | 41° – 49° |
| Year | 75° | 47° | 21.4" | 0.0" | 68 | 0 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Elk Creek
Elk Creek gets 21 inches of rain and melted snow a year. January is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 68 days a year.
About 220 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by April 5 and the first one by November 13. That leaves about 220 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 82% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in Elk Creek
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Elk Creek, 70% of that work is heating and 30% is cooling.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
How Elk Creek compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Elk Creek averaged 1.1° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.6°). The shift is smaller than in 64% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Elk Creek’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. May swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 55° to 72°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Elk Creek’s climate
What is the coldest month in Elk Creek?
December, with a typical high of 56° and a low of 35°.
What is the hottest month in Elk Creek?
July, with a typical high of 96° and a low of 63°. About 97 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Elk Creek get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.0 inches.
When is the first frost in Elk Creek?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 13, and the last spring frost by April 5.
What is the rainiest month in Elk Creek?
January, with 4.6 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 21 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Elk Creek itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Stony Gorge Rsvr, CA (1 mi) away. Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.