McKinleyville, CA climate
McKinleyville has warm winters and cool summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 69°, a January night drops to 41°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in McKinleyville feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
McKinleyville 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 | 55° | 41° | 8.0" | 0 | 17 | 0 | 42° – 53° |
| February | 56° | 41° | 6.9" | 0 | 15 | 0 | 44° – 53° |
| March | 58° | 42° | 7.0" | 0 | 16 | 0 | 46° – 53° |
| April | 60° | 43° | 4.5" | 0 | 14 | 0 | 48° – 56° |
| May | 63° | 47° | 2.3" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 51° – 58° |
| June | 66° | 50° | 0.9" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 54° – 61° |
| July | 69° | 53° | 0.2" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 58° – 63° |
| August | 70° | 53° | 0.2" | 0 | 4 | 0 | 59° – 65° |
| September | 70° | 50° | 0.8" | 0 | 5 | 0 | 57° – 63° |
| October | 66° | 46° | 2.9" | 0 | 9 | 0 | 52° – 60° |
| November | 58° | 43° | 5.9" | 0 | 14 | 0 | 44° – 54° |
| December | 54° | 40° | 9.7" | 0 | 17 | 0 | 42° – 52° |
| Year | 62° | 45° | 49.2" | 0.0" | 128 | 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 McKinleyville
McKinleyville gets 49 inches of rain and melted snow a year. December is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 128 days a year.
About 262 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by March 8 and the first one by November 30. That leaves about 262 frost-free days for gardens, longer than 92% of U.S. towns.
Heating and cooling a home in McKinleyville
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In McKinleyville, 100% of that work is heating and 0% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
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.
McKinleyville and its neighbors
McKinleyville borders 3 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 2.0°. Fieldbrook has both the coldest January nights (40°) and the hottest July afternoons (74°). McKinleyville’s January low is 41° and its July high 69°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How McKinleyville 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 McKinleyville averaged 1.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.5°). The shift is larger than in 69% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at McKinleyville’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. January swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 42° to 53°. July is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Common questions about McKinleyville’s climate
What is the coldest month in McKinleyville?
December, with a typical high of 54° and a low of 40°.
What is the hottest month in McKinleyville?
August, with a typical high of 70° and a low of 53°.
How much snow does McKinleyville get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.0 inches.
When is the first frost in McKinleyville?
In half of years the first 32° night comes by November 30, and the last spring frost by March 8.
What is the rainiest month in McKinleyville?
December, with 9.7 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 49 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for McKinleyville itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Eureka Wfo Woodley Island, CA (11 mi, snow) and Arcata Eureka Airport, CA (2 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.