Smith River, CA climate
Smith River has warm winters and cool summers, with plenty of rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 71°, a January night drops to 41°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Smith River feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Smith River 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 | 54° | 41° | 12.1" | 0 | 18 | 0 | 43° – 54° |
| February | 55° | 40° | 9.3" | 0 | 15 | 0 | 40° – 54° |
| March | 57° | 41° | 9.8" | 0.1" | 17 | 0 | 45° – 55° |
| April | 60° | 43° | 6.9" | 0 | 14 | 0 | 47° – 55° |
| May | 64° | 46° | 3.6" | 0 | 10 | 0 | 50° – 58° |
| June | 67° | 49° | 1.7" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 55° – 65° |
| July | 71° | 52° | 0.3" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 58° – 65° |
| August | 71° | 52° | 0.4" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 59° – 66° |
| September | 70° | 49° | 1.3" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 55° – 62° |
| October | 65° | 46° | 5.1" | 0 | 8 | 0 | 51° – 61° |
| November | 57° | 43° | 9.6" | 0 | 15 | 0 | 45° – 55° |
| December | 52° | 40° | 14.0" | 0 | 17 | 0 | 43° – 50° |
| Year | 62° | 45° | 74.0" | 0.1" | 126 | 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 Smith River
Smith River gets 74 inches of rain and melted snow a year. December is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 126 days a year.
A year-round growing season
Heating and cooling a home in Smith River
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Smith River, 99% of that work is heating and 1% 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.
How Smith River 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 Smith River averaged 1.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.1°). The shift is larger than in 73% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Smith River’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. February swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 40° to 54°. August is the most reliable, staying within 7°.
Common questions about Smith River’s climate
What is the coldest month in Smith River?
December, with a typical high of 52° and a low of 40°.
What is the hottest month in Smith River?
July, with a typical high of 71° and a low of 52°. About 3 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Smith River get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.1 inches.
When is the first frost in Smith River?
Frost is uncommon. Only 80% of years see a night at 32° or below.
What is the rainiest month in Smith River?
December, with 14.0 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 74 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Smith River itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Gasquet Rs, CA (11 mi, snow) and Brookings 2 Se, OR (9 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.