Salinas, California Weather
Coastal fog thickens at dawn. Day 77 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
Salinas weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar
- TodayJun 4Foggy——68°54°—
- FridayJun 5Overcast——75°50°+7°
- SaturdayJun 6Clear——65°50°-10°
- SundayJun 7Overcast——63°48°-2°
- MondayJun 8Drizzle—0.11″68°48°+5°
- TuesdayJun 9Drizzle—0.08″64°54°-4°
- WednesdayJun 10Overcast——70°53°+6°
PM2.5/PM10 ratio 0.69 with 9 mph wind — characteristic of long-range haze transport rather than a local source. AQI down 11 over the last 6 hours (steady decline since this morning).
OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.
What's driving it
Ozone × UV × Sky
Ozone at AQI 37 now. With UV 9.7 peaking around 1 PM under partly cloudy skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 34 by mid-afternoon.
- Present
- AQI 37
- UV peak
- 9.7 at 1 PM
- Sky at peak
- partly cloudy
- Projected peak
- AQI 34
PM × Wind × Precip
PM2.5/PM10 ratio 0.69 with 9 mph wind — characteristic of long-range haze transport rather than a local source.
- PM2.5/PM10
- 0.69
- Wind
- light
- Recent rain
- 0h in last 6h
- Pattern
- transport
Trends
Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.
Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).
A summer fog for fair, a winter fog for rain.
- Moonrise
- 6:29 AM
- Moonset
- 4:23 PM
- In sign
- ♒︎ Aquarius
Coastal fog thickens at dawn
Salinas at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 10°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: March 27 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: Jun 1–5
- Planting window: Harvest spring lettuce before it bolts. Sow heat-tolerant greens.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of June 4, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
September brings Salinas's warmest temperatures (~64°F mean) while December marks the coldest period (~51°F). January delivers peak rainfall at 2.6 inches, contrasting with July's completely dry conditions at 0.0 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 52° | 2.6″ | 6 |
| February | 53° | 2.4″ | 6 |
| March | 55° | 2.1″ | 5 |
| April | 57° | 0.9″ | 3 |
| May | 59° | 0.4″ | 1 |
| June | 62° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| July | 63° | 0.0″ | 0 |
| August | 64° | 0.0″ | 0 |
| September | 64° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| October | 62° | 0.6″ | 1 |
| November | 56° | 1.3″ | 3 |
| December | 51° | 2.1″ | 5 |
Regional context
Salinas falls within a hot-summer Mediterranean climate region that extends across nearby cities. This climate zone shares similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions throughout the area.
Similar climates: Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, San Diego, CA, Riverside, CA, Sacramento, CA.
Naturalist notes
Late May brings the peak blooming period for California poppies across the surrounding hills.
American goldfinches typically molt into their bright yellow breeding plumage during April and May.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Salinas?
- Spring's final frost usually occurs around mid-April in Salinas, while the first fall frost typically arrives around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Salinas?
- January receives the most rainfall, averaging about 2.6 inches, while the city's total annual precipitation reaches roughly 13 inches.
- What is the warmest month in Salinas?
- September typically brings the warmest temperatures, averaging about 64°F.
- What is the coldest month in Salinas?
- December usually brings the coldest weather, averaging about 51°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Salinas?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-April, while warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait 1–2 weeks after that date.
- How many rainy days does Salinas get?
- Salinas experiences about 31 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Salinas?
- Salinas's USDA hardiness zone reflects its lowest average winter temperature; the USDA's online lookup tool can provide the current zone designation using the city ZIP code.
Climate
Salinas, California experiences a hot-summer Mediterranean climate. January temperatures typically hover near 52°F while July averages 63°F — representing an 11°F seasonal swing.
Annual precipitation totals about 13 inches across roughly 31 rainy days throughout the year.
Weather patterns here depend on the city's latitude (36.7°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation. These factors determine what grows in the area, when frost occurs, and daily weather conditions.