Located in the extreme northeastern portion of the state and far away from marine influences, Alturas provides one of the best examples of a continental climate to be found in California. The difference in temperatures between summer and winter is fairly drastic in this region. Winters are cold and frosts can linger into late spring. Summertime highs can be quite warm in the dry, often cloudless skies. But by September nighttime average lows are already flirting with the freezing mark. Precipitation is fairly evenly distributed in Alturas throughout the year but there is still a noticeable summer drought. Alturas is roughly at the same latitude as Happy Camp and Crescent City. But unlike those communities farther west, the combination of altitude and distance from the ocean provide Alturas with a much more variable climate.
- Köppen Classification: (Dsb) Cool continental/dry summer.
- Current conditions may be found at the National Weather Center.
- Climate data from The Western Regional Climate Center.
