All along the California coast the Pacific Ocean is a strong factor in the climate. But it is in the northernmost sections of coast that the marine influence is perhaps most strongly felt. The ocean’s mean temperature here is cooler than it is farther to the south. In the higher latitudes of the state, there is also less solar isolation year-round to burn off coastal fogs and heat up the land. The offshore high pressure systems that keep most of central and southern California dry from late spring through early autumn keeps Eureka dry for a much shorter time period.
Temperatures in Eureka are equable year-round and extremes are rare. Summertime highs are cool and only a dozen or more degrees above the average winter highs. Likewise, daily low temperatures vary by about the same 10-12 degrees throughout the year. Despite being located above 40⁰ N latitude, Eureka experiences only a few frosts per year along the immediate coast. Snowfall is exceedingly rare.
- Köppen Classification: (Csbn) Mediterranean/summer fog.
- Current Conditions available via the National Weather Service.
- Climate data from The Western Regional Climate Center.
Rob O’Keefe
