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Weather by month

Channel Islands weather, month by month

Last verified NOAA 1991–2020 normalsAmerica/Los Angeles time
Average highs, lows, rain, snow and daylight for every month. Measured at the Oxnard–Ventura (mainland visitor center) (36 ft, 4.7 mi from Channel Islands National Park Visitor Center).
Aug high
74°F
hottest month
Jan low
46°F
coldest month
Rain + snowmelt
12.9in / yr
wettest: Feb
Snowfall
—in / yr
rare
Days ≥ 90°F
2/ yr
Nights ≤ 32°F
0/ yr

Oxnard–Ventura (mainland visitor center)

Month by month

Normals are 30-year averages (1991–2020). Crowds = each month’s share of the park’s busiest month, from NPS visitor counts. Sunrise and sunset are for the 15th of each month in 2027.
Average high and low, every monthbars run from the low to the high · tan strip = precipitation
comfortable highs 55–85°F40°60°80°January: average high 66°F, low 46°F, 2.9 in precipitation66°46°January: 2.9 in precipitationJFebruary: average high 65°F, low 48°F, 3.3 in precipitation65°48°February: 3.3 in precipitationFMarch: average high 66°F, low 49°F, 2.3 in precipitation66°49°March: 2.3 in precipitationMApril: average high 67°F, low 51°F, 0.7 in precipitation67°51°April: 0.7 in precipitationAMay: average high 68°F, low 54°F, 0.3 in precipitation68°54°May: 0.3 in precipitationMJune: average high 70°F, low 58°F, 0.1 in precipitation70°58°June: 0.1 in precipitationJJuly: average high 73°F, low 61°F, 0.0 in precipitation73°61°July: 0.0 in precipitationJAugust: average high 74°F, low 61°F, 0.0 in precipitation74°61°August: 0.0 in precipitationASeptember: average high 74°F, low 60°F, 0.1 in precipitation74°60°September: 0.1 in precipitationSOctober: average high 74°F, low 55°F, 0.5 in precipitation74°55°October: 0.5 in precipitationONovember: average high 70°F, low 50°F, 0.7 in precipitation70°50°November: 0.7 in precipitationNDecember: average high 66°F, low 47°F, 2.1 in precipitation66°47°December: 2.1 in precipitationDrain
MonthHighLowRainWet daysSunriseSunsetDaylightCrowds
Jan66°46°2.9″67:05 AM5:13 PM10h 08m35
Feb65°48°3.3″76:44 AM5:43 PM10h 59m46
Mar66°49°2.3″67:10 AM7:07 PM11h 57m60
Apr67°51°0.7″46:29 AM7:31 PM13h 02m69
May68°54°0.3″25:58 AM7:54 PM13h 55m72
Jun70°58°0.1″15:48 AM8:12 PM14h 24m89
Jul73°61°0.0″16:00 AM8:12 PM14h 12m100
Aug74°61°0.0″16:21 AM7:47 PM13h 26m85
Sep74°60°0.1″26:43 AM7:07 PM12h 24m77
Oct74°55°0.5″57:05 AM6:26 PM11h 22m71
Nov70°50°0.7″56:32 AM4:56 PM10h 24m64
Dec66°47°2.1″66:58 AM4:52 PM9h 54m46

Sweet spot: January, February and December combine average highs between 55°F and 85°F with crowds under 60% of the peak month. Check what is open in those months — quiet can also mean closed roads.

How to read this

These are NOAA’s official 1991–2020 climate normals for one weather station, not a model of the whole park. The station is the one with complete temperature and precipitation normals nearest to a visitor center (we chose Oxnard–Ventura (mainland visitor center) because it is the main visitor center is in Ventura; no station exists on the islands). Highs and lows are daily averages for the month; “wet days” are days with at least 0.01 inch of precipitation. Mountain parks can be 10–20 °F cooler at their high points than at the station, and the NPS weather page for Channel Islands is the place for current conditions and seasonal closures.

Sunrise and sunset are computed with the NOAA solar equations for the park’s coordinates and shown in America/Los Angeles time for the 15th of each month of 2027; they are accurate to about a minute.

Sources · 3

  1. 1.U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — monthly normals station inventory · National Centers for Environmental Information (NOAA)
  2. 2.Channel Islands National Park — Weather (nps.gov) · National Park Service
  3. 3.Channel Islands National Park — Visitor Use Statistics · National Park Service (IRMA)

FAQ

Channel Islands weather questions

What is the hottest month at Channel Islands?
August, with an average high of 74°F and an average low of 61°F at Oxnard–Ventura (mainland visitor center) (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). The station averages 2 days a year at or above 90°F.
How cold does Channel Islands get in winter?
January is the coldest month, averaging a low of 46°F and a high of 66°F at Oxnard–Ventura (mainland visitor center). About 0 nights a year drop to freezing or below.
Does it snow at Channel Islands?
Oxnard–Ventura (mainland visitor center) records almost no snowfall (no snow normals). Higher elevations in the park can differ.
When is the rainy season at Channel Islands?
February is the wettest month on average (3.3 inches of precipitation at Oxnard–Ventura (mainland visitor center)); the station's annual total is 12.9 inches.
How many hours of daylight does Channel Islands get?
About 14h 24m on June 15 and 9h 54m on December 15 (sunrise 5:48 AM, sunset 8:12 PM in June; 6:58 AM to 4:52 PM in December, America/Los Angeles time).
What is the best month to visit Channel Islands for weather?
By NOAA's normals, average highs sit between 55°F and 85°F in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December. Of those, January, February and December are also well below the park's peak crowds. Weather in the park varies with elevation; this is the Oxnard–Ventura (mainland visitor center) station.

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