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Best time to visit · California, United States

Best Time to Visit Monterey & Carmel

For the most comfortable weather in Monterey & Carmel, aim for May – October. June tops our comfort score at 100/100, with highs around 65°F (18°C) and 0.2 in (4 mm) of rain. March & April and November are good shoulder-season months. The toughest months are December – February, mainly because of cloud cover.

Monterey & Carmel, California, United States
Best months
May – Oct
Shoulder
Mar & Apr and Nov
Toughest
Dec – Feb
Warmest
Sep · 69°F
Coldest nights
Jan · 49°F
Wettest
Dec · 4.2 in
Driest
Jul · 0.0 in

Monterey & Carmel weather by month

Highs run from 58°F to 69°F across the year, and the yearly total is about 18.9 in (480 mm) of rain.

32°41°50°59°68°77°58°Jan58°Feb60°Mar60°Apr62°May65°Jun67°Jul68°Aug69°Sep68°Oct63°Nov58°Dec075150
Daily low → high (°F)Monthly rain (mm, right axis)Best months
Monthly climate averages for Monterey & Carmel, 2001–2025
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Avg high58°F15°C58°F15°C60°F15°C60°F16°C62°F17°C65°F18°C67°F19°C68°F20°C69°F21°C68°F20°C63°F17°C58°F15°C
Avg low49°F9°C49°F9°C49°F10°C49°F10°C51°F11°C53°F12°C55°F13°C56°F13°C56°F14°C55°F13°C52°F11°C49°F10°C
Rain3.4 in86 mm3.4 in86 mm2.8 in70 mm1.4 in36 mm0.6 in14 mm0.2 in4 mm0.0 in1 mm0.0 in1 mm0.2 in5 mm0.9 in23 mm1.9 in48 mm4.2 in106 mm
Humidity80%82%83%83%83%82%83%83%80%77%78%79%
Cloud48%48%46%41%35%26%31%30%26%31%38%49%
Comfort78788389951001001001001009476

Source: NASA POWER (public domain), 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km satellite and reanalysis grid, so coasts and valleys can differ from what's shown. The grid cell sits at about 119 m (390 ft), close to Monterey & Carmel's own ~6 m. Precipitation includes snow as melted water; daylight is calculated from latitude. Check a forecast before you go.

How we pick the best months

  • Temperature (40 pts): full marks for average daytime highs of 64–81°F (18–27°C); minus 3 points per °C below and 4 per °C above.
  • Rain (25 pts): full marks up to 40 mm (1.6 in) a month, falling to zero at 250 mm (9.8 in).
  • Humidity (15 pts): only counts when it is warm (mean above 18°C); minus 0.75 points per % above 70% relative humidity.
  • Cloud (20 pts): full marks at 30% cloud cover or less, falling to zero at 90%.
Best months: within 6 points of the top (or 85+). Shoulder: within 18 and at least 45. Toughest: within 6 of the lowest. Comfort only; crowds, prices, festivals and openings aren't scored.

Monterey & Carmel season by season

Winter Dec – Feb

The coldest season, with highs near 58°F (15°C) and lows down to 49°F (9°C). It's the wettest season, with about 10.9 in (278 mm) of rain, 58% of the year's total. It holds the toughest stretch on our comfort score (December – February), averaging 77/100.

Spring Mar – May

Temperatures hold fairly even, with highs of 60–62°F (15–17°C). About 4.7 in (120 mm) of rain falls across these months, 25% of the year's total. Lows bottom out around 49°F (10°C). May is among the best-scoring months (season average 89/100).

Summer Jun – Aug

Expect steady highs of 65–68°F (18–20°C). It's the driest season, with only about 0.2 in (6 mm) of rain, 1% of the year's total. Lows bottom out around 53°F (12°C). Comfort peaks here: June – August rank with the year's best, and the season averages 100/100.

Autumn Sep – Nov

Peak warmth: highs of 63–69°F (17–21°C). About 3.0 in (76 mm) of rain falls across these months, 16% of the year's total. Lows bottom out around 52°F (11°C). September & October are among the best-scoring months (season average 98/100).

What our curated routes say

Plan by month

By comfort score: 12 Great. Tap a month for its own guide.

Monterey & Carmel weather questions

When is the best time to visit Monterey & Carmel?

For the most comfortable weather in Monterey & Carmel, aim for May – October. June tops our comfort score at 100/100, with highs around 65°F (18°C) and 0.2 in (4 mm) of rain. March & April and November are good shoulder-season months. The toughest months are December – February, mainly because of cloud cover.

What is the rainiest month in Monterey & Carmel?

December is the wettest month, averaging about 4.2 in (106 mm) of rain. July is the driest, with less than 0.1 in (3 mm). The yearly total is around 18.9 in (480 mm).

What is the coldest month in Monterey & Carmel?

January is the coldest, with average lows of 49°F (9°C) and highs of 58°F (15°C). The warmest is September, with average highs of 69°F (21°C).

Is Monterey & Carmel humid in summer?

Not very: summer (June – August) humidity averages 83%, and highs peak around 68°F (20°C), so it rarely feels sticky.

When is the rainy season in Monterey & Carmel?

The wettest three-month stretch is December – February, with about 10.9 in (278 mm) of rain combined. The driest stretch is June – August, with about 0.2 in (6 mm).

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