Capitola Weather
Town • San Francisco Bay Area
A few miles east of Santa Cruz, Capitola packs a small beach village around the spot where Soquel Creek reaches Monterey Bay. Its wharf began in 1857 as a 450-foot landing called Soquel Landing and now reaches about 850 feet over a protected crescent of bay. Cliff Drive's bluff rises on one side of the beach, and the village shops line the other. New Brighton State Beach, with bluff-top campsites, sits within the town's eastern edge.
Plan your week
10-Day Forecast
Hour by hour
Hourly Forecast
Current Conditions
Comfort Breakdown
Capitola weather today and through the year
It's 54°F at Capitola right now (feels like 51°F), with 7 mph wind and a comfort score of 78. Monday's forecast high at Capitola is 58°F, 7°F below the mid November normal of 65°F. The best window today is 8 AM to 11 AM, at about 61°F with a 10 mph wind (comfort 72).
September is the warmest month at Capitola, with an average high of 72°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 42°F. January is the wettest month (5.7 in.), out of about 27.4 in. a year. By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Capitola are September, August, and June. The best hours are usually noon to 3 PM in September, 2 PM to 5 PM in August, and 3 PM to 6 PM in June.
Capitola sits deeper inside the curve of Monterey Bay than the Santa Cruz beaches and faces south across the water, with Santa Cruz off to its west. The prevailing northwest wind reaches it after crossing land, so Capitola Beach is one of the calmer spots on the bay. Summer fog that lingers over the Santa Cruz Westside often breaks earlier over the village.
Forecast updated November 15, 2026 at 4:00 AM PST. Climate figures come from NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Hourly patterns come from NOAA's HRRR hourly analysis from September 2014 to April 2026.
What to expect at Capitola in the next few days
Active National Weather Service alerts
- High Surf Advisory until Tue 4:00 AM
Best time to go
The best window today is 8 AM to 11 AM, at about 61°F with a 10 mph wind (comfort 72).
Best day this week
Of the next 7 days, Friday looks best for Capitola, with a 60°F high and midday comfort near 81. Thursday looks weakest (49).
Rain
Next good chance of rain: today (67%, about 0.07 in.).
Ocean water
66°F at the Monterey harbor (Monterey Bay) NOAA station. NOAA data
Live weather map
Weather around Capitola right now
Overcast and 54° at Capitola right now.
About the live weather map for Capitola
The map centers on Capitola and stacks fog, satellite clouds, and precipitation radar on one view. Clouds come from the GOES-West satellite and rain from NOAA radar, and both show current conditions. Fog comes from our HRRR-based fog model, and the slider steps through its forecast for the next 12 hours.
Dots mark nearby places with their current temperature, colored by comfort score. Use the layer buttons to turn any layer off, or open the full map for every destination in the region.
Nearby Temperature Comparison
Conditions at nearby San Francisco Bay Area destinations
Tip: Bay Area temperatures can change by 20 to 30°F over a short distance because of microclimates.
Capitola vs nearby places
Typical summer conditions compared with Capitola, from the same NOAA HRRR hourly record. The list shows the closest places, then nearby places whose climate differs the most.
| Place | Distance | Summer afternoons | Morning fog | Afternoon wind | Compared with Capitola |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Cruz Main Beach | 3.7 mi | -3°F | 33% | 12 mph | windier summer afternoons (12 vs 8 mph) |
| Scotts Valley | 6.2 mi | +7°F | 46% | 7 mph | about 7°F warmer on summer afternoons and about 35% more rain a year |
| Santa Cruz Westside | 6.3 mi | -10°F | 44% | 15 mph | about 10°F cooler on summer afternoons and windier summer afternoons (15 vs 8 mph) |
| Almaden Quicksilver County Park | 15.4 mi | +16°F | 7% | 9 mph | about 16°F warmer on summer afternoons and less summer morning fog (7% vs 36% of morning hours) |
| Almaden Valley | 17.9 mi | +16°F | 7% | 9 mph | about 16°F warmer on summer afternoons and less summer morning fog (7% vs 36% of morning hours) |
| Morgan Hill | 19.7 mi | +16°F | 25% | 8 mph | about 16°F warmer on summer afternoons and less summer morning fog (25% vs 36% of morning hours) |
Places with a climate like Capitola's
- McLaren Park (57 mi away): nearly the same temperatures every month
- Marina District (63 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
- Alcatraz Island (64 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
Climate Dashboard
Current conditions vs. NOAA normals and recent destination baseline
What the Capitola climate comparisons mean
These cards compare recent conditions at Capitola with the available local baseline. Temperature and year-to-date rainfall use long-term normals when available. Fog, sunshine, wind, and comfort use the matching recent or modeled baseline identified on each card.
Positive and negative differences describe how Capitola departs from its own usual pattern. They should not be read as a direct comparison with another city or as a forecast beyond the period shown.
Capitola weather by month
September is the warmest month at Capitola, with an average high of 72°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 42°F. January is the wettest month (5.7 in.), out of about 27.4 in. a year. Morning fog peaks in July, when fog or low cloud covers 41% of the hours from 6 to 10 AM. October has the clearest middays, with clouds covering about 18% of the sky from 11 AM to 3 PM.
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Capitola are September, August, and June. The best hours are usually noon to 3 PM in September, 2 PM to 5 PM in August, and 3 PM to 6 PM in June.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Rainy days | Morning fog | Midday cloud | Afternoon wind | Daylight | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 61°F | 42°F | 5.7 in | 10 | 10% | 28% | 5 mph | 9.9 h | 46 |
| Feb | 62°F | 44°F | 5.5 in | 10 | 9% | 25% | 7 mph | 10.8 h | 50 |
| Mar | 63°F | 45°F | 4.0 in | 8 | 12% | 28% | 7 mph | 11.9 h | 65 |
| Apr | 65°F | 46°F | 1.8 in | 6 | 17% | 29% | 8 mph | 13.1 h | 72 |
| May | 67°F | 50°F | 0.7 in | 3 | 19% | 33% | 9 mph | 14.2 h | 73 |
| Jun | 70°F | 52°F | 0.1 in | 2 | 28% | 26% | 8 mph | 14.7 h | 86 |
| Jul | 71°F | 55°F | 0.0 in | 1 | 41% | 28% | 7 mph | 14.4 h | 84 |
| Aug | 72°F | 55°F | 0.0 in | 1 | 40% | 27% | 7 mph | 13.5 h | 87 |
| Sep | 72°F | 54°F | 0.1 in | 1 | 28% | 24% | 7 mph | 12.3 h | 89 |
| Oct | 71°F | 50°F | 1.1 in | 4 | 16% | 18% | 7 mph | 11.1 h | 83 |
| Nov | 65°F | 45°F | 2.9 in | 7 | 10% | 18% | 6 mph | 10.1 h | 72 |
| Dec | 60°F | 42°F | 5.4 in | 10 | 13% | 28% | 5 mph | 9.6 h | 45 |
Morning fog is the share of hours from 6 to 10 AM with fog or low cloud. Midday cloud is the average from 11 AM to 3 PM, and afternoon wind is the average from 1 to 5 PM. The highlighted rows are the most comfortable months.
What makes Capitola's weather different
When the fog burns off
11 AMwhen July fog usually thins (51% foggy at 6 AM)
Fog or low cloud covers Capitola in 51% of 6 AM hours in July, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by 11 AM. February mornings are the least foggy (9%).
When the wind picks up
11 AMwhen afternoon wind builds, March–October
From March through October, wind at Capitola typically builds after 11 AM. In May it peaks around 3 PM, averaging 9 mph with 2% of those hours windy, while mornings average 4 mph.
Microclimate
−10°FSanta Cruz Westside, 6.3 mi away, on summer afternoons
Santa Cruz Westside, 6.3 miles away, runs about 10°F cooler than Capitola on summer afternoons.
Daylight
9.6–14.7 hof daylight, Dec to Jun
Days at Capitola range from about 9.6 hours in December to 14.7 hours in June. In mid-June the sun sets around 8:29 PM, and in mid-December around 4:56 PM.
Seasons at Capitola
- Warm seasonJul 29 – Oct 4 · highs 71°F+
The warm season lasts about 2.2 months, from Jul 29 to Oct 4, when the average high is 71°F or warmer. Highs peak around Sep 8 at about 72°F.
- Cool seasonNov 29 – Mar 5 · highs 63°F or lower
The cool season runs from Nov 29 to Mar 5, when the average high is 63°F or lower. The coldest nights come around Dec 8, with an average low near 42°F.
- Rainy seasonNov 6 – Apr 12 · 87% of the year's rain
The rainy season runs from Nov 6 to Apr 12, when a day has at least a 20% chance of measurable rain. That stretch brings 87% of the year's rain.
The dark line marks today. Season dates come from the smoothed daily NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Counting from Oct. 1, a typical year has its first inch of rain by Oct 28 and half of its annual total by Jan 24.
Days per year and extremes (Nov 1, 2024 to Oct 31, 2026)
This record runs from Nov 1, 2024 to Oct 31, 2026. Over this record, Capitola averaged 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and no freezing nights. It averaged 18 days a year with at least half an inch of rain and 1 afternoon with wind of 20 mph or more at 2 PM. About 91 mornings a year had 3 or more hours of fog or low cloud.
In the same record, the hottest day was Sep 9, 2026 (103°F) and the coldest night was Feb 10, 2025 (34°F). The wettest day was Nov 14, 2025 (2.50 in.), and the strongest 2 PM gust was 48 mph on Mar 12, 2025.
- 5days at 90°F or hotter
- 0nights at or below freezing
- 18days with ½ in. of rain or more
- 1afternoon with 20+ mph wind
- 91mornings with 3+ hours of fog or low cloud
- Hottest day103°FSep 9, 2026
- Coldest night34°FFeb 10, 2025
- Wettest day2.50 inNov 14, 2025
- Strongest 2 PM gust48 mphMar 12, 2025
What shapes Capitola's weather
Capitola is not fog-free. The bay's marine layer, the sheet of cool, damp ocean air that brings fog, often covers the village on summer mornings. On the grayest days it never fully lifts. What sets the town apart from the open coast is timing and wind, not a different climate.
Capitola's winters bring water from two directions. Soquel Creek drains a large slice of the Santa Cruz Mountains and reaches the sand right beside the village, so heavy rain upstream shows up here. Winter swells, meanwhile, work at the bluffs and the wharf. The wharf has needed repairs after storms many times since it was built.
Tips for visiting Capitola
Scan for whales from the wharf
The 850-foot wharf has free viewing scopes along it and looks out over the protected crescent of Capitola Bay.
Check the city beach cam first
The City of Capitola runs a live beach web cam, which is the quickest way to see whether the village is still in fog.
Camp on the bluff at New Brighton
New Brighton State Beach has more than 100 campsites and allows dogs on a leash no longer than six feet.
Paddle out on calm mornings
Capitola Boat & Bait rents kayaks for paddling the bay. Go before the afternoon sea breeze builds.
Capitola through the seasons
- Spring (March–May)
- Gray whales pass northbound from mid-February through May, and humpbacks start arriving in late March. Afternoon breezes pick up, though the beach stays calmer than the open coast.
- Summer (June–August)
- Summer is peak beach season. Mornings often start gray and clear toward midday, and New Brighton's sandy shore is good for swimming in the warmer months.
- Fall (September–November)
- Fall often brings the sunniest, warmest beach days of the year, after the summer crowds thin out.
- Winter (December–February)
- Winter is storm season. In January 2023, storms caused significant erosion along the bluff southwest of Hooper Beach and undermined a retaining wall along Cliff Drive.
Activities and the weather that matters
- Beach day and swimming: Best on warm summer and early fall afternoons once the fog clears. New Brighton's shore is suited to swimming in warmer months.
- Whale watching: Clear, calm days make spouts easy to spot from the wharf. Countywide, humpbacks feed in the bay from May through October.
- Kayaking: Calm mornings, before the northwest wind builds, are ideal. Afternoon wind and winter swell make paddling harder.
- Camping and beachcombing at New Brighton: Dry summer and fall nights suit bluff-top camping. The beach is good for fishing and beachcombing year-round between storms.
Official sources and current conditions
- City of Capitola: Beach web cam
- City of Capitola: Capitola Wharf Resiliency Project
- City of Capitola: Public parking
- California State Parks: New Brighton State Beach
- NOAA water temperature: Monterey harbor
Numbers on this page come from NOAA data. The text draws on the official sources linked above.
Historical Climate Data
Long-term weather patterns and climate data
Data sources: Recent temperatures come from NOAA URMA and recent precipitation from NOAA Stage IV. Fog, cloud, wind, humidity, and sunshine come from NOAA HRRR, and long-term baselines from NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
Climate Overview
Based on NOAA 30-year temperature/rain normals (1991-2020) with recent fog/sun baseline
🌟 Best Months to Visit
⚠️ Challenging Months
Monthly Breakdown
| Month | Comfort | High/Low | ☀️ Sun | 🌫️ Fog | 💧 Rain | Perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2024 | 84 | 63.5° / 45° | 7h | 1d | 3.32" | 20 |
| December 2024 | 76 | 62° / 45.5° | 5.5h | 8d | 4.72" | 14 |
| January 2025 | 85 | 60.9° / 41° | 6.9h | 1d | 0.19" | 23 |
| February 2025 | 77 | 62° / 44.2° | 6.7h | 4d | 8.12" | 16 |
| March 2025 | 81 | 62° / 44.7° | 7.7h | 6d | 3.19" | 19 |
| April 2025 | 87 | 63.6° / 47.8° | 9.3h | 9d | 0.5" | 23 |
| May 2025 | 94 | 69.6° / 50.5° | 11.6h | 1d | 0.12" | 31 |
| June 2025 | 92 | 67.8° / 52.3° | 11.5h | 5d | 0" | 29 |
| July 2025 | 89 | 67.8° / 55.9° | 10.5h | 12d | 0" | 28 |
| August 2025 | 91 | 73.8° / 56.8° | 10.3h | 13d | 0" | 29 |
| September 2025 | 89 | 74.4° / 59° | 9.1h | 5d | 0.08" | 27 |
| October 2025 | 89 | 70.1° / 52.5° | 8h | 5d | 1.67" | 27 |
| November 2025 | 81 | 64.5° / 48.9° | 6.5h | 5d | 5.3" | 18 |
| December 2025 | 79 | 62.4° / 46.4° | 5.5h | 3d | 3.36" | 19 |
| January 2026 | 83 | 64.7° / 46° | 6.7h | 4d | 5.49" | 24 |
| February 2026 | 80 | 64.8° / 47° | 6.9h | 2d | 5.69" | 17 |
| March 2026 | 94 | 74° / 50.5° | 9.7h | 2d | 0.02" | 30 |
| April 2026 | 87 | 67.9° / 49.8° | 9.2h | 6d | 3.88" | 22 |
| May 2026 | 91 | 68.9° / 52.5° | 10.9h | 6d | 0.7" | 28 |
| June 2026 | 90 | 69.9° / 55.7° | 10.6h | 7d | 0" | 28 |
| July 2026 | 92 | 73.3° / 56.6° | 10.6h | 9d | 0" | 31 |
| August 2026 | 88 | 72° / 57.7° | 9.3h | 12d | 0" | 29 |
| September 2026 | 92 | 74.5° / 55.6° | 9.7h | 6d | 0.05" | 29 |
| October 2026 | 91 | 74.4° / 53.3° | 8.2h | 2d | 0.32" | 28 |
Climate Trends
Average Temperature by Month
About the Capitola climate charts
The temperature chart compares average monthly highs and lows at Capitola, showing both the seasonal cycle and the typical day-to-night range. The comfort chart summarizes how often the combined weather pattern is favorable rather than judging temperature alone.
Precipitation shows the total recorded or modeled rainfall for each month at Capitola. Sunshine compares average bright-sky hours with the daylight available, while fog shows the average number of morning fog or low-cloud hours per day. Switch between the chart tabs to compare the same months across each measure.
Hourly Temperature, Fog, Wind, Cloud Cover, and Solar Radiation Patterns
Average local hour by month from 2014-09-30 to 2026-04-30
- Temperature: At Capitola, the warmest typical hour is 3 PM in September (72°F). The coldest is 6 AM in February (46°F).
- Fog: Fog or low cloud covers Capitola in 51% of 6 AM hours in July, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by 11 AM. February mornings are the least foggy (9%).
- Wind: From March through October, wind at Capitola typically builds after 11 AM. In May it peaks around 3 PM, averaging 9 mph with 2% of those hours windy, while mornings average 4 mph.
- Cloud Cover: October middays are the clearest at Capitola (18% average cloud cover), and May middays are the cloudiest (33%).
- Solar Radiation: The strongest typical sun at Capitola comes at 1 PM in July, averaging 905 W/m².
How to read the hourly heatmaps for Capitola
This heatmap shows how average temperature at Capitola changes by hour and month. Read left to right for the seasons and top to bottom for the time of day. Warmer colors mark the usual afternoon peaks, and cooler colors show overnight and winter lows.
This heatmap shows when fog or low cloud is most likely at Capitola. Darker cells mark the months and hours when fog has been most common. They help separate overnight or morning fog from cloud that tends to linger into the afternoon.
This heatmap shows the typical hourly wind pattern at Capitola through the year. It makes recurring afternoon wind, calmer overnight periods, and seasonal changes easier to compare than a single daily wind value.
This heatmap shows average cloud cover at Capitola for every month and hour. Use it to see whether cloudiness is mainly an overnight and morning pattern or commonly persists during the part of the day you plan to visit.
This heatmap shows the average solar radiation reaching Capitola by month and hour. Brighter cells indicate the strongest typical sun, while muted cells can reflect nighttime, shorter winter days, cloud cover, smoke, or terrain shading.
Each cell combines one month with one local hour. Hover over or focus on a cell for its value and sample coverage. The red marker shows the current month and hour.
How recent months compared at Capitola
- October 2026 recap: October 2026 at Capitola averaged a high of 74°F, 4°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 71°F. It brought 0.32 in. of rain, compared with a normal of 1.13 in.
- Rain year: The 2025-26 rain year (Oct. 1 to Sep. 30) brought 26.2 in. of rain to Capitola, 95% of the 27.4 in. normal.
Location Details
Capitola weather questions
Everything you need to know about weather and visiting Capitola
What is the weather like at Capitola today?
It's 54°F at Capitola right now, with a comfort score of 78 (great). Monday's forecast high at Capitola is 58°F, 7°F below the mid November normal of 65°F. The best window today is 8 AM to 11 AM, at about 61°F with a 10 mph wind (comfort 72).
What is the best month to visit Capitola?
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Capitola are September, August, and June. The best hours are usually noon to 3 PM in September, 2 PM to 5 PM in August, and 3 PM to 6 PM in June. The warm season lasts about 2.2 months, from Jul 29 to Oct 4, when the average high is 71°F or warmer. Highs peak around Sep 8 at about 72°F.
What are the warmest and coldest months at Capitola?
September is the warmest month at Capitola, with an average high of 72°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 42°F.
When does the fog burn off at Capitola?
Fog or low cloud covers Capitola in 51% of 6 AM hours in July, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by 11 AM. February mornings are the least foggy (9%).
When is it windiest at Capitola?
From March through October, wind at Capitola typically builds after 11 AM. In May it peaks around 3 PM, averaging 9 mph with 2% of those hours windy, while mornings average 4 mph.
How much rain does Capitola get?
January is the wettest month (5.7 in.), out of about 27.4 in. a year. The rainy season runs from Nov 6 to Apr 12, when a day has at least a 20% chance of measurable rain. That stretch brings 87% of the year's rain. The 2025-26 rain year (Oct. 1 to Sep. 30) brought 26.2 in. of rain to Capitola, 95% of the 27.4 in. normal.
How does Capitola weather compare with Santa Cruz Westside?
Santa Cruz Westside, 6.3 miles away, runs about 10°F cooler than Capitola on summer afternoons.
What kind of place is Capitola?
A few miles east of Santa Cruz, Capitola packs a small beach village around the spot where Soquel Creek reaches Monterey Bay. Its wharf began in 1857 as a 450-foot landing called Soquel Landing and now reaches about 850 feet over a protected crescent of bay. Cliff Drive's bluff rises on one side of the beach, and the village shops line the other. New Brighton State Beach, with bluff-top campsites, sits within the town's eastern edge.
What is Capitola weather like in November?
November at Capitola averages a high of 65°F and a low of 45°F, with 2.9 in. of rain over about 7 rainy days. Afternoon wind averages 6 mph.
More about Capitola weather
Guides that explain the weather here and nearby
Data sources and methods
- Monthly temperatures and precipitation: NOAA 1991-2020 normals.
- Fog, cloud, wind, sun, and comfort by hour and month: NOAA's HRRR hourly analysis from September 2014 to April 2026.
- Daily records and recent months: NOAA URMA and HRRR analyses, plus NOAA Stage IV precipitation.
- Nearby comparisons and regional rankings use the same hourly HRRR summaries for every destination in the region.
- Alerts: National Weather Service. Tides and ocean temperature: NOAA CO-OPS, where shown.
- All statements on this page are computed from these datasets, apart from the “What shapes the weather” guide, which cites its sources inline.
- Visit Santa Cruz County, Best beaches for whale watching (accessed 2026-10-27)
- City of Capitola home page (beach web cam and visitor links) (accessed 2026-10-27)
- California State Parks, New Brighton State Beach (accessed 2026-10-27)
- City of Capitola, Cliff Drive Resiliency Project Update (accessed 2026-10-27)
Rendered 2026-11-15T12:16:21.407Z.