AI-generatedCarmel-by-the-Sea at a glance
- Best time
- Apr – Oct
- Warmest month
- Sep · 19°
- Warmest sea
- Sep · 14.9°
- Sunshine a year
- 3,000 h
- Rain a year
- 457 mm
- Climate
- Maritime
- Time zone
- UTC−8 / UTC−7
- Elevation
- 68 m
Climate in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Carmel-by-the-Sea has a maritime climate with moderate summers and cool, often grey winters. September is the warmest month with average highs of 19 °C, while February is the coolest at 14 °C. With around 3,000 hours of sunshine a year, Carmel-by-the-Sea is sunny; July is the sunniest month with 10.8 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Poor
Best time to visit: April – October
Good forSightseeing & walks
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 13°
- Midday, 13:00: about 18°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 18°
- Evening, 20:00: about 15°
- Night, 23:00: about 14°
07:1418:33
Cool evenings: pack a jumper or a jacket.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:58–07:48 · evening 17:58–18:49
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:48–06:58 · evening 18:49–18:59
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Carmel-by-the-Sea in October?
In October, Carmel-by-the-Sea is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 14.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 2 days bring 19 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 19 min07:14 – 18:33
- UV index
- 5 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 12 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 32 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC−7America/Los_Angeles
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %0 %
- Seaweight 25 %0 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %83 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %100 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- A jumper for the evenings
Sea temperature in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 13.3 – 16.1 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Carmel-by-the-Sea ranges from 12.0 °C in April to 14.9 °C in September. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
The sea temperature varies from year to year: in September, eight out of ten years were between 13.8 and 16.4 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 12.7° | 11.6° | 13.7° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 12.5° | 11.5° | 13.6° | cold |
| MarchMar | 12.3° | 11.1° | 13.7° | cold |
| AprilApr | 12.0° | 10.9° | 13.0° | cold |
| MayMay | 12.0° | 11.0° | 13.2° | cold |
| JuneJun | 12.7° | 11.7° | 13.9° | cold |
| JulyJul | 13.7° | 13.0° | 14.5° | cold |
| AugustAug | 14.5° | 13.3° | 16.0° | cold |
| SeptemberSep | 14.9° | 13.8° | 16.4° | cold |
| OctoberOct | 14.5° | 13.3° | 16.1° | cold |
| NovemberNov | 13.7° | 12.6° | 14.8° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 13.1° | 11.7° | 14.6° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 8.0 of 11.3 hours of daylight in Carmel-by-the-Sea, 71 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Carmel-by-the-Sea
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 5 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 10).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 25 min
- Fair skin
- about 35 min
- Light brown skin
- about 50 min
- Olive skin
- about 60 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Carmel-by-the-Sea: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Carmel-by-the-Sea has about 2 rainy days with 19 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Carmel-by-the-Sea
How breezy and how cloudy Carmel-by-the-Sea is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Carmel-by-the-Sea typically peaks at 12 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
The daily breeze rarely reaches Beaufort 4 (20 km/h), so wind sports depend on single windy days.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 32 % of the sky over Carmel-by-the-Sea: mostly sunny, with about 8.0 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Carmel-by-the-Sea
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cool 8–15°
CoolOctober: nights around 12°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in February (9°), the warmest in September (13°).
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 23 | 14° | 9° | 12.7° | 5.5 h | 8 | 91 |
| FebruaryFeb | 24 | 14° | 9° | 12.5° | 6.2 h | 9 | 90 |
| MarchMar | 28 | 14° | 9° | 12.3° | 7.2 h | 8 | 67 |
| AprilApr | 38 | 14° | 9° | 12.0° | 8.8 h | 5 | 32 |
| MayMay | 40 | 15° | 10° | 12.0° | 9.9 h | 3 | 14 |
| JuneJun | 40 | 16° | 11° | 12.7° | 10.7 h | 0 | 2 |
| JulyJul | 40 | 18° | 12° | 13.7° | 10.8 h | 0 | 1 |
| AugustAug | 40 | 18° | 13° | 14.5° | 10.2 h | 0 | 2 |
| SeptemberSep | 40 | 19° | 13° | 14.9° | 9.3 h | 1 | 3 |
| OctoberOct | 37 | 18° | 12° | 14.5° | 8.0 h | 2 | 19 |
| NovemberNov | 29 | 16° | 10° | 13.7° | 6.4 h | 6 | 46 |
| DecemberDec | 22 | 14° | 9° | 13.1° | 5.3 h | 8 | 90 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
36.56° N, 121.92° W · 68 m · America/Los_Angeles
Best time to visit Carmel-by-the-Sea
The best time to visit Carmel-by-the-Sea is from April to October. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in September it only reaches 14.9 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from May to November. The wettest month is January with 91 mm of precipitation.
Carmel-by-the-Sea through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Carmel-by-the-Sea in spring
Mar – May
Poor
- 14–15 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 9 h of sun a day
- 16 rainy days in all
Carmel-by-the-Sea in summer
Jun – Aug
Fair
- 16–18 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 11 h of sun a day
- 1 rainy days in all
Carmel-by-the-Sea in autumn
Sep – Nov
Poor
- 16–19 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days in all
Carmel-by-the-Sea in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 14 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 6 h of sun a day
- 25 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Carmel-by-the-Sea for you.
Your best months: June – August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Carmel-by-the-Sea
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
October and May bring similar holiday weather to Carmel-by-the-Sea (score 37 and 40). In May, days are 3 °C cooler than in October. The sea is 2 °C cooler in May. May has one more rainy day. The sun shines 2 hours longer a day in May.
| Month | October | May |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 37 | 40better |
| Day high | 18° | 15° |
| Night low | 12° | 10° |
| Sea | 14.5° | 12.0° |
| Sunshine | 8.0 h | 9.9 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 2better | 3 |
| Rainfall | 19 mm | 14 mm |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
May – Nov
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Carmel-by-the-Sea month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
23January14° · Sea 13° · 6 h
In January, Carmel-by-the-Sea is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 12.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 91 mm. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Carmel-by-the-Sea in January24February14° · Sea 13° · 6 h
In February, Carmel-by-the-Sea is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 12.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 9 days, adding up to 90 mm. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Carmel-by-the-Sea in February28March14° · Sea 12° · 7 h
In March, Carmel-by-the-Sea is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 12.3 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 67 mm. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Carmel-by-the-Sea in March38April14° · Sea 12° · 9 h
In April, Carmel-by-the-Sea is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 12.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 32 mm. All in all, April is not an ideal month for a holiday in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Carmel-by-the-Sea in April40May15° · Sea 12° · 10 h
In May, Carmel-by-the-Sea is cool: daytime highs average 15 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 12.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 14 mm in total. All in all, May is a so-so month for a holiday in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Carmel-by-the-Sea in May40June16° · Sea 13° · 11 h
In June, Carmel-by-the-Sea is mild: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 12.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 11 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. All in all, June is a so-so month for a holiday in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Carmel-by-the-Sea in June40July18° · Sea 14° · 11 h
In July, Carmel-by-the-Sea is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 13.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 11 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. All in all, July is a so-so month for a holiday in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Carmel-by-the-Sea in July40August18° · Sea 15° · 10 h
In August, Carmel-by-the-Sea is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 14.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. All in all, August is a so-so month for a holiday in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Carmel-by-the-Sea in August40September19° · Sea 15° · 9 h
In September, Carmel-by-the-Sea is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 14.9 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 9 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. All in all, September is a so-so month for a holiday in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Carmel-by-the-Sea in September37October18° · Sea 15° · 8 h
In October, Carmel-by-the-Sea is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sea averages 14.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 2 days bring 19 mm in total. All in all, October is not an ideal month for a holiday in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Carmel-by-the-Sea in October29November16° · Sea 14° · 6 h
In November, Carmel-by-the-Sea is cool: daytime highs average 16 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 13.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 46 mm. All in all, November is not an ideal month for a holiday in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Carmel-by-the-Sea in November22December14° · Sea 13° · 5 h
In December, Carmel-by-the-Sea is cool: daytime highs average 14 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 13.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 5 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 90 mm. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Carmel-by-the-Sea.
Carmel-by-the-Sea in DecemberCarmel-by-the-Sea compared
Put Carmel-by-the-Sea side by side with another destination.
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Carmel-by-the-Sea vs. Monterey
In October Monterey has the better holiday weather (score 45 vs. 37). During the day Monterey is 2 °C warmer than Carmel-by-the-Sea. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Carmel-by-the-Sea | Monterey |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 37 | 45 |
| Daytime high | 18° | 20° |
| Sea | 15° | 15° |
| Sunshine | 8 h | 8 h |
| Rainy days | 2 | 2 |
| Best time | Apr – Oct | Jul – Sep |
Through the year
USA in October: the best places
In October, Carmel-by-the-Sea ranks 31 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Las Vegas26°99
- 2Mariposa (Yosemite)23°98
- 3Los Angeles26°19°98
- 4Long Beach25°19°98
- 5Sedona23°97
- 6San Jose23°96
- 7Sacramento25°96
- 8Page (Lake Powell)21°96
- 31Carmel-by-the-SeaThis page18°15°37
Planning a trip to Carmel-by-the-Sea
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Carmel-by-the-Sea in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Carmel-by-the-Sea has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 40) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 23).
- 35
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Poor
- 14 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 8.3 h of sun a day
- 6 rainy days a month
- 40
May half-term
May – Jun
FairBest holidays
- 15 °C by day
- Sea 12 °C
- 10.1 h of sun a day
- 2 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 40
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Fair
- 18 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 10.4 h of sun a day
- 0 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 37
October half-term
Oct
Poor
- 18 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 8.0 h of sun a day
- 2 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 23
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 14 °C by day
- Sea 13 °C
- 5.4 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days a month
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 11 h
- Distance
- 8,690 km
- Time zone
- UTC−7
- Jet lag
- About 5 days (8 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Carmel-by-the-Sea
When is the best time to visit Carmel-by-the-Sea?
The best time to visit Carmel-by-the-Sea is from April to October. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
The sea temperature in Carmel-by-the-Sea ranges from 12.0 °C in April to 14.9 °C in September. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Carmel-by-the-Sea in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 14.5 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
September is the warmest month, with average highs of 19 °C and nights around 13 °C. February is the coolest month at 14 °C.
When does it rain most in Carmel-by-the-Sea?
The wettest month is January with 91 mm of precipitation. The driest month is July with 1 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Carmel-by-the-Sea get?
Carmel-by-the-Sea gets around 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 10.8 hours a day; in December there are 5.3 hours a day.
What time zone is Carmel-by-the-Sea in?
Carmel-by-the-Sea uses the time zone America/Los_Angeles: UTC−8 in January and UTC−7 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Carmel-by-the-Sea?
A nonstop flight from London to Carmel-by-the-Sea takes about 11 h, for a straight-line distance of about 8,690 km.
Which school holidays are best for Carmel-by-the-Sea?
Carmel-by-the-Sea has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 40) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 23). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 35, May half-term 40, Summer holidays 40, October half-term 37, Christmas holidays 23.
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