, with cold winters and hot summers, and with strong temperature variations between night and day.
The town (once called Dorris Bridge) is located at 1,300 meters (4,260 ft) above sea level, in northeastern
. We are in the small part of California belonging to the Great Basin, the arid plateau that occupies the western United States. North of the city, we find Lake Goose, a partially endorheic lake divided between California and Oregon and located at 1,400 meters (4,600 ft) above sea level.
, the temperature can drop below -20 °C (-4 °F). In 2017, it dropped to -30.6 °C (-23 °F), and in February 1989, to as low as -35 °C (-31 °F). In one year, 76 cm (30 in) of snow fall, from November to April.
, it can be very hot during the day, but also cold at night. On the
of the year, the temperature usually reaches 38/39 °C (100/102 °F). In 2007, it reached 41 °C (106 °F).
To visit Alturas, you can choose the months of May and September. It is true that it rains a little more often than in summer (especially in May), and that it gets colder at night, but in this way, you can avoid the heat that can occur in summer. September is probably the best month.
. Here are the average temperatures.
January is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-0.1 °C, with a minimum of
-6.3 °C and a maximum of
6.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-17.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-30.6 °C in January 2017.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
14 °C. However, it reached
22.8 °C in January 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 35 minutes.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
7.3 kph.
February is generally a cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
1.6 °C, with a minimum of
-5 °C and a maximum of
8.1 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-14 °C. However, it dropped to
-23.3 °C in February 2011.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
16 °C. However, it reached
22.2 °C in February 1992.
Precipitation amounts to
30 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 40 minutes.
The average humidity is 70%.
The average wind speed is of
8.7 kph.
March is generally a quite cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
4.2 °C, with a minimum of
-3.1 °C and a maximum of
11.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-11 °C. However, it dropped to
-18.3 °C in March 2012.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21 °C. However, it reached
25 °C in March 1994.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is of
10.3 kph.
April is generally a quite mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
6.8 °C, with a minimum of
-1.1 °C and a maximum of
14.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-8 °C. However, it dropped to
-12 °C in April 2009.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
25 °C. However, it reached
28.9 °C in April 2012.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 11 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 25 minutes.
The average humidity is 58%.
The average wind speed is of
10.8 kph.
May is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
11.4 °C, with a minimum of
2.9 °C and a maximum of
19.9 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-4.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-10 °C in May 2010.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
30 °C. However, it reached
33.9 °C in May 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
30 mm, distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 35 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 51%.
The average wind speed is of
10.4 kph.
June is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
15.7 °C, with a minimum of
5.7 °C and a maximum of
25.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-0.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-6 °C in June 2001.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
34.5 °C. However, it reached
38.3 °C in June 2013.
Precipitation amounts to
20 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 15 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long. June 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 42%.
The average wind speed is of
10.4 kph.
July, the warmest month of the year, is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
20.1 °C, with a minimum of
8.4 °C and a maximum of
31.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
3 °C. However, it dropped to
-0.6 °C in July 2016.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
37.5 °C. However, it reached
41.1 °C in July 2007.
Precipitation amounts to only
5 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 50 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 32%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
9.3 kph.
August is generally a warm month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
18.8 °C, with a minimum of
6.8 °C and a maximum of
30.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
2 °C. However, it dropped to
-2.2 °C in August 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
36.5 °C. However, it reached
40 °C in August 1992.
Precipitation amounts to only
5 mm, distributed over 2 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 40 minutes.
The average humidity is 34%. Hence, the air is normally dry.
The average wind speed is of
8.5 kph.
September is generally a very mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
14.7 °C, with a minimum of
2.9 °C and a maximum of
26.5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-3 °C. However, it dropped to
-5.6 °C in September 2004.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
33.5 °C. However, it reached
38.9 °C in September 2020.
Precipitation amounts to
10 mm, distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 25 minutes.
The average humidity is 38%.
The average wind speed is of
7.8 kph.
October is generally a mild month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
8.6 °C, with a minimum of
-1.5 °C and a maximum of
18.7 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-8.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-18 °C in October 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
28 °C. However, it reached
33.9 °C in October 2010.
Precipitation amounts to
25 mm, distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 52%.
The average wind speed is of
7.3 kph.
November is generally a cold month. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of
3.1 °C, with a minimum of
-4.2 °C and a maximum of
10.4 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-14.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-21.1 °C in November 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
21 °C. However, it reached
23.9 °C in November 2016.
Precipitation amounts to
30 mm, distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 50 minutes.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is of
7.5 kph.
December, the coldest month of the year, is generally a very cold month. The average temperature is of
-0.8 °C, with a minimum of
-6.7 °C and a maximum of
5 °C.
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around
-17.5 °C. However, it dropped to
-30 °C in December 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around
13 °C. However, it reached
16.7 °C in December 2008.
Precipitation amounts to
35 mm, distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 10 minutes. December 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is of
7.8 kph.