Arcata, California — live current conditions, hourly and 7-day forecasts, NWS alerts, aviation weather, radar and satellite imagery, tide predictions, marine conditions and a solunar fishing forecast for Arcata, Humboldt County.
Tides, marine forecast and fishing conditions near Arcata. Tide source:
Flight conditions near Arcata. Data source: locating…
Arcata breathes the cool, moist air of the North Coast, a place where the dense, emerald forests of Humboldt County spill down towards the wide, grey expanse of Humboldt Bay. It lies 6.1 miles north-east of Eureka, CA (from Eureka, CA: bearing 43°T), and is situated 5.6 miles south of McKinleyville. The land itself seems to hum with a quiet vitality, a gentle slope from the forested hills to the marshy edges where the bay begins its slow, tidal breath. Ancient redwoods, their colossal forms reaching for the perpetually overcast sky, guard the western flanks, their sheer presence a grounding force. The town itself, a collection of weathered wood and vibrant murals, sits with an easygoing charm, its streets lined with a mix of architectural styles that speak of a long and layered past. Here, the light often filters through a soft haze, casting a gentle, diffused glow that softens the edges of everything, from the weathered clapboard of its older buildings to the vibrant green of the ubiquitous ferns. This is a place deeply connected to its natural surroundings, a heritage evident in its founding and its enduring economy. Arcata’s history is intertwined with the logging industry, the scent of sawdust a faint memory in the air, now replaced by the earthy aroma of the surrounding forests and the briny tang of the bay. The university, a hub of intellectual energy, contributes a youthful dynamism, infusing the town with a creative spirit that finds expression in its lively arts scene and its commitment to environmental stewardship. Humboldt Bay itself remains a vital artery, supporting a fishing and aquaculture industry that continues to define the local character, while nearby state parks offer unparalleled access to the dramatic coastline and the towering redwood groves, a constant reminder of the wild beauty that cradles Arcata.
Live animated radar for Arcata and surroundings — RainViewer.
NOAA GOES-16 GEOCOLOR — live animated loop updated every 10 minutes. Shows cloud cover, storm systems and weather patterns across the continental US.
Source: NOAA/NESDIS GOES-East · Public domain · Auto-updates on page reload
| Location | Arcata, Humboldt County, California |
| Coordinates | 40.866517°N, 124.08284°W |
| Timezone | Pacific Time (America/Los_Angeles) |
| ZIP Code(s) | 95521, 95518 |
| Area Code | 530 |
| Page generated | July 2026 |
| Weather data | Open-Meteo (open-source), NOAA National Weather Service |
This page provides live weather conditions and forecasts for Arcata, California, including current conditions, a 24-hour hourly forecast, 7-day outlook, NWS extended text forecast, real-time aviation weather (live METAR and TAF reports from the nearest reporting airport, with a modeled estimate shown when no station is in range), precipitation radar and NOAA GOES-16 satellite imagery. Additional sections may include tide predictions, wave height, wave direction and sea-surface temperature, a barometric pressure trend, and a solunar-based fishing forecast with a fishing-conditions rating for coastal localities, and soil temperature, crop weather and live USGS river gauge data for agricultural areas near a monitored waterway. All data updates automatically on every page visit.
Location data for Arcata includes coordinates 40.866517°N, 124.082840°W, situated in Humboldt County. ZIP code 95521, 95518. Telephone area code: 530. Timezone: Pacific Time (America/Los_Angeles).
Weather data is sourced from the NOAA National Weather Service (NWS) and the open-source Open-Meteo API. Aviation data is sourced from aviationweather.gov (NOAA), with a modeled estimate used where no nearby reporting station is available. River and stream data is sourced from the USGS National Water Information System. Tide predictions are sourced from NOAA CO-OPS; marine and solunar data are modeled from Open-Meteo and public sunrise/moon calculations and should be treated as a general guide alongside on-the-water conditions. Radar is provided by RainViewer. Satellite imagery is sourced from NOAA/NESDIS GOES-East and is public domain.