Arcata, California Weather
Arcata, California — live current conditions, hourly and 7-day forecasts, NWS alerts, 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:
Full aviation weather for Arcata is published on the Murray Field (KEKA) page, 8 km away. It carries the current METAR decoded into plain language — surface wind, visibility, cloud layers and ceiling, temperature and dewpoint, and altimeter setting — alongside the raw observation as transmitted. 4 airfields within reach of Arcata have their own pages, listed below.
The Terminal Aerodrome Forecast (TAF) is shown across its full validity period, with each change group broken out so you can see when conditions are expected to shift. Flight category is derived automatically — VFR, MVFR, IFR or LIFR — from reported ceiling and visibility, with runway details and field elevation alongside. Observations update roughly hourly and forecasts several times a day.
Other airports near Arcata: California Redwood Coast-Humboldt County Airport (KACV) 13 km · Rohnerville Airport (KFOT) 35 km · Dinsmore Airport (KD63) 58 km
Conditions reported at KEKA describe the airfield itself. Weather 8 km away can differ, particularly in terrain or near the coast. For conditions at Arcata specifically, see the current conditions and forecast above.
About Arcata, California
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 | September 2026 |
| Weather data | Open-Meteo (open-source), NOAA National Weather Service |
About This Arcata, California Weather Page
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, precipitation radar and NOAA GOES-16 satellite imagery. Aviation weather — live METAR observations and TAF forecasts — is published separately on the pages for the nearest reporting airports, linked from the aviation section above. 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. 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.
