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Aptos, California Weather

Summer heat deepens across the valleys. Day 15 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Aptos weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Aptos, CA
Sunday, July 5 at 10:49 AM
58
°
Overcast
Feels like
59°
Humidity
87%
Wind
2 mph
Sunrise
10:53 PM
Sunset
1:30 PM
Aptos, CA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastAptos, CA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 54 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 54°H 65°
Aptos, CA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 5
    Foggy
    —
    —
    65°56°—
  2. Monday
    Jul 6
    Foggy
    —
    —
    63°54°-2°
  3. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Overcast
    —
    —
    73°55°+10°
  4. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Clear
    —
    —
    70°55°-3°
  5. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Clear
    —
    —
    72°55°+2°
  6. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    —
    —
    71°56°-1°
  7. Saturday
    Jul 11
    Overcast
    —
    —
    67°57°-4°
Aptos, CA
Next 24 hours · Cool now
50°59°68°6a12p6p12anow 56°high 65°low 54°
Aptos, CA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SW
221° · backing 40°
Direction
SW
221°
Sustained
2
mph
Gust
2
mph
Peak 24h
9
avg 4
Beaufort · 1 · LIGHT AIR
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 4 · pk 9 @ 4:00p
010MPHB1B2B3B4-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 104SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Aptos, CA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1005.9
0.0 mb in 3h · steady · 29.70 inHg
Now
1005.9
mb
3h
0.0
mb
12h
-0.7
mb
24h
-0.8
mb
Regime · RAIN
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1005–1006
1000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1006.11004.51005.1
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Damp, unsettled regime — wet weather lingers nearby.
Aptos, CA
Air quality
27
AQI
Good
→-1 in 6h

AQI 27 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). PM2.5 at 5.5 µg/m³ (AQI 31) with a 0.65 fine-to-coarse ratio and 2 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
5.5μg/m³
PM 10Good
8μg/m³
NO₂Good
1μg/m³
OzoneGood
55μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
4.3

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 5.5 µg/m³ (AQI 31) with a 0.65 fine-to-coarse ratio and 2 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.65
Wind
calm
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Aptos, CA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
93%
OVERCAST
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
28.3mi
UNLIMITED
37 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
17:49 UTC · Aptos, CA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
17:49 UTC · Aptos, CA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Aptos, CA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Aptos, CA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Aptos, CA
Almanac · Sunday, July 5
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:24 AM
Sunrise
10:53 PM
Daylight
14h 37m
Sunset
1:30 PM
Civil dusk
9:02 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Aptos, CA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
71% illuminated
Moonrise
11:26 PM
Moonset
11:26 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Aptos, CA
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Summer heat deepens across the valleys

weather
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Aptos at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 17°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: March 29 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP code: 95003

16-Day Forecast — Aptos

  1. Sun65°56°1%
  2. Mon63°54°0%
  3. Tue73°55°0%
  4. Wed70°55°0%
  5. Thu72°55°0%
  6. Fri71°56°0%
  7. Sat67°57°1%
  8. Sun68°57°1%
  9. Mon73°61°4%
  10. Tue70°61°3%
  11. Wed68°60°1%
  12. Thu83°65°2%
  13. Fri95°70°0%
  14. Sat86°70°0%
  15. Sun71°59°3%
  16. Mon73°59°3%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 5, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

January 1–5: New year in coastal mist.January 6–10: Hills hold the winter cold.January 11–15: Light lengthens over wet earth.January 16–20: The green pulse quickens.January 21–25: Spring green spreads inland.January 26–31: Winter's grip releases.February 1–5: Fog lifts, flowers open.February 6–10: Blooms erupt across chaparral.February 11–15: Winter blooms at their peak.February 16–20: Rivers recede, flowers spread.February 21–25: Earth warms, flowers rush upslope.February 26–28: Spring advances on cool winds.March 1–5: Grass and trees bud and break.March 6–10: Insects wake and feed.March 11–15: Blossoms crown the hillsides.March 16–20: Monarch chrysalis emergence.March 21–25: Light overtakes dark at equinox.March 26–31: California poppy ablaze.April 1–5: Spring rain feeds the seedlings.April 6–10: Warblers flood the understory.April 11–15: Allen's hummingbirds in courtship dives.April 16–20: Coastal fog settles; sun breaks midday.April 21–25: Oak canopies full and green.April 26–30: Chaparral awakens after spring rains.May 1–5: Coastal wildflowers at their peak.May 6–10: Gray whales complete their migration north.May 11–15: Redwood coast in cool shade.May 16–20: Fog and sun in daily rhythm.May 21–25: Summer approaches; hills turn gold.May 26–31: Dry season begins; tule fog in valleys.June 1–5: Coastal fog thickens at dawn.June 6–10: California poppies fade as heat rises.June 11–15: Summer solstice light stretched thin.June 16–20: Bay laurel fragrance sweetens shade.June 21–25: Longest daylight, driest air.June 26–30: Fog banks mask the turning tide.July 1–5: Summer heat deepens across the valleys.July 6–10: Warm winds drive dryness inland.July 11–15: Pacific high settles in firmly.July 16–20: Young hawks take to the thermals.July 21–25: Peak fire season, peak heat.July 26–31: Chaparral poised for ignition.August 1–5: August begins in scorching stillness.August 6–10: Autumn's first cool breath arrives.August 11–15: Cool winds signal the turning year.August 16–20: Evening cicada chorus.August 21–25: Marine layer descent.August 26–31: Monarch staging begins.September 1–5: Fire season intensity.September 6–10: Dew on drying grasses.September 11–15: Raptor passage begins.September 16–20: Equinox descent.September 21–25: Ceanothus blooms again.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Creeks begin to whisper.October 6–10: Santa Ana wind season.October 11–15: Wildflower anticipation.October 16–20: Chaparral embers glow.October 21–25: First atmospheric river looms.October 26–31: Rains return at last.November 1–5: Coast live oak leaves turn amber.November 6–10: California lilac blooms in winter light.November 11–15: First rain greens the chaparral.November 16–20: Coastal fog thickens as storms approach.November 21–25: Thanksgiving rains swell the valleys.November 26–30: Autumn's last breath yields to winter.December 1–5: December arrives, storms accelerate.December 6–10: Winter solstice season intensifies.December 11–15: Deep winter: rivers at flood stage.December 16–20: Winter salmon runs peak in northern rivers.December 21–25: Winter solstice: the sun turns.December 26–31: Year's end in wind and rain.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coast✨May 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Summer heat deepens across the valleys

Inland temperatures exceed 95°F regularly; fire danger reaches moderate to high across most of the region.

Day 186 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January——
February——
March——
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

The year in Aptos tops out in August (~66°F) and dips lowest in January (~51°F), with January wettest at 5.5 inches and July driest at 0.1 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January51°5.5″15
February52°5.0″13
March53°4.1″13
April56°1.9″9
May60°0.6″5
June62°0.1″3
July65°0.1″9
August66°0.1″10
September66°0.1″6
October63°0.8″7
November56°3.1″11
December51°4.5″14

Regional context

Drawing on NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Aptos's January averages 51°F and July 65°F — 14°F apart — while precipitation totals roughly 25.8 inches over some 112 days.

Aptos's moisture rides winter storm tracks: January brings 5.5 inches over 14.7 wet days, while July sees only 0.1 inches across 8.5 days in the dry warm season. That groups Aptos with places like Seacliff, CA, Rio del Mar, CA and Soquel, CA on the same cool-season storm track.

Aptos rarely sees a hard freeze — its coldest month sits near 51°F — so planting spans most of the calendar. Heat peaks in August around 66°F, which confines cool-season crops to the shoulders of summer. Across Aptos, elevation and tree cover drive a 4-7°F spread in Aptos's overnight lows.

Similar climates: Seacliff, CA, Rio del Mar, CA, Soquel, CA, Day Valley, CA, Capitola, CA.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Aptos?
In Aptos, expect the last spring frost near mid-April; Aptos's first autumn frost comes around mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Aptos?
Aptos sees its heaviest rain in January (around 5.5 inches), part of roughly 26 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Aptos?
On average August tops the year in Aptos at about 66°F.
What is the coldest month in Aptos?
The coldest stretch in Aptos falls in January, around 51°F on average.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Aptos?
Hardy spring crops go in near mid-April in Aptos; tender peppers and squash wait 10–14 days.
How many rainy days does Aptos get?
Aptos averages about 112 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is Aptos?
Since January in Aptos averages 51°F, Aptos's USDA zone follows that floor — confirm it by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Aptos?
Aptos's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Aptos?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Aptos in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Aptos?
Current conditions for Aptos and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Aptos forecast updated?
The Aptos forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Aptos?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Aptos are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Aptos?
The next few days in Aptos's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

In Aptos, California, the hot-summer Mediterranean climate runs from about 51°F in January to 65°F in July, a 14°F seasonal range.

Rain and snow bring Aptos roughly 26 inches a year across approximately 112 measurable-precipitation days.

Aptos's 14°F range, set by its 37.0°N position, drives frost timing and what thrives in Aptos.

All cities in California →

Santa Cruz, CA weather →

ZIP codes in Aptos

  • 95003
  • 95001

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.