Weather in Scotts Valley, California
Fog and sun in daily rhythm. Day 59 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Clear—72°49°
- SundayMay 17Overcast—71°47°
- MondayMay 18Clear—80°55°
- TuesdayMay 19Clear—88°54°
- WednesdayMay 20Overcast—82°53°
- ThursdayMay 21Overcast—75°51°
- FridayMay 22Partly Cloudy—75°50°
- PM 2.5
- 7.7 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 12.0 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 1.3 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 92.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 2.3 Low
When the dew is on the grass, rain will never come to pass.
- Moonrise
- 1:12 PM
- Moonset
- 3:43 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Fog and sun in daily rhythm
Scotts Valley at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 12°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: March 29 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: 28 of 72, May 16–20
- Planting window: Direct sow okra, melons, and southern peas. Thin carrot rows.
Right now in the garden
Warm-season window is open
As of May 17, the last spring frost has passed for most years. Transplant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, basil, and cucurbits (cucumbers, squash, melons) now. Direct-sow beans and corn into warm soil.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | — | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| May | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | — | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
Scotts Valley's warmest month is August (~65°F mean) and its coldest is December (~51°F). Rainfall peaks in January (6.4 inches) and bottoms out in July (0.0 inches).
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 52° | 6.4″ | 8 |
| February | 53° | 6.1″ | 8 |
| March | 55° | 4.3″ | 7 |
| April | 58° | 2.0″ | 4 |
| May | 60° | 0.9″ | 2 |
| June | 63° | 0.2″ | 1 |
| July | 64° | 0.0″ | 0 |
| August | 65° | 0.0″ | 0 |
| September | 65° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| October | 62° | 1.3″ | 2 |
| November | 56° | 3.2″ | 5 |
| December | 51° | 6.0″ | 8 |
Regional context
Scotts Valley sits within a hot-summer Mediterranean climate region — a cohort that shares similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions across nearby cities.
Similar climates: Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, San Diego, CA, Riverside, CA, Sacramento, CA.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Scotts Valley?
- Scotts Valley's last spring frost typically falls around mid-April, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-November.
- What is the rainy season in Scotts Valley?
- January is the wettest month with about 6.4 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 31 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Scotts Valley?
- August is typically warmest, averaging about 65°F.
- What is the coldest month in Scotts Valley?
- December is typically coldest, averaging about 51°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Scotts Valley?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be sown around the last spring frost (mid-April); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Scotts Valley get?
- Scotts Valley averages about 45 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is Scotts Valley?
- Scotts Valley's USDA hardiness zone is determined by its lowest average winter temperature; check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
Scotts Valley, California sits in a hot-summer Mediterranean climate zone. January means hover near 52°F while July averages 64°F — a 12°F seasonal swing.
Across the year, Scotts Valley receives about 31 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 45 rainy days.
The rhythm of the year is set by latitude (37.1°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation — all of which shape what grows here, when frost is likely, and what the weather story looks like day to day.