Low fog often covers the Olema Valley on summer mornings.

Warm dry summers and cool rainy winters characterize the Point Reyes Peninsula's climate, similar to the type of climate that prevails on the Mediterranean. While this is the general trend, the weather can vary greatly depending on which side of the Inverness Ridge you are visiting.

There are usually moderate to strong winds on the exposed headlands and outer beaches. The strongest winds occur in November and December during occasional southerly gales. Winds have been clocked at 130 miles per hour at the Lighthouse on the Point, but the annual maximum wind velocity is 43 miles per hour. Winds are much lighter on the eastern side of the Inverness Ridge, but it is an unusual day that does not bring afternoon breezes to Point Reyes.

Headlands and beaches on the Pacific Coast are subject to frequent heavy fogs. During most of the year, the water temperatures near the coast are lower than that of the ocean farther to the west. As warm moist air from farther offshore travels east it encounters these frigid coastal waters. The air cools, condenses, and produces fog. The fog can blanket the ocean for more than 50 miles off the shore and often smothers the beaches. Heavy fogs are most common in July, August and September.

Sunshine and higher temperatures can be found inland. The east side of Inverness Ridge and the beaches of Tomales Bay are sheltered, with sunny areas for picnicking and swimming. Inland temperatures in the summer are often 20 degrees warmer than temperatures on the Headlands and outer coast.

Rainfall averages about 12 inches per year out on the Point where the Lighthouse is located, with the heaviest rainfall in December, January, February and March. A few miles inland the rainfall is much greater, averaging about 36 inches a year at Bear Valley. Although there is scarcely any rain from mid-April to October, the night and morning coastal fogs condense on the trees and keep the wooded hills moist.

The moderating influence of the Pacific Ocean creates a climate with no great extremes of heat or cold; average monthly temperatures differ only about 28 degrees from high to low throughout the year. To get a better idea of what kind of weather to expect during your visit, go to the Weather page in the Plan Your Visit section.  

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