California Delta weather

What's the weather like in the Delta?

Unlike most parts of Southern California, Northern California and the Delta region do experience seasonal changes in weather conditions. So that visitors from other parts of the state or US won't be surprised, here's a summary of what to expect in each season. Seasonal description below table. Use our Webcam link to see what it looks like TODAY! ("Click" on Photo of each season below for enlarged version of photo)

Month (2005) Avg.	High Temp	Low Temp
January	53°F	37°F
February	59°F	41°F
March	64°F	44°F
April	71°F	47°F
May	78°F	51°F
June	85°F	56°F
July	90°F	58°F
August	89°F	57°F
September	85°F	56°F
October	77°F	51°F
November	63°F	43°F
December	54°F	37°F

Spring

March-May

As early as March, the rain and fog will stop, and fresh grass will pop up in a day or two. Flowers start to bloom and all the species of birds found in the Delta become more active. March can still be somewhat wet, but the days get warmer. Can be in the mid-60's or low 70's. Early spring we can still have occasional cold nights in the high 30's but usually it is high 40's or low 50's at night. The water at this time of year is VERY cold as it is the snow run off from the Sierras. There are also logs, brush and other debris that have been pushed or fallen into the waterways upstream that float on down to the bay via the Delta. Fishing can be good at this time. By late spring, the weather and water are warming up and all trees and plants have re-grown their leaves and flowers. The grass that was dormant through the winter months is a vibrant fresh green. It can be windy in the spring. Snug Harbor is fairly well wind protected-but tent campers should realize the wind is a potential in the Delta, especially in Spring!

Snug Harbor is located on a peninsula off Ryer Island. Ryer Island is a very large farming island, and so in spring you might expect to hear in the background sounds of farming equipment or the age-old method to keep the birds from eating the newly-planted seeds...an "air cannon" that fires into the air to make a "boom" that scares the birds away. These noises are just heard when seeds are planted or the really delicious cherries are being picked, in early and late spring. Farming noises stop at sundown though.

Summer

June-Sept

Summer Snug Harbor

June weather can surprise you and be in the 80's or extend spring and be in the 70's. Nights are to cool to stay in the shorts for some. By July, its usually in the 80's in the day and 70's at night. We can get up into the 90's from about mid July thru mid Sept. Sometimes in late August and early September we will reach 100 to 102 when the Central Valley or Sacramento is even higher than that! Evenings are warm and very pleasant this time of year. As much as 2 weeks out of the year, we've been know to hit 100 but this is not the usual. Late August and early Sept are our hottest times, with the occasional heat wave in early Oct. Summer is the busiest time in the Delta for families who want to camp or boat, or do all the water sports the Delta is ideal for. The water is warm and clean, with lots of great places to water ski or canoe or enjoy other family activities. While many folks also spend time fishing, summer is not the best time for this, especially late August when its hot. In early summer it can be windy, but by late summer the winds are a welcome afternoon respite from the warm sunny day.

Fall

Oct-Nov, maybe December Fall sunrise off Snug Harbor's sandy swim beach

Fall is the favorite time of year for those who really know the Delta. The weather is very nice, the water is warm, fishing is great and the sunsets are awesome! Usually not much wind in the Fall. This is the time when the RV groups most like to visit the parks during the week...its quieter, the kids and families have gone back to school. The trees begin to drop leaves in late October, and by the end of November most trees are completely bare. The grasses go dormant and are a brownish green by December. Weather is quite pleasant, with warm days in the low 80's to upper 70's. Nights are cooler but not so much that you need a heater on. Fall is the best time to do animal-watching: river otter, beaver muskrats and raccoons can be seen by the early riser. All sorts of water foul are around. For the angler, salmon, black bass and stripers are all running. If you want peace and quiet, fall is the best time to visit!

Winter

Dec-Feb Photo shows Snug Harbor's gated entrance. January 2001...most trees are bare, the grass is dormant, but its peaceful and great fishing!

Winter is colder, usually in the low 50's to high 60's during the day, and 30's to 40's at night. Fog in the Delta can be VERY thick, so driving slowly along the levee roads is important. The water is cold, and unless you have a wet suit, its not good for water skiing. Winter is when we see the most fishing families. Salmon, sturgeon and stripers are the targets of the anglers. The RV parks look less inviting these months, as the grass is dormant and the trees have no leaves. Many of the flowering bushes also loose their leaves and are trimmed back. Tides can be high at this time of year, and gravel roads can get muddy; paved roads slick. Except for the ducks and other migrating birds, not much water foul is seen, and the other local animals tend to hibernate or stay close to their dens for the winter. Tent camping is discouraged this time of year because its just to cold and our grassy tent sites can get muddy. RV groups still like to visit and enjoy the waterfront sites with docks and snuggle by the campfires in the evening. Delta regulars also come in winter, to enjoy the peace and quiet.

A great website to use to see what water levels are currently is at http://cdec.water.ca.gov/stage_maps/stgmaps.html This also is the website to use if ever there is a flood like in 1986 around the delta!