Channel Islands
Eight islands sitting in the temperature gradient that drives the whole Southern California coast.
The islands straddle the sharpest sea-surface temperature break on the West Coast, where cold water rounding Point Conception meets the warm Southern California Bight. The northern islands sit in the cold side and are foggy, windy and cool; the southern islands sit in the warm side and are neither. San Miguel, fully exposed at the west end, is one of the windiest places in California. The gradient between them is what makes the Catalina eddy spin up in the first place.
- Elevation range
- 0 ft → 2,450 ftHigh point: Devils Peak, Santa Cruz Island
- Relief
- 2,450 ftTop to bottom, inside this region
- Span
- 132 × 97 miEast–west by north–south
- Annual rainfall
- 9–21″Driest to wettest ground here
- Köppen types
- CsbBSk3 counties
Map of Channel Islands within California.
The four seasons here
NOT A GENERIC SEASON WITH THE PLACE NAME SWAPPED INWinter
The wettest months, and the only time the northern islands are reliably clear between systems.
Spring
Strongest northwest wind of the year at the west end.
Summer
Fog and stratus on the northern islands; the southern islands often sit above it in sun.
Autumn
Calmest and clearest, apart from offshore-wind events that flatten the water entirely.
Places in this region
0 PLACES, LOWEST FIRST| Place | Elevation | Jan high | Jan low | Jul high | Jul low | Annual precip | Snow |
|---|
National Parks in this weather region
FIELD NOTES FROM THE PARK TRANSECTTerrain and gradients
WHAT THE ELEVATION ACTUALLY DOESToo few reporting stations to regress a terrain gradient.
Ranges and passes
A PASS IS A WIND FEATURE FIRSTNo named range or pass sits wholly inside this region.
Who forecasts it
OFFICIAL FORECASTS AND WARNINGS COME FROM HEREGolden State Weather is not a source of watches or warnings. For those, go to the offices above.