Catalina Island - April-September

[beshears]

It has been several years ago since I have been to Catalina Island, and it was in April, and at that time it seemed a little cool.:( We are to be in Catalina Island the latter part of September, and I was wondering if it will be a little warmer then in April?

[SoBaycruiser]

Absolutely warmer than April. However, Catalina has been cooler than usual this summer. We go to Catalina 4-5 a year on our boat. May and June we are likely to get a lot of overcast or fog...certainly before noon. With July, temps "normally" start to warm up with sunny days... Followed by August being fairly nice. However, remember Catalina and So California beaches are not like Florida and Hawaii. A warm day is in the mid 70s with not too much humidity.

 

Now September is "usually" the warmest month at the beach and Catalina because of the Santa Ana winds which come off the desert. It creates an off shore wind that pushes the marine layer (overcast) back out to sea. We can have a day in the 80s in Sept or October. (For that matter we can have days like that in Dec-Jan but not frequently) That being said, the last couple years we've had some monsoonal moisture come up from Mexico in September and we've had some rain. But chances are good that the weather should be nice in Sept.

[jbobst]

We were in Catalina this past April on a California Coastal. Had a beautiful warm day there (very clear and calm water too). September should be plenty warm I would think, but weather can be unpredictable.

 

Are you going to Catalina on a Cruise? I didn't think the Coastal cruises included Catalina anylonger... Oh, the Golden is doing short 4 day cruises so maybe you are doing one of those?

[sassyredhat]

Agree with cruiser....Anymore it's a guess what you will have, but traditionally, correct.

We were there in Feb. I wore a long sleeved shirt off the ship, but by mid morning I was rolling up the sleeves.

Pat

[lovetocruise2020]

The Descanso beach club new cabanas and loungers are great. Free wifi.

[vent1020]

This may be a silly question, but are there international charges for calling from Catalina or being part of the US, is it just minutes off your plan like calling anywhere in the US?

[dorisis]

This may be a silly question, but are there international charges for calling from Catalina or being part of the US, is it just minutes off your plan like calling anywhere in the US?

 

Check with your provider. All plans differ.

[SoBaycruiser]

This may be a silly question, but are there international charges for calling from Catalina or being part of the US, is it just minutes off your plan like calling anywhere in the US?

 

Catalina island is part of Los Angeles County. It's part of the USA so if your plan allows for US calling you are fine.

[DrivesLikeMario]

That's right - I've never seen calling charges for LA County and Catalina's in it.

 

September will most likely be warmer than April. We get the warm heat then and have less fog and rain than in April. It still may cool off enough at night to need a sweater/light jacket, but during the day, should be plenty warm to hot.

[vent1020]

Catalina island is part of Los Angeles County. It's part of the USA so if your plan allows for US calling you are fine.

 

Thanks!!!

[Pam in CA]

Absolutely warmer than April. However, Catalina has been cooler than usual this summer. We go to Catalina 4-5 a year on our boat. May and June we are likely to get a lot of overcast or fog...certainly before noon. With July, temps "normally" start to warm up with sunny days... Followed by August being fairly nice. However, remember Catalina and So California beaches are not like Florida and Hawaii. A warm day is in the mid 70s with not too much humidity.

 

Now September is "usually" the warmest month at the beach and Catalina because of the Santa Ana winds which come off the desert. It creates an off shore wind that pushes the marine layer (overcast) back out to sea. We can have a day in the 80s in Sept or October. (For that matter we can have days like that in Dec-Jan but not frequently) That being said, the last couple years we've had some monsoonal moisture come up from Mexico in September and we've had some rain. But chances are good that the weather should be nice in Sept.

 

Catalina island is part of Los Angeles County. It's part of the USA so if your plan allows for US calling you are fine.

SoBaycruiser is correct. This year has been unusually cool. The "June Gloom" whereby the marine layer comes in every night and burns off in the morning has extended through July and now August. It's been consistently 5-6 degrees cooler than normal since early June when we had the Santa Anas. Even when it's normal, temps are in the mid-70's. It hasn't gotten up to 80 in Laguna Beach since early June and when I drive there (to LB, I'm only minutes away), I can see Catalina socked in even mid-morning. That could change but I'd plan on it starting out cool and warming up to the 70's.

 

As said, Catalina is in California so whatever your rate is for CA, that's what you'll pay.

[Kentchikan]

Absolutely warmer than April. However, Catalina has been cooler than usual this summer. We go to Catalina 4-5 a year on our boat. May and June we are likely to get a lot of overcast or fog...certainly before noon. With July, temps "normally" start to warm up with sunny days... Followed by August being fairly nice. However, remember Catalina and So California beaches are not like Florida and Hawaii. A warm day is in the mid 70s with not too much humidity.

 

Now September is "usually" the warmest month at the beach and Catalina because of the Santa Ana winds which come off the desert. It creates an off shore wind that pushes the marine layer (overcast) back out to sea. We can have a day in the 80s in Sept or October. (For that matter we can have days like that in Dec-Jan but not frequently) That being said, the last couple years we've had some monsoonal moisture come up from Mexico in September and we've had some rain. But chances are good that the weather should be nice in Sept.

 

Same is true for us in Northern California. October is traditionally our warmest month. Our summer has been cool up until this week.

[vent1020]

SoBaycruiser is correct. This year has been unusually cool. The "June Gloom" whereby the marine layer comes in every night and burns off in the morning has extended through July and now August. It's been consistently 5-6 degrees cooler than normal since early June when we had the Santa Anas. Even when it's normal, temps are in the mid-70's. It hasn't gotten up to 80 in Laguna Beach since early June and when I drive there (to LB, I'm only minutes away), I can see Catalina socked in even mid-morning. That could change but I'd plan on it starting out cool and warming up to the 70's.

 

As said, Catalina is in California so whatever your rate is for CA, that's what you'll pay.

 

 

That is funny. I'm in Utah only 2 states away and we have had one of the hottest summers since they started keeping track of temperatures. I heard a couple of weeks back that we had already had 17 days OVER 100(I know Arizona, that is nothing) which was third all time.(Since then we've had several more days over 100)

 

Again, just funny how different the weather can be only two states away.

[Kentchikan]

That is funny. I'm in Utah only 2 states away and we have had one of the hottest summers since they started keeping track of temperatures. I heard a couple of weeks back that we had already had 17 days OVER 100(I know Arizona, that is nothing) which was third all time.(Since then we've had several more days over 100)

 

Again, just funny how different the weather can be only two states away.

 

So true. We're wearing long sleeves and long pants instead of shorts and you've had horrendous heat. I don't envy you. Heat makes me sick and grouchy. A most unpleasant combination.

[Pam in CA]

Again, just funny how different the weather can be only two states away.

Here on the coast, the weather can be different even five miles away. And very, very different maybe 50 miles away with temp differences of 20-30 degrees. Rain often misses us, even during rainy season. Along the coast, and Catalina, is almost a micro-climate.

[Kentchikan]

BTW we have rented golf carts in Catalina which is a fun way to see the island but now many of the roads are closed so it makes for a much less spectacular ride through a more trafficked area. Not so much fun.

[beshears]

Thank you. We may not get to go to the beach at Catalina Island, but we HOPE the temperatures will be nice and warm. :)

[Kentchikan]

Thank you. We may not get to go to the beach at Catalina Island, but we HOPE the temperatures will be nice and warm. :)

 

It's a fun little town to explore. Touristy but fun. We had lunch at Mi Casita and it was delicious.

[lovevacadays]

OP, the weather should be warmer in September. However, it is so hard to tell in Southern California any longer. This is the strangest August weather I have experienced here in the twenty years I have been here. Can be down right cool in the mornings. It may be the same for Catalina. However, by the afternoon it should be warm. I would just be sure and have a light sweater or jacket.

 

This may be a silly question, but are there international charges for calling from Catalina or being part of the US, is it just minutes off your plan like calling anywhere in the US?

 

Catalina is not an international location.

[avalong]

BTW we have rented golf carts in Catalina which is a fun way to see the island but now many of the roads are closed so it makes for a much less spectacular ride through a more trafficked area. Not so much fun.

 

Not sure when you were there last, but they've recently reopened the road that goes out to Pebbly Beach so you can now do the loop ride up over the hill past the Inn on Mt Ada and back along the water to town. One of our favorite walks/golf cart rides.

[Kentchikan]

Not sure when you were there last, but they've recently reopened the road that goes out to Pebbly Beach so you can now do the loop ride up over the hill past the Inn on Mt Ada and back along the water to town. One of our favorite walks/golf cart rides.

 

Great news thanks.

[AZbeachboy]

Thank you. We may not get to go to the beach at Catalina Island, but we HOPE the temperatures will be nice and warm. :)

 

We were there last July and it was rainy and cold. Also, if you were to try a beach, local authorities are discouraging that because the water has become so polluted. There was hardly anyone on the beach and some divers behind the Casino Ballroom, but they were fully covered.

[Kentchikan]

We were there last July and it was rainy and cold. Also, if you were to try a beach, local authorities are discouraging that because the water has become so polluted. There was hardly anyone on the beach and some divers behind the Casino Ballroom, but they were fully covered.

 

Too bad it's a nice beach.

[vent1020]

Not sure when you were there last, but they've recently reopened the road that goes out to Pebbly Beach so you can now do the loop ride up over the hill past the Inn on Mt Ada and back along the water to town. One of our favorite walks/golf cart rides.

 

I'm also glad to hear this. We will be there in Nov. and planned on renting carts to explore the island. Was kind of disappointed when the other poster said the roads were closed and renting carts wasn't that great to do anymore.

[beshears]

So are you saying since some of the roads have been closed off, is is still worth taking the golf carts out, or would we be better just walking around? We really want to get our "money's worth" if you get my drift? Of course I guess we could drive very slow, and make up the time difference that way. We don't mind walking, but really want to see as much as we can of Catalina Island.