Salem, OR Climate & Monthly Averages
Salem has a Mediterranean climate. August is the hottest month, averaging 85° by day; December is the coldest at 46°.
Sunshine is a defining feature of Salem's climate
Salem runs on a dry-summer rhythm: the warmest months are also the driest. July averages 6 mm (0.2 in) while the wet season peaks in December at 8.1 inches (205 mm). Highs range from 46°F (8°C) to 85°F (30°C).
How sun, temperature and rain fit together
December is the coolest month, with highs of 46°F (8°C) and lows near 35°F (2°C). Warmth peaks in August: highs of 85°F (30°C), lows of 58°F (14°C). The gridded 2015-2024 daily record for this location tops out at 115°F (46°C) and bottoms at 14°F (-10°C) - decade extremes, not all-time station records. Three of the twelve months pair mild highs with fewer than twelve wet days; the longest unbroken run is May through June.
2 months average under 20 mm of rain, the longest unbroken stretch running July through August. July is the brightest month at 13.8 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 8.6. Days and nights are about 10°C apart on average - wider than roughly 77% of the cities we track. Snow falls on roughly 7 days a year, mostly December through April.
More climate facts for Salem
- Hottest month: August - highs near 85°F (30°C)
- Coldest month: December - highs near 46°F (8°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 115°F (46°C) high · 14°F (-10°C) low
- Wettest month: December (18 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (13.8 h sun/day)
- Climate type: Mediterranean
- Annual swing: 17°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 10°C
- Snow: about 7 days a year
- Average humidity: 75%
The most comfortable sunny-weather window
Best time to visit Salem
The best time to visit Salem is generally May to June and September to October, when the dry season is running but the afternoons are still bearable. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 71°F (22°C), with rain on about 8 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in May.
What to pack
Pack for Salem with light clothing for the warm months, a warm jacket and layers for the cooler season, a compact umbrella or rain shell and moisture-wicking fabrics for the humidity. August nights average 58°F (14°C), so evenings rarely match the afternoons.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 48° | 36° | 19 | 7.0 in | 4.4 h/day | 9.1 h | 60% | 88% |
| February | 49° | 35° | 15 | 5.2 in | 5.6 h/day | 10.3 h | 52% | 85% |
| March | 54° | 37° | 16 | 4.8 in | 7.4 h/day | 11.8 h | 52% | 82% |
| April | 59° | 41° | 15 | 3.9 in | 9.1 h/day | 13.4 h | 50% | 77% |
| May | 67° | 47° | 9 | 2.3 in | 10.7 h/day | 14.8 h | 29% | 72% |
| June | 76° | 52° | 7 | 1.7 in | 12.5 h/day | 15.6 h | 23% | 64% |
| July | 85° | 57° | 1 | 0.2 in | 13.8 h/day | 15.3 h | 4% | 57% |
| August | 85° | 58° | 2 | 0.4 in | 12.6 h/day | 14.1 h | 7% | 57% |
| September | 76° | 53° | 6 | 1.8 in | 10.4 h/day | 12.5 h | 22% | 67% |
| October | 64° | 46° | 11 | 4.1 in | 7.4 h/day | 10.9 h | 35% | 79% |
| November | 52° | 39° | 16 | 6.6 in | 5.4 h/day | 9.5 h | 52% | 87% |
| December | 46° | 35° | 18 | 8.1 in | 3.9 h/day | 8.8 h | 58% | 90% |
Salem month by month
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Salem's coldest night and warmest afternoon.
January
- Rain
- 19 days
- Sunshine
- 4.4 h
- Daylight
- 9.1 h
- Snow
- 1 day
February
- Rain
- 15 days
- Sunshine
- 5.6 h
- Daylight
- 10.3 h
- Snow
- 2 days
March
- Rain
- 16 days
- Sunshine
- 7.4 h
- Daylight
- 11.8 h
- Snow
- 2 days
April
- Rain
- 15 days
- Sunshine
- 9.1 h
- Daylight
- 13.4 h
May
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 10.7 h
- Daylight
- 14.8 h
June
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 12.5 h
- Daylight
- 15.6 h
July
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 13.8 h
- Daylight
- 15.3 h
August
- Rain
- 2 days
- Sunshine
- 12.6 h
- Daylight
- 14.1 h
September
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.5 h
October
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 7.4 h
- Daylight
- 10.9 h
November
- Rain
- 16 days
- Sunshine
- 5.4 h
- Daylight
- 9.5 h
December
- Rain
- 18 days
- Sunshine
- 3.9 h
- Daylight
- 8.8 h
- Snow
- 1 day
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Salem's coolest part of the year: December, January, February.
Seasonal weather under Salem's sunnier skies
Spring (March through May)
Spring runs cool rather than cold here - highs near 60°F (16°C), nights near 42°F (5°C), and rain falls on around 40 of the 90 days, plus about 2 snowy days.
Summer (June through August)
Summer in Salem brings hot afternoons, with daytime highs averaging 82°F (28°C) and nights around 56°F (13°C); rain comes on about 10 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 13.0 hours of sun a day.
Fall (September through November)
Fall in Salem stays on the cool side of mild, with daytime highs averaging 64°F (18°C) and nights around 46°F (8°C); rain falls on around 33 of the 90 days.
Winter (December through February)
Through winter, Salem is brisk and cold: 48°F (9°C) by day, 35°F (2°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 51 of the 90 days, plus about 4 snowy days.
How unusual is Salem?
- Salem sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 53°F (12°C) as an annual average, 45.9 inches (1166 mm) of precipitation and 8.6 hours of sun a day.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.
Salem temperature extremes in the 2015–2024 dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.