So, you’re looking at the long beach weather forecast and seeing a string of "partly cloudy" icons. If you aren't from around here, that probably looks like a bit of a bummer for a beach day. But honestly? In Long Beach, those little gray clouds are basically a local personality trait.
Weather in this city is weird. It’s not like Los Angeles proper, and it definitely isn't like the scorched earth of the Inland Empire. We’ve got this specific microclimate dictated by the San Pedro Bay and the massive breakwater that sits out there like a concrete spine in the ocean. It changes everything. You can be standing on 2nd Street in Belmont Shore shivering in a hoodie while people just five miles inland in Lakewood are cranking their AC and wondering why it’s 85 degrees.
The ocean is the boss here.
The "June Gloom" That Actually Starts in April
If you’re checking the long beach weather forecast during the spring or early summer, you’re going to see a lot of mentions of the marine layer. Meteorologists at the National Weather Service office in San Diego (who handle our neck of the woods) spend half their lives tracking this thick, soupy mist.
It’s called an inversion. Basically, cool air from the Pacific gets trapped under a layer of warmer air. It creates this gray ceiling that sits over the city. Locals call it "May Gray" or "June Gloom," but let’s be real—it usually starts in April and sometimes hangs out until August.
I’ve seen tourists show up at the Queen Mary in mid-June expecting Baywatch vibes. Instead, they get a view that looks more like a moody Sherlock Holmes set in London.
You’ve got to understand how the "burn off" works. The sun has to heat the ground enough to evaporate that moisture from the bottom up. Usually, by 1:00 PM, the sky turns a piercing, impossible blue. But if the pressure is high enough, that gray lid stays shut all day. You’ll look at your phone, see a "high of 72," and realize it’s actually 64 because the sun never broke through.
The Breakwater Factor and Humidity
Most people think being by the ocean means constant wind.
Not really in Long Beach. Because of the Long Beach Breakwater—a 2.2-mile long rock wall built back in the 40s—the water in the harbor is usually flat as a pancake. This lacks the churning surf of Huntington or Newport. It affects the air.
Without those massive crashing waves to spray salt air and create a consistent breeze, the humidity can get surprisingly sticky. During a "Santa Ana" wind event, everything flips. The wind blows from the desert toward the sea. The humidity drops to like 5%. Your skin feels like parchment paper, and the long beach weather forecast starts showing triple digits.
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But those offshore winds are the only time the water actually feels warm. Usually, the Pacific here stays between 58 and 68 degrees. It’s cold. Always.
Why the Airport is a Liar
When you see a temperature for Long Beach on a major news site, they are almost always pulling data from the Long Beach Airport (LGB).
Here’s the catch: the airport is four miles inland.
That four-mile gap is a massive deal. On a typical July afternoon, the airport might be 82 degrees. Down at Alamitos Bay? It’s probably 74. If you’re planning a trip, always subtract about 5 to 8 degrees from the "official" forecast if you actually plan on being near the water.
Rain is a Rare Guest (But a Messy One)
We get maybe 12 inches of rain a year if we’re lucky. Most of it happens between December and March.
When a storm hits Long Beach, the city kind of loses its mind. People forget how to drive on the 405 immediately. But the real issue is the runoff. Because the Los Angeles River terminates right here in Long Beach, all the rain that falls across the entire LA basin eventually flows out past our beaches.
If the long beach weather forecast says it’s going to pour, don’t plan on swimming for at least 72 hours afterward. The water quality takes a massive hit. Surfers know the rule: wait three days or risk an ear infection.
The Best Time to Actually Be Here
Ask any local. They’ll tell you September and October are the best months.
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The kids are back in school. The tourists have cleared out of the Pike and Shoreline Village. Most importantly, the "gloomy" marine layer finally takes a hike. This is when we get our "Summer."
The days are consistently 75 degrees. The air is clear enough to see the snow on the San Gabriel Mountains to the north and the silhouette of Catalina Island to the south. It’s perfect.
Real-World Planning Tips
- Layer like an onion. Even if it’s supposed to be 80, the second the sun dips behind the Palos Verdes Peninsula, the temperature drops 15 degrees.
- Trust the "Morning Clouds, Afternoon Sun" mantra. If you wake up and it’s gray, don’t cancel your brunch plans. It’ll likely be gorgeous by lunch.
- Check the wind. If you’re sailing or kiteboarding at Belmont Pier, the wind usually picks up around 2:00 PM.
- The "LGB" vs. "Beach" gap. Check a weather app that lets you pin a specific neighborhood like "Naples" or "Belmont Shore" rather than just "Long Beach" to get the real coastal temp.
Long Beach isn't just a generic sunny California town. It’s a place where the geography of the harbor and the height of the marine layer dictate your entire day. If you respect the fog and bring a light jacket, you'll be just fine.
Actionable Next Steps
To get the most accurate read on current conditions, stop looking at generic national apps. Use the National Weather Service (NWS) Point Forecast specifically for the "Long Beach Coastal" zone. If you are heading to the water, check the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System (SCCOOS) for real-time water temperature and swell data. This tells you if it’s "wetsuit weather" or "shorts weather" far better than a standard thermometer reading ever will. Always check the Heal the Bay Beach Report Card after any rainfall before entering the ocean to ensure the water is safe for swimming.