Editing Half Moon Bay, California (section)

==Geography==
[[File:HalfMoonBayCalifornia.RitzCarlton.jpg|thumb|[[Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay|Ritz-Carlton Hotel]] on the bay]]
[[File:NorCal2018 Beach and Cliff at Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay S0515061.jpg|thumb|Publicly accessible beach]]
[[File:The gorgeous California Coastline at Halfmoon Bay.jpg|thumb|Beach overseen from the cliffs of Half Moon Bay]]

Half Moon Bay is approximately {{convert|25|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} south of [[San Francisco]], {{convert|10|mi}} west of [[San Mateo, California|San Mateo]], and {{convert|45|mi}} north of [[Santa Cruz, California|Santa Cruz]]. Neighboring towns include [[El Granada, California|El Granada]], [[Princeton-by-the-Sea]], [[Moss Beach, California|Moss Beach]], and [[Montara, California|Montara]] to the north and [[Purissima, California|Purissima]], [[San Gregorio, California|San Gregorio]], and [[Pescadero, California|Pescadero]] to the south.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|6.4|sqmi|km2|abbr=off|sp=us}}, of which, {{convert|6.4|sqmi|km2}} of it is land and {{convert|0.02|sqmi|km2}} of it (0.32%) is water. The town is situated on a [[bay]] of [[Half Moon Bay (California)|the same name]]. Major local industries include agriculture (houseplants, floriculture, Christmas trees, pumpkins, artichokes), [[fishing]], and [[tourism]]. Historically, Half Moon Bay had been known as San Benito and Spanishtown. A 2022 study of the effects of sea level rise, found that both major tourism attractions, and other infrastructure would be under threat from projected [[Sea level rise]] caused by [[global warming]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=staff|first=Curtis Driscoll Daily Journal|title=Half Moon Bay faces issues due to sea level rise|url=https://www.smdailyjournal.com/news/local/half-moon-bay-faces-issues-due-to-sea-level-rise/article_1b0eee10-6c78-11ec-a96e-8bc4da3172dd.html|access-date=January 19, 2022|website=San Mateo Daily Journal|date=January 3, 2022 |language=en}}</ref> The study found at least 123 buildings, including the [[Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay|Ritz Carlton]] (a major employer for the town), [[Pigeon Point Lighthouse]] and the [[Pescadero Cal Fire Station]] would be seriously threatened by erosion if sea level were to rise by {{convert|5|ft|m}}.<ref name=":0" />

A popular spot at Half Moon Bay is the 'Jetty,' or as it is sometimes called, 'The Breakwater.' This is a man-made break with unusual waves shaped by reflections from the breakwater at [[Pillar Point Harbor]]. Creeks in Half Moon Bay include [[Frenchmans Creek, California|Frenchmans]], [[Pilarcitos Creek|Pilarcitos]] and [[Naples Creek|Naples]].

[[Montara State Marine Reserve & Pillar Point State Marine Conservation Area]] extend offshore from Montara, just north of Half Moon Bay. Like underwater parks, these [[marine protected area]]s help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.

===Climate===
Half Moon Bay usually has mild weather throughout the year. Under the [[Köppen climate classification]], it has a [[warm-summer  Mediterranean climate]] (Köppen ''Csb''). Hot weather is rare; the average annual days with highs of {{convert|90|°F|°C|abbr=off|sp=us}} or higher is only 0.4{{nbsp}}days. Cold weather is also rare with an annual average of 2.5{{nbsp}}days with lows of {{convert|32|°F|°C|abbr=}} or lower.<ref name = "WRCC" >{{cite web|url = http://www.wrcc.dri.edu/cgi-bin/cliMAIN.pl?ca3714|title = General Climate Summary Tables - Half Moon Bay, California|publisher= Western Regional Climate Center|access-date = December 6, 2012}}</ref>  Typical of Northern California, most of the rain falls from November to April. The normal annual precipitation is {{convert|26.2|in|sigfig=3|abbr=off|sp=us}}.<ref name="WRCC" />  Snowfall along the coast in Half Moon Bay has never been measurable; however, snow flurries were observed on December 12, 1972, February 5, 1976, and February 23, 2023. There is often fog and overcast during the night and morning hours, usually clearing offshore during the afternoon. Persistent sea breezes help to moderate the climate along the coast; farther from the ocean, in places such as Pilarcitos Creek, days are often warmer and nights cooler than on the coast. For the [[37th parallel north]], the mild summer temperatures of Half Moon Bay are unmatched across the board. Relatively nearby inland cities see significantly warmer temperatures at the same time. Despite the low latitude and strong maritime influence, nights remain very cool, even in the summer.

January is the coolest month with an average high of {{convert|58.4|°F|1}} and an average low of {{convert|42.9|°F|1}}. September is the warmest month with an average high of {{convert|66.8|°F|1}} and an average low of {{convert|51.2|°F|1}}.<ref name="WRCC" />

The most rainfall recorded in Half Moon Bay in one month was {{convert|15.70|in|sigfig=3}} in February 1998. The heaviest 24-hour rainfall was {{convert|5.33|in|sigfig=3}} on January 4, 1982. There is an average of 86{{nbsp}}days with measurable rainfall.<ref name="WRCC" />
{{Weather box
|location = Half Moon Bay, California, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1939–present
|single line = Y
|Jan record high F = 76
|Feb record high F = 81
|Mar record high F = 83
|Apr record high F = 84
|May record high F = 82
|Jun record high F = 89
|Jul record high F = 81
|Aug record high F = 88
|Sep record high F = 92
|Oct record high F = 94
|Nov record high F = 87
|Dec record high F = 79
|year record high F =
|Jan high F = 59.4
|Feb high F = 59.5
|Mar high F = 60.4
|Apr high F = 61.0
|May high F = 61.7
|Jun high F = 63.9
|Jul high F = 64.8
|Aug high F = 65.6
|Sep high F = 66.4
|Oct high F = 66.4
|Nov high F = 62.7
|Dec high F = 59.0
|year high F = 62.6
|Jan mean F = 51.4
|Feb mean F = 51.3
|Mar mean F = 52.1
|Apr mean F = 52.9
|May mean F = 54.9
|Jun mean F = 56.9
|Jul mean F = 58.8
|Aug mean F = 59.7
|Sep mean F = 58.8
|Oct mean F = 57.1
|Nov mean F = 53.7
|Dec mean F = 50.9
|year mean F = 54.9
|Jan low F = 43.4
|Feb low F = 43.0
|Mar low F = 43.7
|Apr low F = 44.7
|May low F = 48.0
|Jun low F = 49.9
|Jul low F = 52.7
|Aug low F = 53.9
|Sep low F = 51.3
|Oct low F = 47.9
|Nov low F = 44.8
|Dec low F = 42.9
|year low F= 47.2
|Jan record low F = 27
|Feb record low F = 22
|Mar record low F = 28
|Apr record low F = 31
|May record low F = 33
|Jun record low F = 36
|Jul record low F = 40
|Aug record low F = 41
|Sep record low F = 35
|Oct record low F = 33
|Nov record low F = 30
|Dec record low F = 19
|year record low F= 19
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 5.07
|Feb precipitation inch = 4.73
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.67
|Apr precipitation inch = 1.81
|May precipitation inch = 0.96
|Jun precipitation inch = 0.36
|Jul precipitation inch = 0.14
|Aug precipitation inch = 0.23
|Sep precipitation inch = 0.21
|Oct precipitation inch = 1.26
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.43
|Dec precipitation inch = 5.17
|year precipitation inch= 26.04
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 14.4
|Feb precipitation days = 14.0
|Mar precipitation days = 13.9
|Apr precipitation days = 8.8
|May precipitation days = 7.2
|Jun precipitation days = 5.0
|Jul precipitation days = 7.0
|Aug precipitation days = 7.6
|Sep precipitation days = 6.3
|Oct precipitation days = 7.7
|Nov precipitation days = 10.6
|Dec precipitation days = 13.4
|year precipitation days= 115.9
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name = NOAA>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=mtr
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher= [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
|access-date = June 15, 2022
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00043714&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
|publisher= National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = June 15, 2022
}}</ref>

|date=August 2010
}}