Homer, 59°39'N 151°29'W, 64.0 ft a.s.l.
Homer Airport is located at the head of Coal Bay, on the north shore of Kachemak Bay just to the east of its confluence with Cook Inlet. The shoreline to either side of the station curves toward the north, such that water lies within a mile to the south, west and east. To the northwest through northeast the ground has a gradual rise to 500 feet at a distance of 1 1/2 miles and then rises abruptly to 1,000 feet at a distance of 2 miles from the station. The nearest 1,500-foot elevation in this direction is Lookout Mountain, 4 miles to the north and northeast. The nearest 2,000-foot elevation lies about 12 miles to the southeast across Kachemak Bay, in the foothills of the Kenai Mountains. The width of the bay in this direction is approximately 9 miles. Continuing southeastward beyond Kachemak Bay, at a distance of 15 to 20 miles, is the ridgeline of the northeast-southwest oriented Kenai Mountains with elevations of 4,000 to 6,000 feet.
The climate of Homer is marine but with precipitation amounts modified by the Kenai Mountains. The annual precipitation is reduced when air being lifted over mountains leaves most of its moisture on the windward side. For this reason the usual Gulf Coast amount of near 60 inches is reduced to less than half that amount. The relatively low annual snowfall is a reflection of the mild winter temperatures. Often precipitation will begin as snow but turn to rain shortly afterwards. The occurrence of the heaviest monthly amounts during the fall and winter months is the result of the increased frequency of storms into the Western Gulf of Alaska during those months. Temperatures experienced at Homer are more nearly representative of marine climate than is precipitation. Winters are mild, seldom getting colder than zero, and summers are cool with the maximum temperature seldom going above 70 degrees. The growing season is about 100 days.
Surface winds at the station are seldom strong even in winter. However, a short distance to the southeast, over Kachemak Bay, and to the west over Cook Inlet, wind speeds requiring warnings to small craft are fairly common in winter and summer.
The occurrence of a thunderstorm is rare. Heavy fog is infrequent and of short duration, but patchy ground fog is common in spring and fall.