Albany Weather

April is Albany's standout month. The data shows an average high of 72.7°F, a comfort score of 92 out of 100, nearly 13 hours of sunshine per day, and only 0.21 inches of rain for the entire month. That combination is rare. May is nearly as good, with 13 hours of sunshine, zero rainfall recorded in 2025, and a comfort score of 89. Both months sit in a sweet spot between the rainy winter and the foggy marine push of mid-summer. You get warmth without the coastal fog that sneaks in during June and July, and the East Bay hills are still green from winter rain. If you can only visit once, late April into early May is the window most locals would recommend. The mornings are crisp but warm quickly, and the afternoons are genuinely pleasant for walking the neighborhoods or eating outside.

Albany runs warm but rarely hot. Summer highs typically land in the upper 70s, with July and August averaging around 77 to 78°F. That is notably cooler than inland East Bay cities like Walnut Creek or Livermore, which can hit the high 90s on the same days. Albany's position close to the bay keeps the marine layer nearby, moderating temperatures and preventing the kind of heat that makes spending time outside unpleasant. The tradeoff is that June often brings morning fog, averaging 3.8 hours per day in 2025. By July, the fog clears faster and you still get nearly 12 hours of sunshine daily. Occasional heat waves do push Albany into the mid-80s, but they are short-lived and rare. For most of the summer, a light layer in the morning and a t-shirt by noon is the standard routine.

Albany winters are mild by most standards, though not exactly warm. December and January average lows in the low-to-mid 40s and highs in the upper 50s, typically around 57 to 60°F. Frost is possible on the coldest nights but uncommon. Snow is essentially unheard of at 75 feet of elevation. The real challenge in winter is the rain. November and January are the wettest months, with 5.86 inches and 5.57 inches respectively in recent data. December 2024 was surprisingly dry at under an inch of rain, but that was an outlier. Comfort scores dip to around 68 to 73 in the wettest months, mostly because of overcast skies and reduced sunshine, which drops to about 6 hours per day. If you do not mind the rain, winter days in Albany are perfectly walkable when the storms clear and the air is sharp and clean.

Albany's rainy season runs from November through March, with the heaviest rainfall typically in November and January. Recent data shows November 2024 at 5.86 inches and January 2025 at 5.57 inches, which are significant but not unusual for the East Bay. The region averages about 71 rainy days per year. February and March tend to moderate, with rainfall dropping and sunshine returning quickly. February 2025 brought 9.2 hours of sunshine per day despite 3.34 inches of rain, which reflects the Bay Area pattern of short, intense storms followed by clear stretches. By April, the rainy season is essentially over. For more context on how Bay Area precipitation patterns work, the rainiest month in the Bay Area breaks down the regional dynamics well. Albany sits in a relatively sheltered part of the East Bay, so it receives less rain than the Oakland Hills or areas closer to the coast.

Yes, but it is more of a quiet visitor than a persistent problem. Albany averages about 2.3 hours of morning fog per day across the year, which is moderate compared to San Francisco or the coastal cities. The fog is most pronounced in June, when marine air pushes inland and lingers into late morning, averaging 3.8 hours per day in June 2025. It also picks up in fall and early winter, with October and November 2025 both averaging over 3.5 hours per day. The pattern is classic Bay Area: fog rolls in overnight, sits through early morning, and burns off as the sun heats the land. April sees the least fog, under an hour per day. The fog rarely causes all-day gray the way it does along the immediate coast. For a deeper explanation of why this happens, why morning fog forms in the Bay Area covers the marine layer mechanics clearly.

Albany is genuinely one of the better East Bay spots for outdoor dining across much of the year. Spring and early summer are the clear standouts: April through July sees highs in the low-to-upper 70s, low humidity, and minimal rain. Sitting outside at a restaurant in May or July is comfortable without a jacket by midday. The summer fog is real, particularly in June mornings, but by dinner time the air has usually warmed and cleared. Fall is hit or miss. September and October can still be lovely, with September 2025 averaging 71°F highs and a comfort score of 85. Once November arrives, evening temperatures drop to the mid-40s and rain becomes frequent, making outdoor seating a chilly proposition. Winter outdoor dining works on clear days but not after dark. The short version: outdoor dining is excellent from April through October, and genuinely pleasant in March too.

Albany sits right between Berkeley and El Cerrito, and the three share broadly similar weather. All sit in the lower flatlands of the East Bay, protected from the worst of the ocean wind by the Berkeley Hills but still close enough to the bay to benefit from marine cooling. Albany and El Cerrito tend to be slightly warmer and less foggy than Berkeley Marina, which sits right on the water and catches more direct wind. Compared to Berkeley's hillside neighborhoods, Albany's lower elevation means warmer winter nights and slightly milder summers. The differences between these towns are subtle, often just a few degrees. Where microclimates become dramatic in the Bay Area is when you cross the hills into Walnut Creek or head south toward San Jose. For an overview of why these variations exist, why the Bay Area has so many microclimates is worth reading.

Layering is the core strategy for Albany, as it is throughout the Bay Area. Even in July, mornings start in the mid-to-upper 50s and can feel cool if there is fog. A light jacket or fleece for the morning is standard, even in summer. By early afternoon most days, you can drop down to a t-shirt or light long-sleeve. For spring and fall visits, a medium-weight jacket is more appropriate, something you can tie around your waist as it warms up. Rain gear is worth packing from November through March. Albany's winters are not brutal, but sustained drizzle is common and umbrellas get used regularly. In the heart of summer, you rarely need more than a light layer and sunscreen. Evenings cool down meaningfully even in August, so a second layer for dinner is smart. The layering guide for Bay Area weather covers the logic behind this approach in detail.

Albany averages about 256 days per year that qualify as "perfect" by comfort scoring, which is high by national standards and reflects the East Bay's generally favorable climate. Sunshine hours vary considerably by season. The sunniest months are May and April, with 13 and 12.8 hours of sunlight per day respectively. July and June follow closely, though June fog can cut into usable sunshine in the morning hours. Winter sunshine drops to about 6 to 6.3 hours per day in November, December, and January, which is still enough to break through on clear days between storms. What makes Albany's sunshine figures impressive is the consistency: even through the rainy season, the Bay Area's storm pattern delivers heavy rain in bursts followed by clear stretches, rather than the unrelenting gray that characterizes winters in Seattle or Portland. For most of the year, you can count on the afternoon being brighter than the morning.

November and December are the toughest months, with comfort scores of 68 in both November 2025 and December 2025. November brings the bulk of the season's rain, averaging around 5 to 6 inches in wet years, combined with shorter days and more frequent fog. Sunshine drops to about 6 hours per day, and highs hover in the upper 50s. It is gray, wet, and a far cry from the pleasant spring and summer Albany shows off the rest of the year. January can be similarly rough if the storms are persistent, though it also occasionally delivers sparkling clear days when a high-pressure system parks over the region. The data from December 2024 shows this variability: only 0.77 inches of rain that month compared to 5.39 inches in November 2025. If you are visiting during winter, reading about the Bay Area's four seasons can help set realistic expectations for what you might encounter.