Butano State Park Weather
Park • San Francisco Bay Area
Little Butano Creek has cut a quiet canyon into the Santa Cruz Mountains, about 4.5 miles southeast of Pescadero by Cloverdale Road. Butano State Park protects it along with more than 4,000 acres of surrounding uplands. Loggers cleared the old growth here until the mid-1950s. California State Parks now manages second- and third-growth redwoods, alder thickets along the creek, marshy terraces at Jackson Flats and chaparral on the ridgetops. Its drive-in campgrounds closed after the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire damaged the water system.
Plan your week
10-Day Forecast
Hour by hour
Hourly Forecast
Current Conditions
Comfort Breakdown
Butano State Park weather today and through the year
It's 54°F at Butano State Park right now (feels like 51°F), with 7 mph wind and a comfort score of 78. Monday's forecast high at Butano State Park is 54°F, 10°F below the mid November normal of 64°F. The best window today is 10 AM to 1 PM, at about 52°F with a 7 mph wind (comfort 58).
September is the warmest month at Butano State Park, with an average high of 76°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 41°F. December is the wettest month (8.0 in.), out of about 39.4 in. a year. By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Butano State Park are September, August, and October. The best hours are usually 2 PM to 5 PM in September, 1 PM to 4 PM in August, and noon to 3 PM in October.
Butano's canyon opens west toward Highway 1 and the ocean only a few miles away. On summer mornings the marine layer, the sheet of cool, damp ocean air that brings fog, flows almost straight up Little Butano Creek. That makes the creek bottom one of the grayest, dampest spots in this cluster of parks, foggier than Portola Redwoods, which sits farther inland behind more ridges. State Parks notes that redwoods get about 30 percent of their moisture from fog, and Butano's canyon drips with it in summer.
Forecast updated November 15, 2026 at 4:00 AM PST. Climate figures come from NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Hourly patterns come from NOAA's HRRR hourly analysis from September 2014 to April 2026.
What to expect at Butano State Park in the next few days
No active National Weather Service alerts for this location.
Best time to go
The best window today is 10 AM to 1 PM, at about 52°F with a 7 mph wind (comfort 58).
Hiking conditions
Best hiking day this week: Friday, with 9 daylight hours that are dry, 45 to 80°F, and under 18 mph wind. 3 of the next 7 days have at least 4 such hours.
Best day this week
Of the next 7 days, Friday looks best for Butano State Park, with a 57°F high and midday comfort near 75. Thursday looks weakest (42).
Rain
Next good chance of rain: today (85%, about 0.63 in.).
Live weather map
Weather around Butano State Park right now
Overcast and 54° at Butano State Park right now.
About the live weather map for Butano State Park
The map centers on Butano State Park and stacks fog, satellite clouds, and precipitation radar on one view. Clouds come from the GOES-West satellite and rain from NOAA radar, and both show current conditions. Fog comes from our HRRR-based fog model, and the slider steps through its forecast for the next 12 hours.
Dots mark nearby places with their current temperature, colored by comfort score. Use the layer buttons to turn any layer off, or open the full map for every destination in the region.
Nearby Temperature Comparison
Conditions at nearby San Francisco Bay Area destinations
Tip: Bay Area temperatures can change by 20 to 30°F over a short distance because of microclimates.
Butano State Park vs nearby places
Typical summer conditions compared with Butano State Park, from the same NOAA HRRR hourly record. The list shows the closest places, then nearby places whose climate differs the most.
| Place | Distance | Summer afternoons | Morning fog | Afternoon wind | Compared with Butano State Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pescadero Creek County Park | 3.7 mi | +2°F | 42% | 8 mph | a very similar climate |
| Pescadero | 4.8 mi | -4°F | 55% | 10 mph | about 35% less rain a year and about 4°F cooler on summer afternoons |
| Big Basin Redwoods State Park | 5.6 mi | +5°F | 38% | 8 mph | about 5°F warmer on summer afternoons |
| Saratoga | 17.1 mi | +17°F | 10% | 8 mph | about 17°F warmer on summer afternoons and less summer morning fog (10% vs 45% of morning hours) |
| Los Gatos | 20 mi | +17°F | 8% | 8 mph | about 17°F warmer on summer afternoons and less summer morning fog (8% vs 45% of morning hours) |
| Campbell | 21.3 mi | +17°F | 8% | 9 mph | about 17°F warmer on summer afternoons and less summer morning fog (8% vs 45% of morning hours) |
Places with a climate like Butano State Park's
- Santa Cruz Westside (22 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
- Glen Park (37 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
- Excelsior District (37 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
Climate Dashboard
Current conditions vs. NOAA normals and recent destination baseline
What the Butano State Park climate comparisons mean
These cards compare recent conditions at Butano State Park with the available local baseline. Temperature and year-to-date rainfall use long-term normals when available. Fog, sunshine, wind, and comfort use the matching recent or modeled baseline identified on each card.
Positive and negative differences describe how Butano State Park departs from its own usual pattern. They should not be read as a direct comparison with another city or as a forecast beyond the period shown.
Butano State Park weather by month
September is the warmest month at Butano State Park, with an average high of 76°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 41°F. December is the wettest month (8.0 in.), out of about 39.4 in. a year. Morning fog peaks in July, when fog or low cloud covers 52% of the hours from 6 to 10 AM. November has the clearest middays, with clouds covering about 24% of the sky from 11 AM to 3 PM.
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Butano State Park are September, August, and October. The best hours are usually 2 PM to 5 PM in September, 1 PM to 4 PM in August, and noon to 3 PM in October.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Rainy days | Morning fog | Midday cloud | Afternoon wind | Daylight | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°F | 41°F | 7.9 in | 12 | 16% | 34% | 7 mph | 9.9 h | 38 |
| Feb | 60°F | 42°F | 7.6 in | 12 | 14% | 30% | 8 mph | 10.8 h | 38 |
| Mar | 62°F | 42°F | 5.8 in | 10 | 15% | 37% | 9 mph | 11.9 h | 40 |
| Apr | 64°F | 44°F | 2.8 in | 7 | 24% | 36% | 9 mph | 13.1 h | 58 |
| May | 67°F | 46°F | 1.1 in | 4 | 33% | 43% | 9 mph | 14.2 h | 65 |
| Jun | 72°F | 49°F | 0.3 in | 2 | 41% | 37% | 9 mph | 14.7 h | 76 |
| Jul | 74°F | 51°F | 0.0 in | 1 | 52% | 39% | 8 mph | 14.5 h | 80 |
| Aug | 75°F | 52°F | 0.1 in | 1 | 43% | 33% | 8 mph | 13.5 h | 85 |
| Sep | 76°F | 51°F | 0.1 in | 2 | 32% | 32% | 8 mph | 12.3 h | 88 |
| Oct | 72°F | 48°F | 1.7 in | 5 | 17% | 24% | 7 mph | 11.1 h | 81 |
| Nov | 64°F | 43°F | 4.0 in | 8 | 11% | 24% | 7 mph | 10.1 h | 68 |
| Dec | 59°F | 41°F | 8.0 in | 12 | 18% | 32% | 7 mph | 9.6 h | 37 |
Morning fog is the share of hours from 6 to 10 AM with fog or low cloud. Midday cloud is the average from 11 AM to 3 PM, and afternoon wind is the average from 1 to 5 PM. The highlighted rows are the most comfortable months.
In summer, recent daily NOAA readings at Butano State Park average about 7°F cooler than the 1991-2020 normals. The normals average over a wider area that also covers nearby terrain. Read the monthly highs as a rough range, and use the recent months below for what Butano State Park has actually seen.
What makes Butano State Park's weather different
When the fog burns off
2 PMwhen July fog usually thins (65% foggy at 9 AM)
Fog or low cloud covers Butano State Park in 65% of 9 AM hours in July, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by 2 PM, but 21% of mid-afternoon hours are still foggy. November mornings are the least foggy (11%).
When the wind picks up
noonwhen afternoon wind builds, March–September
From March through September, wind at Butano State Park typically builds after noon. In April it peaks around 5 PM, averaging 10 mph with 4% of those hours windy, while mornings average 5 mph.
Microclimate
+5°FBig Basin Redwoods State Park, 5.6 mi away, on summer afternoons
Big Basin Redwoods State Park, 5.6 miles away, runs about 5°F warmer than Butano State Park on summer afternoons.
Daylight
9.6–14.7 hof daylight, Dec to Jun
Days at Butano State Park range from about 9.6 hours in December to 14.7 hours in June. In mid-June the sun sets around 8:30 PM, and in mid-December around 4:57 PM.
Seasons at Butano State Park
- Warm seasonJul 2 – Oct 3 · highs 73°F+
The warm season lasts about 3.1 months, from Jul 2 to Oct 3, when the average high is 73°F or warmer. Highs peak around Sep 8 at about 76°F.
- Cool seasonDec 2 – Mar 1 · highs 61°F or lower
The cool season runs from Dec 2 to Mar 1, when the average high is 61°F or lower. The coldest nights come around Dec 8, with an average low near 41°F.
- Rainy seasonOct 28 – Apr 21 · 90% of the year's rain
The rainy season runs from Oct 28 to Apr 21, when a day has at least a 21% chance of measurable rain. That stretch brings 90% of the year's rain.
The dark line marks today. Season dates come from the smoothed daily NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Counting from Oct. 1, a typical year has its first inch of rain by Oct 19 and half of its annual total by Jan 24.
Days per year and extremes (Nov 1, 2024 to Oct 31, 2026)
This record runs from Nov 1, 2024 to Oct 31, 2026. Over this record, Butano State Park averaged 1 day a year at 90°F or hotter and no freezing nights. It averaged 19 days a year with at least half an inch of rain and 2 afternoons with wind of 20 mph or more at 2 PM. About 148 mornings a year had 3 or more hours of fog or low cloud.
In the same record, the hottest day was Sep 9, 2026 (95°F) and the coldest night was Jan 18, 2025 (37°F). The wettest day was Feb 5, 2025 (2.72 in.), and the strongest 2 PM gust was 56 mph on Feb 4, 2025.
- 1day at 90°F or hotter
- 0nights at or below freezing
- 19days with ½ in. of rain or more
- 2afternoons with 20+ mph wind
- 148mornings with 3+ hours of fog or low cloud
- Hottest day95°FSep 9, 2026
- Coldest night37°FJan 18, 2025
- Wettest day2.72 inFeb 5, 2025
- Strongest 2 PM gust56 mphFeb 4, 2025
What shapes Butano State Park's weather
Climb out of Butano's canyon and the weather changes quickly. The ridgetop loops reach chaparral on chalky Santa Margarita sandstone, with knobcone pine, manzanita and scrub oak. Up there the sun breaks through first, and summer afternoons turn hot and dry. On clear days those heights look out over the ocean while the canyon floor below is still in cloud.
Winter storms come in off the Pacific with no higher ground in their way, and the canyon floods in places. Some alders here begin their roots eight feet up the trunk, a record of past high water. The wetlands at Jackson Flats and Goat Hill fill with winter rain and dry out each summer.
Tips for visiting Butano State Park
Bring all your drinking water
No drinking water is available anywhere in the park because the 2020 fire damaged the water system.
Camp at the backpacker trail camp
Butano and Ben Ries campgrounds closed after the 2020 fire, so check their status first. The Butano Trail Camp is open to backpackers who reserve ahead.
Start with Little Butano Creek Trail
The trail runs about 1.5 miles through redwoods, ferns and sorrel along the creek, and stays cool on warm days.
Watch your step in wet weather
Newts and banana slugs come out onto the trails when it's damp.
Dogs stay in paved areas
Leashed dogs are allowed in the campground and paved developed areas, but not on park trails.
Butano State Park through the seasons
- Spring (March–May)
- Calypso orchids bloom from February to April, and the canyon wetlands are still full from winter rain.
- Summer (June–August)
- Fog often fills the canyon in the morning while the ridges are sunny. Blooming ceanothus, monkey flower and Indian paintbrush make the ridgetops worth a summer hike.
- Fall (September–October)
- The marine layer weakens, and September brings the canyon's warmest days, with less fog by October. The seasonal marshes stay dry until the first rains.
- Winter (November–February)
- Winter is the wet season, when State Parks suggests photographing mushrooms in January and looking for newts in February.
Activities and the weather that matters
- Canyon Loop: The 9.5-mile loop climbs to scenic overlooks. Pick a day when the fog is shallow or gone, and start early in summer before the ridges heat up.
- Jackson Flats Loop: This 5-mile loop passes redwoods, wetlands and ridgetop views. The wetlands are fullest after winter rain, and the trails are firmest from late spring into fall.
- Backpacking: The Butano Trail Camp has 8 sites and requires a reservation. Dry-season trips avoid the muddiest trails.
- Wildflower and wildlife walks: Damp spring days bring out orchids, newts and banana slugs. Sunrise and sunset in the entrance grassland are the best times to spot bobcats and coyotes.
Official sources and current conditions
- California State Parks: Butano State Park
- Santa Cruz Mountains backcountry trail camps (Butano Trail Camp)
- Butano State Park brochure and map (PDF)
Numbers on this page come from NOAA data. The text draws on the official sources linked above.
Historical Climate Data
Long-term weather patterns and climate data
Data sources: Recent temperatures come from NOAA URMA and recent precipitation from NOAA Stage IV. Fog, cloud, wind, humidity, and sunshine come from NOAA HRRR, and long-term baselines from NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
Climate Overview
Based on NOAA 30-year temperature/rain normals (1991-2020) with recent fog/sun baseline
🌟 Best Months to Visit
⚠️ Challenging Months
Monthly Breakdown
| Month | Comfort | High/Low | ☀️ Sun | 🌫️ Fog | 💧 Rain | Perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2024 | 78 | 60.6° / 48.1° | 6.4h | 2d | 4.42" | 17 |
| December 2024 | 73 | 61.8° / 50.1° | 5.3h | 7d | 6.28" | 15 |
| January 2025 | 82 | 58.8° / 45.7° | 6.8h | 4d | 0.2" | 23 |
| February 2025 | 72 | 58.2° / 45.5° | 6.4h | 8d | 10.26" | 12 |
| March 2025 | 72 | 56.5° / 44.6° | 7.2h | 6d | 4.14" | 12 |
| April 2025 | 79 | 57.8° / 44.8° | 8.9h | 13d | 0.67" | 16 |
| May 2025 | 81 | 61.3° / 47.2° | 9.7h | 14d | 0.14" | 18 |
| June 2025 | 82 | 62.1° / 48.5° | 10.9h | 17d | 0" | 15 |
| July 2025 | 81 | 64.3° / 51.3° | 9.5h | 24d | 0" | 16 |
| August 2025 | 86 | 69.7° / 53.3° | 10h | 17d | 0" | 23 |
| September 2025 | 84 | 70° / 56.5° | 8.1h | 10d | 0.35" | 19 |
| October 2025 | 84 | 65.9° / 52.8° | 7.8h | 5d | 1.62" | 19 |
| November 2025 | 78 | 64° / 51.7° | 6.2h | 6d | 5.61" | 16 |
| December 2025 | 75 | 63.1° / 51° | 5.2h | 6d | 4.76" | 16 |
| January 2026 | 79 | 63.3° / 51.4° | 6.5h | 4d | 6.36" | 22 |
| February 2026 | 75 | 62.3° / 49.5° | 6.3h | 5d | 6.23" | 15 |
| March 2026 | 90 | 69.3° / 51.6° | 9.3h | 4d | 0.01" | 26 |
| April 2026 | 80 | 61.1° / 48.7° | 8.6h | 4d | 4.12" | 16 |
| May 2026 | 81 | 60.7° / 48.9° | 9.8h | 13d | 0.6" | 17 |
| June 2026 | 84 | 64.8° / 51.2° | 10.5h | 17d | 0" | 19 |
| July 2026 | 84 | 66.5° / 53.5° | 10h | 16d | 0.02" | 19 |
| August 2026 | 86 | 67.8° / 52.6° | 9.8h | 18d | 0.04" | 25 |
| September 2026 | 89 | 69.1° / 54° | 9.4h | 9d | 0.05" | 24 |
| October 2026 | 89 | 70.7° / 53.8° | 8h | 3d | 0.23" | 28 |
Climate Trends
Average Temperature by Month
About the Butano State Park climate charts
The temperature chart compares average monthly highs and lows at Butano State Park, showing both the seasonal cycle and the typical day-to-night range. The comfort chart summarizes how often the combined weather pattern is favorable rather than judging temperature alone.
Precipitation shows the total recorded or modeled rainfall for each month at Butano State Park. Sunshine compares average bright-sky hours with the daylight available, while fog shows the average number of morning fog or low-cloud hours per day. Switch between the chart tabs to compare the same months across each measure.
Hourly Temperature, Fog, Wind, Cloud Cover, and Solar Radiation Patterns
Average local hour by month from 2014-09-30 to 2026-04-30
- Temperature: At Butano State Park, the warmest typical hour is 3 PM in September (71°F). The coldest is 7 AM in February (47°F).
- Fog: Fog or low cloud covers Butano State Park in 65% of 9 AM hours in July, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by 2 PM, but 21% of mid-afternoon hours are still foggy. November mornings are the least foggy (11%).
- Wind: From March through September, wind at Butano State Park typically builds after noon. In April it peaks around 5 PM, averaging 10 mph with 4% of those hours windy, while mornings average 5 mph.
- Cloud Cover: November middays are the clearest at Butano State Park (24% average cloud cover), and May middays are the cloudiest (43%).
- Solar Radiation: The strongest typical sun at Butano State Park comes at 1 PM in July, averaging 860 W/m².
How to read the hourly heatmaps for Butano State Park
This heatmap shows how average temperature at Butano State Park changes by hour and month. Read left to right for the seasons and top to bottom for the time of day. Warmer colors mark the usual afternoon peaks, and cooler colors show overnight and winter lows.
This heatmap shows when fog or low cloud is most likely at Butano State Park. Darker cells mark the months and hours when fog has been most common. They help separate overnight or morning fog from cloud that tends to linger into the afternoon.
This heatmap shows the typical hourly wind pattern at Butano State Park through the year. It makes recurring afternoon wind, calmer overnight periods, and seasonal changes easier to compare than a single daily wind value.
This heatmap shows average cloud cover at Butano State Park for every month and hour. Use it to see whether cloudiness is mainly an overnight and morning pattern or commonly persists during the part of the day you plan to visit.
This heatmap shows the average solar radiation reaching Butano State Park by month and hour. Brighter cells indicate the strongest typical sun, while muted cells can reflect nighttime, shorter winter days, cloud cover, smoke, or terrain shading.
Each cell combines one month with one local hour. Hover over or focus on a cell for its value and sample coverage. The red marker shows the current month and hour.
How recent months compared at Butano State Park
- October 2026 recap: October 2026 at Butano State Park averaged a high of 71°F, 5°F warmer than October 2025 (66°F).
- Rain year: The 2025-26 rain year (Oct. 1 to Sep. 30) brought 29.4 in. of rain to Butano State Park, 75% of the 39.4 in. normal.
Location Details
Butano State Park weather questions
Everything you need to know about weather and visiting Butano State Park
What is the weather like at Butano State Park today?
It's 54°F at Butano State Park right now, with a comfort score of 78 (great). Monday's forecast high at Butano State Park is 54°F, 10°F below the mid November normal of 64°F. The best window today is 10 AM to 1 PM, at about 52°F with a 7 mph wind (comfort 58).
What is the best month to visit Butano State Park?
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Butano State Park are September, August, and October. The best hours are usually 2 PM to 5 PM in September, 1 PM to 4 PM in August, and noon to 3 PM in October. The warm season lasts about 3.1 months, from Jul 2 to Oct 3, when the average high is 73°F or warmer. Highs peak around Sep 8 at about 76°F.
What are the warmest and coldest months at Butano State Park?
September is the warmest month at Butano State Park, with an average high of 76°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 41°F.
When does the fog burn off at Butano State Park?
Fog or low cloud covers Butano State Park in 65% of 9 AM hours in July, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by 2 PM, but 21% of mid-afternoon hours are still foggy. November mornings are the least foggy (11%).
When is it windiest at Butano State Park?
From March through September, wind at Butano State Park typically builds after noon. In April it peaks around 5 PM, averaging 10 mph with 4% of those hours windy, while mornings average 5 mph.
How much rain does Butano State Park get?
December is the wettest month (8.0 in.), out of about 39.4 in. a year. The rainy season runs from Oct 28 to Apr 21, when a day has at least a 21% chance of measurable rain. That stretch brings 90% of the year's rain. The 2025-26 rain year (Oct. 1 to Sep. 30) brought 29.4 in. of rain to Butano State Park, 75% of the 39.4 in. normal.
How does Butano State Park weather compare with Big Basin Redwoods State Park?
Big Basin Redwoods State Park, 5.6 miles away, runs about 5°F warmer than Butano State Park on summer afternoons.
What kind of place is Butano State Park?
Little Butano Creek has cut a quiet canyon into the Santa Cruz Mountains, about 4.5 miles southeast of Pescadero by Cloverdale Road. Butano State Park protects it along with more than 4,000 acres of surrounding uplands. Loggers cleared the old growth here until the mid-1950s. California State Parks now manages second- and third-growth redwoods, alder thickets along the creek, marshy terraces at Jackson Flats and chaparral on the ridgetops. Its drive-in campgrounds closed after the 2020 CZU Lightning Complex Fire damaged the water system.
What is Butano State Park weather like in November?
November at Butano State Park averages a high of 64°F and a low of 43°F, with 4.0 in. of rain over about 8 rainy days. About 11% of morning hours are foggy. Afternoon wind averages 7 mph.
More about Butano State Park weather
Guides that explain the weather here and nearby
Data sources and methods
- Monthly temperatures and precipitation: NOAA 1991-2020 normals.
- Fog, cloud, wind, sun, and comfort by hour and month: NOAA's HRRR hourly analysis from September 2014 to April 2026.
- Daily records and recent months: NOAA URMA and HRRR analyses, plus NOAA Stage IV precipitation.
- Nearby comparisons and regional rankings use the same hourly HRRR summaries for every destination in the region.
- Alerts: National Weather Service. Tides and ocean temperature: NOAA CO-OPS, where shown.
- All statements on this page are computed from these datasets, apart from the “What shapes the weather” guide, which cites its sources inline.
- California State Parks, Butano State Park (accessed 2026-10-27)
- California State Parks, Butano State Park brochure (rev. 2017) (accessed 2026-10-27)
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