Cotati Weather
Town • San Francisco Bay Area
Cotati's downtown was laid out as a hexagon instead of a grid, with La Plaza Park at its center. The city says it is one of only two hexagonal city layouts in the United States, and the plaza is a California Historical Landmark. This small Highway 101 city sits at the southern edge of the Santa Rosa Plain, where the Petaluma Gap's hills give way to flat land. It is known for its music roots and the Cotati Accordion Festival.
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10-Day Forecast
Hour by hour
Hourly Forecast
Current Conditions
Comfort Breakdown
Cotati weather today and through the year
It's 56°F at Cotati right now (feels like 53°F), with 8 mph wind and a comfort score of 80. Today's forecast high at Cotati is 59°F, 6°F below the mid November normal of 65°F. No fog in the forecast for today at Cotati. In November, 29% of morning hours here are foggy on average. The best window today is 8 AM to 11 AM, at about 52°F with a 3 mph wind (comfort 51).
August is the warmest month at Cotati, with an average high of 81°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 39°F. December is the wettest month (6.7 in.), out of about 32.3 in. a year. By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Cotati are September, June, and July. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in September, 10 AM to 1 PM in June, and 10 AM to 1 PM in July.
Cotati marks the northern edge of the Petaluma Gap, a 15-mile-wide opening in the Coast Ranges where cool ocean air is drawn inland as the valleys heat up. The town sits right where that air leaves the gap's rolling hills and fans out over the Santa Rosa Plain. It feels the afternoon breeze early and strongly.
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 Cotati in the next few days
No active National Weather Service alerts for this location.
Fog
No fog in the forecast for today at Cotati. In November, 29% of morning hours here are foggy on average.
Best time to go
The best window today is 8 AM to 11 AM, at about 52°F with a 3 mph wind (comfort 51).
Best day this week
Of the next 7 days, Friday looks best for Cotati, with a 60°F high and midday comfort near 73. Today looks weakest (44).
Rain
Next good chance of rain: today (82%, about 0.66 in.).
Live weather map
Weather around Cotati right now
Overcast and 56° at Cotati right now.
About the live weather map for Cotati
The map centers on Cotati 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.
Cotati vs nearby places
Typical summer conditions compared with Cotati, 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 Cotati |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rohnert Park | 1.1 mi | +1°F | 34% | 8 mph | a very similar climate |
| Petaluma | 7.8 mi | +1°F | 33% | 10 mph | a very similar climate |
| Sebastopol | 7.8 mi | +1°F | 30% | 10 mph | a very similar climate |
| Dillon Beach | 14.8 mi | -24°F | 43% | 12 mph | about 24°F cooler on summer afternoons and more summer morning fog (43% vs 31% of morning hours) |
| Salmon Creek Beach | 19.2 mi | -24°F | 49% | 11 mph | about 24°F cooler on summer afternoons and about 47% more rain a year |
| Schoolhouse Beach | 20 mi | -24°F | 51% | 9 mph | about 24°F cooler on summer afternoons and about 64% more rain a year |
Places with a climate like Cotati's
- Forestville (14 mi away): nearly the same temperatures every month
- Portola Redwoods State Park (79 mi away): nearly the same temperatures every month
- Olompali State Historic Park (14 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
Climate Dashboard
Current conditions vs. NOAA normals and recent destination baseline
What the Cotati climate comparisons mean
These cards compare recent conditions at Cotati 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 Cotati 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.
Cotati weather by month
August is the warmest month at Cotati, with an average high of 81°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 39°F. December is the wettest month (6.7 in.), out of about 32.3 in. a year. Morning fog peaks in December, when fog or low cloud covers 40% of the hours from 6 to 10 AM. June has the clearest middays, with clouds covering about 12% of the sky from 11 AM to 3 PM.
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Cotati are September, June, and July. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in September, 10 AM to 1 PM in June, and 10 AM to 1 PM in July.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Rainy days | Morning fog | Midday cloud | Afternoon wind | Daylight | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 39°F | 6.2 in | 10 | 38% | 36% | 6 mph | 9.8 h | 39 |
| Feb | 61°F | 41°F | 6.2 in | 10 | 22% | 28% | 7 mph | 10.7 h | 48 |
| Mar | 64°F | 42°F | 4.4 in | 9 | 24% | 33% | 8 mph | 11.9 h | 64 |
| Apr | 67°F | 43°F | 2.1 in | 6 | 19% | 27% | 9 mph | 13.2 h | 75 |
| May | 72°F | 46°F | 1.1 in | 4 | 18% | 24% | 10 mph | 14.3 h | 79 |
| Jun | 78°F | 49°F | 0.3 in | 2 | 22% | 12% | 10 mph | 14.8 h | 84 |
| Jul | 80°F | 51°F | 0.0 in | 0 | 37% | 12% | 10 mph | 14.6 h | 84 |
| Aug | 81°F | 52°F | 0.0 in | 1 | 35% | 13% | 10 mph | 13.6 h | 84 |
| Sep | 81°F | 50°F | 0.1 in | 2 | 31% | 15% | 9 mph | 12.3 h | 87 |
| Oct | 75°F | 47°F | 1.6 in | 5 | 27% | 19% | 8 mph | 11.1 h | 81 |
| Nov | 65°F | 42°F | 3.5 in | 8 | 29% | 23% | 6 mph | 10.0 h | 68 |
| Dec | 57°F | 39°F | 6.7 in | 11 | 40% | 40% | 6 mph | 9.5 h | 35 |
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 Cotati average about 4°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 Cotati has actually seen.
What makes Cotati's weather different
When the fog burns off
noonwhen December fog usually thins (45% foggy at 7 AM)
Fog or low cloud covers Cotati in 45% of 7 AM hours in December, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by noon. May mornings are the least foggy (18%).
When the wind picks up
1 PMwhen afternoon wind builds, February–October
From February through October, wind at Cotati typically builds after 1 PM. In June it peaks around 3 PM, averaging 11 mph with 10% of those hours windy, while mornings average 3 mph.
Daylight
9.5–14.8 hof daylight, Dec to Jun
Days at Cotati range from about 9.5 hours in December to 14.8 hours in June. In mid-June the sun sets around 8:35 PM, and in mid-December around 4:56 PM.
Seasons at Cotati
- Warm seasonJul 4 – Sep 27 · highs 79°F+
The warm season lasts about 2.8 months, from Jul 4 to Sep 27, when the average high is 79°F or warmer. Highs peak around Aug 8 at about 81°F.
- Cool seasonNov 29 – Feb 26 · highs 62°F or lower
The cool season runs from Nov 29 to Feb 26, when the average high is 62°F or lower. The coldest nights come around Dec 8, with an average low near 39°F.
- Rainy seasonOct 27 – Apr 15 · 88% of the year's rain
The rainy season runs from Oct 27 to Apr 15, when a day has at least a 20% chance of measurable rain. That stretch brings 88% 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 20 and half of its annual total by Jan 22.
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, Cotati averaged 6 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 5 nights a year at or below freezing. It averaged 19 days a year with at least half an inch of rain and 1 afternoon with wind of 20 mph or more at 2 PM. About 162 mornings a year had 3 or more hours of fog or low cloud.
In the same record, the hottest day was Oct 3, 2026 (98°F) and the coldest night was Feb 10, 2025 (29°F). The wettest day was Nov 21, 2024 (4.53 in.), and the strongest 2 PM gust was 43 mph on Mar 12, 2025.
- 6days at 90°F or hotter
- 5nights at or below freezing
- 19days with ½ in. of rain or more
- 1afternoon with 20+ mph wind
- 162mornings with 3+ hours of fog or low cloud
- Hottest day98°FOct 3, 2026
- Coldest night29°FFeb 10, 2025
- Wettest day4.53 inNov 21, 2024
- Strongest 2 PM gust43 mphMar 12, 2025
What shapes Cotati's weather
Summer coastal fog often reaches Cotati through the Petaluma Gap, giving it a milder, somewhat cooler climate than Santa Rosa. The difference comes down to distance. By the time the ocean air has crossed the plain to Santa Rosa, the sun has had more time to warm it.
With no ridge to the south or west to block them, winter storms arrive straight off the gap. Between storms, still nights let cold air settle on the flat land around town, and the lawns of the hexagon can be frosty at dawn.
Tips for visiting Cotati
Arrive by train
SMART's Cotati station puts the plaza within reach of Petaluma, Rohnert Park, and Santa Rosa without a car.
Bring a layer to plaza events
The summer farmers market and concert series run in La Plaza Park, and evenings cool down quickly once the gap breeze arrives.
Plan around the afternoon wind
Cool coastal air is pulled through the gap as inland valleys heat, so calm mornings are best for cycling and outdoor sitting.
Visit the ranch
Veronda-Falletti Ranch, an urban demonstration farm near downtown, hosts city workshops and events, and some of them need registration.
Cotati through the seasons
- Spring (March–May)
- Spring brings green hills along the gap and mild days. The afternoon wind builds through the season and is strong by May.
- Summer (June–August)
- Coastal fog often reaches town, keeping summers milder than Santa Rosa's, with breezy afternoons and cool evenings.
- Fall (September–October)
- The fog and wind ease off for some of the warmest afternoons of the year. The plaza hosts fall events such as Oktoberfest.
- Winter (November–February)
- Winter is wet and cool, with frosty mornings on clear, calm days.
Activities and the weather that matters
- Cotati Accordion Festival: The festival is outdoors and most pleasant on a warm, still day. Summer afternoons often bring a stiff breeze.
- Farmers market and concerts in La Plaza Park: These events run in the late afternoon, so bring a layer for when the sun drops and the breeze picks up.
- Walking the hexagon: The short loop works in almost any weather, and mornings are calmest.
Official sources and current conditions
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 | 76 | 62.2° / 41.5° | 5.9h | 6d | 11.23" | 16 |
| December 2024 | 67 | 58.7° / 42.8° | 5h | 15d | 7.53" | 11 |
| January 2025 | 81 | 60.1° / 38.5° | 6.8h | 11d | 0.38" | 19 |
| February 2025 | 73 | 60.1° / 41.1° | 6.1h | 9d | 8.62" | 14 |
| March 2025 | 78 | 60.5° / 42.7° | 7.4h | 7d | 2.81" | 18 |
| April 2025 | 89 | 64° / 44.8° | 9.6h | 6d | 0.39" | 26 |
| May 2025 | 94 | 71.6° / 47° | 12.2h | 2d | 0.07" | 31 |
| June 2025 | 93 | 71.5° / 48.9° | 12.1h | 12d | 0" | 30 |
| July 2025 | 94 | 72.2° / 52.6° | 11.7h | 12d | 0" | 31 |
| August 2025 | 92 | 79.3° / 52.7° | 11.1h | 8d | 0" | 31 |
| September 2025 | 91 | 77.5° / 55.5° | 9.3h | 7d | 0.08" | 28 |
| October 2025 | 84 | 71.4° / 49.9° | 7h | 14d | 0.84" | 22 |
| November 2025 | 76 | 63.4° / 47.6° | 6.1h | 15d | 3.65" | 14 |
| December 2025 | 62 | 54.8° / 42.8° | 4.4h | 23d | 4.85" | 2 |
| January 2026 | 76 | 59.9° / 40.8° | 6.4h | 11d | 3.91" | 19 |
| February 2026 | 77 | 62.3° / 44.2° | 6.4h | 6d | 3.6" | 16 |
| March 2026 | 95 | 74.5° / 46.1° | 9.8h | 1d | 0.03" | 30 |
| April 2026 | 85 | 65.6° / 46.1° | 9.2h | 5d | 3.82" | 23 |
| May 2026 | 92 | 69.5° / 49.8° | 11.5h | 6d | 0.76" | 29 |
| June 2026 | 93 | 73.6° / 52° | 12h | 11d | 0" | 30 |
| July 2026 | 94 | 76.3° / 52.2° | 11.4h | 5d | 0" | 31 |
| August 2026 | 92 | 77° / 54° | 10.4h | 12d | 0" | 31 |
| September 2026 | 90 | 77.2° / 52.4° | 9.4h | 10d | 0.23" | 29 |
| October 2026 | 90 | 76.5° / 46.6° | 8.5h | 4d | 0.11" | 29 |
Climate Trends
Average Temperature by Month
About the Cotati climate charts
The temperature chart compares average monthly highs and lows at Cotati, 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 Cotati. 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 Cotati, the warmest typical hour is 2 PM in August (81°F). The coldest is 7 AM in February (42°F).
- Fog: Fog or low cloud covers Cotati in 45% of 7 AM hours in December, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by noon. May mornings are the least foggy (18%).
- Wind: From February through October, wind at Cotati typically builds after 1 PM. In June it peaks around 3 PM, averaging 11 mph with 10% of those hours windy, while mornings average 3 mph.
- Cloud Cover: June middays are the clearest at Cotati (12% average cloud cover), and December middays are the cloudiest (40%).
- Solar Radiation: The strongest typical sun at Cotati comes at 1 PM in June, averaging 974 W/m².
How to read the hourly heatmaps for Cotati
This heatmap shows how average temperature at Cotati 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 Cotati. 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 Cotati 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 Cotati 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 Cotati 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 Cotati
- October 2026 recap: October 2026 at Cotati averaged a high of 76°F, 5°F warmer than October 2025 (71°F).
- Rain year: The 2025-26 rain year (Oct. 1 to Sep. 30) brought 21.7 in. of rain to Cotati, 67% of the 32.3 in. normal.
Location Details
Cotati weather questions
Everything you need to know about weather and visiting Cotati
What is the weather like at Cotati today?
It's 56°F at Cotati right now, with a comfort score of 80 (great). Today's forecast high at Cotati is 59°F, 6°F below the mid November normal of 65°F. The best window today is 8 AM to 11 AM, at about 52°F with a 3 mph wind (comfort 51).
What is the best month to visit Cotati?
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Cotati are September, June, and July. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in September, 10 AM to 1 PM in June, and 10 AM to 1 PM in July. The warm season lasts about 2.8 months, from Jul 4 to Sep 27, when the average high is 79°F or warmer. Highs peak around Aug 8 at about 81°F.
What are the warmest and coldest months at Cotati?
August is the warmest month at Cotati, with an average high of 81°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 39°F.
When does the fog burn off at Cotati?
Fog or low cloud covers Cotati in 45% of 7 AM hours in December, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by noon. May mornings are the least foggy (18%).
When is it windiest at Cotati?
From February through October, wind at Cotati typically builds after 1 PM. In June it peaks around 3 PM, averaging 11 mph with 10% of those hours windy, while mornings average 3 mph.
How much rain does Cotati get?
December is the wettest month (6.7 in.), out of about 32.3 in. a year. The rainy season runs from Oct 27 to Apr 15, when a day has at least a 20% chance of measurable rain. That stretch brings 88% of the year's rain. The 2025-26 rain year (Oct. 1 to Sep. 30) brought 21.7 in. of rain to Cotati, 67% of the 32.3 in. normal.
What kind of place is Cotati?
Cotati's downtown was laid out as a hexagon instead of a grid, with La Plaza Park at its center. The city says it is one of only two hexagonal city layouts in the United States, and the plaza is a California Historical Landmark. This small Highway 101 city sits at the southern edge of the Santa Rosa Plain, where the Petaluma Gap's hills give way to flat land. It is known for its music roots and the Cotati Accordion Festival.
What is Cotati weather like in November?
November at Cotati averages a high of 65°F and a low of 42°F, with 3.5 in. of rain over about 8 rainy days. About 29% of morning hours are foggy. Afternoon wind averages 6 mph.
More about Cotati 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.
- City of Cotati, Recreation (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Sonoma County Tourism, Cotati (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Sonoma County Winegrowers, About Sonoma County Terroir (PDF) (accessed 2026-10-27)
- SMART (Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit), Stations (accessed 2026-10-27)
Rendered 2026-11-15T12:16:20.898Z.