La Honda Weather
Town • San Francisco Bay Area
La Honda is a small, unincorporated redwood community on Highway 84 in the coastal-side canyons of the Santa Cruz Mountains, west of Skyline Ridge and well below it. It is the gateway to a cluster of San Mateo County parks. Sam McDonald Park, about three miles west on Pescadero Road, mixes redwood forest with open ridgetop meadows. Its Heritage Grove holds old-growth trees the county calls the largest redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Just north of town, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District's La Honda Creek Preserve rises to ranchland and coast views.
Plan your week
10-Day Forecast
Hour by hour
Hourly Forecast
Current Conditions
Comfort Breakdown
La Honda weather today and through the year
It's 54°F at La Honda right now (feels like 51°F), with 6 mph wind and a comfort score of 78. Monday's forecast high at La Honda is 55°F, 9°F below the mid November normal of 64°F. The best window today is 1 PM to 4 PM, at about 52°F with a 2 mph wind (comfort 55).
August is the warmest month at La Honda, with an average high of 80°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 40°F. December is the wettest month (6.4 in.), out of about 32.7 in. a year. By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at La Honda are September, August, and July. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in September, 11 AM to 2 PM in August, and noon to 3 PM in July.
La Honda sits on the ocean side of the Santa Cruz Mountains, so it gets the coast's weather rather than the Bay's. Summer marine air flows inland up the San Gregorio and Pescadero creek drainages. On many mornings low clouds fill the canyons around town while Skyline Ridge, a few miles east and much higher, sits in sunshine above them. Afternoons are warm but seldom hot.
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 La Honda in the next few days
No active National Weather Service alerts for this location.
Best time to go
The best window today is 1 PM to 4 PM, at about 52°F with a 2 mph wind (comfort 55).
Best day this week
Of the next 7 days, Friday looks best for La Honda, with a 58°F high and midday comfort near 71. Thursday looks weakest (51).
Rain
Next good chance of rain: today (84%, about 0.43 in.).
Live weather map
Weather around La Honda right now
Overcast and 54° at La Honda right now.
About the live weather map for La Honda
The map centers on La Honda 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.
La Honda vs nearby places
Typical summer conditions compared with La Honda, 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 La Honda |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windy Hill Open Space | 3.5 mi | +4°F | 34% | 11 mph | 1,500 ft higher and less summer morning fog (34% vs 44% of morning hours) |
| Russian Ridge Open Space | 3.6 mi | +2°F | 36% | 9 mph | 1,683 ft higher |
| Skyline Ridge Open Space | 4.7 mi | +4°F | 26% | 8 mph | less summer morning fog (26% vs 44% of morning hours) and 1,779 ft higher |
| San Carlos | 13 mi | +7°F | 7% | 10 mph | less summer morning fog (7% vs 44% of morning hours) and about 7°F warmer on summer afternoons |
| Los Gatos | 18.1 mi | +15°F | 8% | 8 mph | about 15°F warmer on summer afternoons and less summer morning fog (8% vs 44% of morning hours) |
| Almaden Valley | 24.5 mi | +15°F | 7% | 9 mph | less summer morning fog (7% vs 44% of morning hours) and about 15°F warmer on summer afternoons |
Places with a climate like La Honda's
- Scotts Valley (23 mi away): nearly the same temperatures every month
- Mount Burdell Open Space Preserve (60 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
- Olompali State Historic Park (60 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
Climate Dashboard
Current conditions vs. NOAA normals and recent destination baseline
What the La Honda climate comparisons mean
These cards compare recent conditions at La Honda 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 La Honda 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.
La Honda weather by month
August is the warmest month at La Honda, with an average high of 80°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 40°F. December is the wettest month (6.4 in.), out of about 32.7 in. a year. Morning fog peaks in July, when fog or low cloud covers 48% of the hours from 6 to 10 AM. October has the clearest middays, with clouds covering about 21% of the sky from 11 AM to 3 PM.
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at La Honda are September, August, and July. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in September, 11 AM to 2 PM in August, and noon to 3 PM in July.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Rainy days | Morning fog | Midday cloud | Afternoon wind | Daylight | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°F | 41°F | 6.3 in | 11 | 17% | 34% | 8 mph | 9.9 h | 32 |
| Feb | 60°F | 41°F | 6.2 in | 10 | 14% | 31% | 9 mph | 10.8 h | 34 |
| Mar | 63°F | 43°F | 5.0 in | 9 | 18% | 36% | 9 mph | 11.9 h | 37 |
| Apr | 66°F | 44°F | 2.5 in | 7 | 26% | 35% | 9 mph | 13.1 h | 58 |
| May | 70°F | 47°F | 1.1 in | 4 | 37% | 37% | 10 mph | 14.2 h | 68 |
| Jun | 76°F | 50°F | 0.3 in | 2 | 39% | 28% | 9 mph | 14.7 h | 82 |
| Jul | 79°F | 53°F | 0.0 in | 1 | 48% | 27% | 8 mph | 14.5 h | 87 |
| Aug | 80°F | 53°F | 0.1 in | 1 | 46% | 23% | 8 mph | 13.5 h | 90 |
| Sep | 79°F | 52°F | 0.1 in | 2 | 33% | 24% | 8 mph | 12.3 h | 92 |
| Oct | 74°F | 48°F | 1.4 in | 5 | 18% | 21% | 8 mph | 11.1 h | 82 |
| Nov | 64°F | 43°F | 3.4 in | 8 | 12% | 24% | 7 mph | 10.1 h | 65 |
| Dec | 58°F | 40°F | 6.4 in | 11 | 20% | 34% | 8 mph | 9.6 h | 31 |
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 La Honda average about 9°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 La Honda has actually seen.
What makes La Honda's weather different
When the fog burns off
11 AMwhen July fog usually thins (60% foggy at 8 AM)
Fog or low cloud covers La Honda in 60% of 8 AM hours in July, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by 11 AM. November mornings are the least foggy (12%).
When the wind picks up
noonwhen afternoon wind builds, April–September
From April through September, wind at La Honda typically builds after noon. In May it peaks around 3 PM, averaging 10 mph with 5% of those hours windy, while mornings average 5 mph.
Elevation
+4°Fsummer afternoons at Skyline Ridge Open Space, 1,779 ft up
Skyline Ridge Open Space sits 1,779 ft higher, 4.7 miles away. Its summer highs average 4°F warmer than La Honda.
Daylight
9.6–14.7 hof daylight, Dec to Jun
Days at La Honda 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 La Honda
- Warm seasonJun 29 – Sep 29 · highs 77°F+
The warm season lasts about 3.1 months, from Jun 29 to Sep 29, when the average high is 77°F or warmer. Highs peak around Aug 8 at about 80°F.
- Cool seasonNov 29 – Mar 1 · highs 62°F or lower
The cool season runs from Nov 29 to Mar 1, when the average high is 62°F or lower. The coldest nights come around Dec 8, with an average low near 40°F.
- Rainy seasonOct 30 – Apr 22 · 89% of the year's rain
The rainy season runs from Oct 30 to Apr 22, when a day has at least a 20% chance of measurable rain. That stretch brings 89% 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 23 and half of its annual total by Jan 26.
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, La Honda averaged 4 days a year at 90°F or hotter and no freezing nights. It averaged 15 days a year with at least half an inch of rain and 3 afternoons with wind of 20 mph or more at 2 PM. About 146 mornings a year had 3 or more hours of fog or low cloud.
In the same record, the hottest day was Sep 9, 2026 (98°F) and the coldest night was Feb 18, 2026 (36°F). The wettest day was Feb 5, 2025 (2.53 in.), and the strongest 2 PM gust was 47 mph on Feb 4, 2025.
- 4days at 90°F or hotter
- 0nights at or below freezing
- 15days with ½ in. of rain or more
- 3afternoons with 20+ mph wind
- 146mornings with 3+ hours of fog or low cloud
- Hottest day98°FSep 9, 2026
- Coldest night36°FFeb 18, 2026
- Wettest day2.53 inFeb 5, 2025
- Strongest 2 PM gust47 mphFeb 4, 2025
What shapes La Honda's weather
La Honda's tall redwood canopy and deep, narrow canyons make the town feel cooler and damper than the open ridges. Sun reaches the canyon floor late and leaves early, and in the lower, moister ravines ferns, mosses and mushrooms flourish through the rainy season.
Winter storms coming off the Pacific rise into the Santa Cruz Mountains and drop much more rain on La Honda than on the Bay side. The Bay side lies in the rain shadow, the drier zone downwind of the mountains. Heavy storms bring creek rises, landslides and fallen trees, and the winding mountain roads that connect La Honda to the Peninsula are especially vulnerable.
Away from the redwoods, the surrounding ridges are open grass and brush. In fall, dry offshore winds blow from inland toward the coast. When they bring a Red Flag Warning, the weather service's alert for dangerous fire weather, the open space district closes the lower La Honda Creek area.
Tips for visiting La Honda
Walk Heritage Grove on a hot day
This 37-acre old-growth grove on Alpine Creek is reached from the Sam McDonald parking lot or a small trailhead off Alpine Road. The trail is open to hikers only.
Check road status in storms
Mountain roads can close after heavy rain. Landslides have closed Highway 84, the main route from La Honda to the Peninsula, for months at a time, so check road conditions before you drive.
Horse trails close after first rains
At Sam McDonald, all single-track trails close to horses for the winter after the first significant rains. Fire roads stay open as weather allows.
Red Flag days close La Honda Creek
The Lower La Honda Creek area of the preserve closes whenever the National Weather Service declares a Red Flag Warning.
Sign up for SMC Alert
San Mateo County's opt-in system sends fire, flood and road warnings. Register an address so alerts are targeted to La Honda.
La Honda through the seasons
- Spring (March–May)
- The rainy season winds down with mosses and mushrooms on the redwood floor, then wildflowers such as poppies and sticky monkeyflower in the drier open areas.
- Summer (June–August)
- Summer brings cool, often foggy mornings in the canyons and warm afternoons. It is a good escape when the Bay side is hot.
- Fall (September–November)
- Fall brings the clearest mornings of the year, and September is nearly as warm as August. It is also the time of offshore winds and Red Flag closures on the open ridges.
- Winter (December–February)
- Winter is wet, with much more rain than the Bay side. Expect muddy trails, seasonal trail closures and occasional road damage from slides.
Activities and the weather that matters
- Redwood hikes at Sam McDonald Park: The redwood trails stay shaded and cool year-round, which makes them a good choice on hot inland days. The open southeastern ridge has views of the Butano and Skyline ridges and the Pacific on clear days.
- Hiking La Honda Creek Preserve: The preserve has more than 17 miles of trail through ranchland and redwood pockets with coast views. Clear fall and spring days are best, since foggy mornings hide the view.
- Birding: La Honda Creek has become a regional birding destination. Calm, clear mornings after the fog lifts are best.
Official sources and current conditions
- San Mateo County Parks: Sam McDonald Park
- Midpen: La Honda Creek Preserve
- San Mateo County Parks: advisories and closures
- Caltrans QuickMap: road 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 | 78 | 59.7° / 47° | 6.3h | 4d | 3.79" | 17 |
| December 2024 | 73 | 60.6° / 49.8° | 4.7h | 9d | 5.74" | 15 |
| January 2025 | 80 | 58.1° / 45° | 6.6h | 4d | 0.16" | 21 |
| February 2025 | 73 | 57.9° / 44.8° | 6.1h | 4d | 9.2" | 14 |
| March 2025 | 73 | 56.5° / 44° | 7.1h | 6d | 3.67" | 14 |
| April 2025 | 79 | 59° / 44.7° | 8.2h | 13d | 0.62" | 17 |
| May 2025 | 82 | 63° / 47.3° | 9.3h | 11d | 0.15" | 20 |
| June 2025 | 85 | 65° / 48.2° | 10.5h | 15d | 0" | 19 |
| July 2025 | 85 | 67° / 51.1° | 9.5h | 21d | 0" | 23 |
| August 2025 | 88 | 72.8° / 53.4° | 9.9h | 17d | 0" | 27 |
| September 2025 | 85 | 72.2° / 57° | 7.8h | 12d | 0.17" | 21 |
| October 2025 | 85 | 67.1° / 52.7° | 7.6h | 7d | 1.25" | 23 |
| November 2025 | 78 | 64° / 51.7° | 5.9h | 5d | 4.51" | 18 |
| December 2025 | 75 | 61.2° / 50.3° | 5.5h | 9d | 4.89" | 18 |
| January 2026 | 79 | 62.3° / 51.4° | 6.4h | 3d | 5.84" | 22 |
| February 2026 | 75 | 61.5° / 49° | 6.4h | 6d | 4.77" | 15 |
| March 2026 | 91 | 71.5° / 52.3° | 9.5h | 3d | 0.01" | 26 |
| April 2026 | 80 | 61.2° / 48.1° | 8.4h | 7d | 3.22" | 17 |
| May 2026 | 82 | 62.1° / 48.8° | 9.5h | 12d | 0.45" | 17 |
| June 2026 | 87 | 67.7° / 51.6° | 10.6h | 17d | 0" | 26 |
| July 2026 | 86 | 69.1° / 53.2° | 9.7h | 16d | 0.02" | 25 |
| August 2026 | 88 | 71.3° / 52.8° | 10h | 13d | 0" | 28 |
| September 2026 | 89 | 71.1° / 53.6° | 9.3h | 8d | 0.04" | 25 |
| October 2026 | 89 | 72.9° / 55.1° | 7.9h | 2d | 0.13" | 27 |
Climate Trends
Average Temperature by Month
About the La Honda climate charts
The temperature chart compares average monthly highs and lows at La Honda, 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 La Honda. 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 La Honda, the warmest typical hour is 3 PM in August (72°F). The coldest is 7 AM in February (47°F).
- Fog: Fog or low cloud covers La Honda in 60% of 8 AM hours in July, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by 11 AM. November mornings are the least foggy (12%).
- Wind: From April through September, wind at La Honda typically builds after noon. In May it peaks around 3 PM, averaging 10 mph with 5% of those hours windy, while mornings average 5 mph.
- Cloud Cover: October middays are the clearest at La Honda (21% average cloud cover), and May middays are the cloudiest (37%).
- Solar Radiation: The strongest typical sun at La Honda comes at 1 PM in July, averaging 922 W/m².
How to read the hourly heatmaps for La Honda
This heatmap shows how average temperature at La Honda 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 La Honda. 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 La Honda 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 La Honda 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 La Honda 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 La Honda
- October 2026 recap: October 2026 at La Honda averaged a high of 73°F, 6°F warmer than October 2025 (67°F).
- Rain year: The 2025-26 rain year (Oct. 1 to Sep. 30) brought 25.0 in. of rain to La Honda, 76% of the 32.7 in. normal.
Location Details
La Honda weather questions
Everything you need to know about weather and visiting La Honda
What is the weather like at La Honda today?
It's 54°F at La Honda right now, with a comfort score of 78 (great). Monday's forecast high at La Honda is 55°F, 9°F below the mid November normal of 64°F. The best window today is 1 PM to 4 PM, at about 52°F with a 2 mph wind (comfort 55).
What is the best month to visit La Honda?
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at La Honda are September, August, and July. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in September, 11 AM to 2 PM in August, and noon to 3 PM in July. The warm season lasts about 3.1 months, from Jun 29 to Sep 29, when the average high is 77°F or warmer. Highs peak around Aug 8 at about 80°F.
What are the warmest and coldest months at La Honda?
August is the warmest month at La Honda, with an average high of 80°F. December is the coldest, with an average low of 40°F.
When does the fog burn off at La Honda?
Fog or low cloud covers La Honda in 60% of 8 AM hours in July, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by 11 AM. November mornings are the least foggy (12%).
When is it windiest at La Honda?
From April through September, wind at La Honda typically builds after noon. In May it peaks around 3 PM, averaging 10 mph with 5% of those hours windy, while mornings average 5 mph.
How much rain does La Honda get?
December is the wettest month (6.4 in.), out of about 32.7 in. a year. The rainy season runs from Oct 30 to Apr 22, when a day has at least a 20% chance of measurable rain. That stretch brings 89% of the year's rain. The 2025-26 rain year (Oct. 1 to Sep. 30) brought 25.0 in. of rain to La Honda, 76% of the 32.7 in. normal.
How does La Honda weather compare with Skyline Ridge Open Space?
Skyline Ridge Open Space sits 1,779 ft higher, 4.7 miles away. Its summer highs average 4°F warmer than La Honda.
What kind of place is La Honda?
La Honda is a small, unincorporated redwood community on Highway 84 in the coastal-side canyons of the Santa Cruz Mountains, west of Skyline Ridge and well below it. It is the gateway to a cluster of San Mateo County parks. Sam McDonald Park, about three miles west on Pescadero Road, mixes redwood forest with open ridgetop meadows. Its Heritage Grove holds old-growth trees the county calls the largest redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Just north of town, the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District's La Honda Creek Preserve rises to ranchland and coast views.
What is La Honda weather like in November?
November at La Honda averages a high of 64°F and a low of 43°F, with 3.4 in. of rain over about 8 rainy days. About 12% of morning hours are foggy. Afternoon wind averages 7 mph.
More about La Honda 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.
- San Mateo County Parks, Sam McDonald Park (accessed 2026-10-27)
- San Mateo County Parks, Sam McDonald Park Natural Features (accessed 2026-10-27)
- San Mateo County Parks, Sam McDonald Park Activities (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District, La Honda Creek Preserve (accessed 2026-10-27)
- The Almanac, Caltrans: Landslide-damaged section of Highway 84 in Woodside won't fully reopen until December or later (Sept 1, 2023) (accessed 2026-10-27)
- San Mateo County Department of Emergency Management, SMC Alert (accessed 2026-10-27)
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