Orinda Weather
Town • San Francisco Bay Area
Orinda is the first town east of the Caldecott Tunnel on Highway 24. It spreads through oak-covered hills and valleys on the back side of the Berkeley Hills, where San Pablo Creek begins its run north to San Pablo Reservoir. Once a rural area known for ranching and summer cabins, it is mostly residential today, with a small village center around Orinda station on Camino Pablo. Briones Regional Park and Briones Reservoir lie just to the north along Bear Creek Road.
Plan your week
10-Day Forecast
Hour by hour
Hourly Forecast
Current Conditions
Comfort Breakdown
Orinda weather today and through the year
It's 53°F at Orinda right now (feels like 50°F), with 5 mph wind and a comfort score of 77. Monday's forecast high at Orinda is 55°F, 8°F below the mid November normal of 63°F. No fog in the forecast for today at Orinda. In November, 14% of morning hours here are foggy on average. The best window today is 9 AM to noon, at about 52°F with a 8 mph wind (comfort 55).
August is the warmest month at Orinda, with an average high of 82°F. January is the coldest, with an average low of 41°F. December is the wettest month (5.5 in.), out of about 27.4 in. a year. By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Orinda are September, July, and August. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in September, 10 AM to 1 PM in July, and 10 AM to 1 PM in August.
The Berkeley Hills stand between Orinda and the bay. In summer they block most of the marine layer, the sheet of fog and low cloud from the ocean that covers Berkeley and Oakland. When the west portal of the Caldecott Tunnel is under fog, Orinda is often already in sun. Its summer afternoons run far warmer than the flatlands a few miles west. On days when the marine layer is deep, cloud does spill over the ridge and reach Orinda, but it usually burns off sooner here.
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 Orinda in the next few days
No active National Weather Service alerts for this location.
Fog
No fog in the forecast for today at Orinda. In November, 14% of morning hours here are foggy on average.
Best time to go
The best window today is 9 AM to noon, at about 52°F with a 8 mph wind (comfort 55).
Best day this week
Of the next 7 days, Friday looks best for Orinda, with a 59°F high and midday comfort near 80. Today looks weakest (50).
Rain
Next good chance of rain: today (74%, about 0.34 in.).
Live weather map
Weather around Orinda right now
Overcast and 53° at Orinda right now.
About the live weather map for Orinda
The map centers on Orinda 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.
Orinda vs nearby places
Typical summer conditions compared with Orinda, 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 Orinda |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grizzly Peak | 3 mi | -8°F | 49% | 10 mph | more summer morning fog (49% vs 20% of morning hours) and about 8°F cooler on summer afternoons |
| Lafayette | 3.4 mi | +5°F | 13% | 9 mph | about 5°F warmer on summer afternoons |
| Claremont District | 3.6 mi | -8°F | 56% | 9 mph | more summer morning fog (56% vs 20% of morning hours) and about 8°F cooler on summer afternoons |
| Rodeo Beach | 19.7 mi | -20°F | 48% | 13 mph | about 20°F cooler on summer afternoons and more summer morning fog (48% vs 20% of morning hours) |
| Ocean Beach | 19.8 mi | -20°F | 49% | 11 mph | about 20°F cooler on summer afternoons and more summer morning fog (49% vs 20% of morning hours) |
| Pacifica | 24.8 mi | -21°F | 56% | 9 mph | about 21°F cooler on summer afternoons and more summer morning fog (56% vs 20% of morning hours) |
Places with a climate like Orinda's
- Mission Peak Regional Preserve (30 mi away): nearly the same temperatures every month
- Union City (21 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
- Sonoma (32 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
Climate Dashboard
Current conditions vs. NOAA normals and recent destination baseline
What the Orinda climate comparisons mean
These cards compare recent conditions at Orinda 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 Orinda 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.
Orinda weather by month
August is the warmest month at Orinda, with an average high of 82°F. January is the coldest, with an average low of 41°F. December is the wettest month (5.5 in.), out of about 27.4 in. a year. Morning fog peaks in December, when fog or low cloud covers 29% of the hours from 6 to 10 AM. June has the clearest middays, with clouds covering about 8% of the sky from 11 AM to 3 PM.
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Orinda are September, July, and August. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in September, 10 AM to 1 PM in July, and 10 AM to 1 PM in August.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Rainy days | Morning fog | Midday cloud | Afternoon wind | Daylight | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55°F | 41°F | 5.3 in | 10 | 25% | 35% | 7 mph | 9.8 h | 35 |
| Feb | 59°F | 43°F | 5.2 in | 10 | 13% | 26% | 8 mph | 10.7 h | 42 |
| Mar | 63°F | 44°F | 4.2 in | 8 | 10% | 30% | 9 mph | 11.9 h | 62 |
| Apr | 67°F | 46°F | 1.9 in | 6 | 10% | 22% | 10 mph | 13.2 h | 73 |
| May | 72°F | 49°F | 0.9 in | 4 | 18% | 19% | 12 mph | 14.2 h | 76 |
| Jun | 78°F | 53°F | 0.2 in | 2 | 17% | 8% | 12 mph | 14.8 h | 85 |
| Jul | 81°F | 56°F | 0.0 in | 0 | 24% | 8% | 11 mph | 14.5 h | 88 |
| Aug | 82°F | 57°F | 0.0 in | 1 | 18% | 8% | 11 mph | 13.6 h | 88 |
| Sep | 81°F | 56°F | 0.1 in | 2 | 14% | 12% | 9 mph | 12.3 h | 90 |
| Oct | 74°F | 52°F | 1.3 in | 5 | 8% | 16% | 8 mph | 11.1 h | 85 |
| Nov | 63°F | 46°F | 2.8 in | 7 | 14% | 24% | 6 mph | 10.0 h | 68 |
| Dec | 55°F | 41°F | 5.5 in | 10 | 29% | 38% | 6 mph | 9.5 h | 32 |
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 Orinda average about 5°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 Orinda has actually seen.
What makes Orinda's weather different
When the fog burns off
4 PMwhen December fog usually thins (32% foggy at 8 AM)
Fog or low cloud covers Orinda in 32% of 8 AM hours in December, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by 4 PM. October mornings are the least foggy (8%).
When the wind picks up
3 PMwhen afternoon wind builds, March–October
From March through October, wind at Orinda typically builds after 3 PM. In June it peaks around 6 PM, averaging 14 mph with 29% of those hours windy, while mornings average 9 mph.
Microclimate
−8°FClaremont District, 3.6 mi away, on summer afternoons
Claremont District, 3.6 miles away, runs about 8°F cooler than Orinda on summer afternoons. It also has far more summer morning fog, 56% of morning hours compared with 20%.
Elevation
−8°Fsummer afternoons at Grizzly Peak, 1,253 ft up
Grizzly Peak sits 1,253 ft higher, 3 miles away. Its summer highs average 8°F cooler and its winter lows 1°F milder than Orinda.
Daylight
9.5–14.8 hof daylight, Dec to Jun
Days at Orinda range from about 9.5 hours in December to 14.8 hours in June. In mid-June the sun sets around 8:33 PM, and in mid-December around 4:54 PM.
Seasons at Orinda
- Warm seasonJun 30 – Sep 27 · highs 79°F+
The warm season lasts about 3 months, from Jun 30 to Sep 27, when the average high is 79°F or warmer. Highs peak around Aug 8 at about 82°F.
- Cool seasonNov 28 – Feb 28 · highs 61°F or lower
The cool season runs from Nov 28 to Feb 28, when the average high is 61°F or lower. The coldest nights come around Jan 1, with an average low near 41°F.
- Rainy seasonNov 5 – Apr 12 · 85% of the year's rain
The rainy season runs from Nov 5 to Apr 12, when a day has at least a 20% chance of measurable rain. That stretch brings 85% 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 25 and half of its annual total by Jan 25.
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, Orinda averaged 15 days a year at 90°F or hotter and no freezing nights. It averaged 21 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 92 mornings a year had 3 or more hours of fog or low cloud.
In the same record, the hottest day was Sep 9, 2026 (99°F) and the coldest night was Feb 20, 2026 (35°F). The wettest day was Nov 23, 2024 (2.79 in.), and the strongest 2 PM gust was 46 mph on Feb 4, 2025.
- 15days at 90°F or hotter
- 0nights at or below freezing
- 21days with ½ in. of rain or more
- 1afternoon with 20+ mph wind
- 92mornings with 3+ hours of fog or low cloud
- Hottest day99°FSep 9, 2026
- Coldest night35°FFeb 20, 2026
- Wettest day2.79 inNov 23, 2024
- Strongest 2 PM gust46 mphFeb 4, 2025
What shapes Orinda's weather
Orinda's nights are as distinctive as its afternoons. Much of the town sits in valleys and hollows, and on clear, calm nights cool air drains off the slopes and pools in the low spots. That gives Orinda a wide swing between hot summer afternoons and chilly mornings. On the coldest clear winter nights, the valley bottoms can see frost that bayside towns rarely get.
Summer heat, dry grass and oak-and-bay woodland make fire weather the main hazard. Heat waves and fall offshore winds, which blow dry air from inland toward the coast, bring Red Flag Warnings, the Weather Service's alerts for dangerous fire weather. In July 2024 the park district closed Briones, Sibley and other nearby hill parks during a Red Flag Warning that came with an inland heat warning.
Tips for visiting Orinda
Take BART through the hills
Orinda station is at 11 Camino Pablo, with County Connection bus connections and a parking lot.
Sign up for alerts before fire season
Orinda's preparedness site points to Nixle (text your ZIP code to 888777), Contra Costa's Community Warning System and the Watch Duty wildfire app.
Reach Briones by Bear Creek Road
From Orinda, go north on Camino Pablo about 2.5 miles, turn right on Bear Creek Road, and the Bear Creek Staging Area is about five miles ahead.
Hike early in summer
Inland heat can close hill parks outright, as happened across the East Bay in July 2024. Start at dawn and check closures first.
Pack a layer for evenings
A hot afternoon in Orinda can turn into a cold night in the valleys, especially in spring and fall.
Orinda through the seasons
- Spring (March–May)
- Spring brings green hills and mild, sunny days while the bay side is still often gray. It is the best hiking season in the hills around town.
- Summer (June–August)
- Most summer afternoons are hot and clear, with heat waves that can bring Red Flag Warnings and park closures.
- Fall (September–October)
- Fall stays warm into October, with the driest grass of the year and the highest fire danger. The park district says fire-danger signs are common from May through October.
- Winter (November–February)
- Winter is the rainy season, with cold, clear nights between storms that can bring frost to the lowest spots.
Activities and the weather that matters
- Hiking in Briones and the nearby hills: Hiking is best in spring when the hills are green. Summer middays are hot and exposed, so go early.
- Road cycling: Bear Creek Road and the reservoir roads are best on spring and fall mornings. Summer afternoons are hot.
- Escaping Berkeley's fog: On a gray summer morning on the bay side, a BART ride through the hills often comes out in sunshine.
Official sources and current conditions
- Orinda Ready: Sign up for alerts
- Orinda Ready: Evacuate
- BART: Orinda station
- Contra Costa Community Warning System
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 | 79 | 60.8° / 47° | 6.6h | 3d | 4.69" | 19 |
| December 2024 | 68 | 56.9° / 45.9° | 5h | 14d | 7.59" | 12 |
| January 2025 | 82 | 58.2° / 42.8° | 6.9h | 5d | 0.29" | 19 |
| February 2025 | 76 | 59.3° / 44.4° | 6.9h | 4d | 8.69" | 16 |
| March 2025 | 82 | 60.1° / 45.4° | 8.6h | 0d | 2.99" | 20 |
| April 2025 | 89 | 65.7° / 47.2° | 9.7h | 5d | 0.47" | 24 |
| May 2025 | 93 | 71.6° / 51° | 12.4h | 2d | 0.37" | 30 |
| June 2025 | 93 | 71.9° / 51.4° | 12.6h | 6d | 0" | 29 |
| July 2025 | 90 | 71.8° / 53.7° | 11.9h | 11d | 0" | 26 |
| August 2025 | 94 | 79.9° / 56.8° | 11.4h | 1d | 0" | 30 |
| September 2025 | 91 | 77.3° / 59.3° | 9.7h | 4d | 0.06" | 28 |
| October 2025 | 88 | 70.8° / 53.9° | 7.9h | 4d | 2.16" | 25 |
| November 2025 | 78 | 62.2° / 49.9° | 6.4h | 11d | 4.17" | 13 |
| December 2025 | 63 | 54.5° / 44.1° | 4.9h | 19d | 6.08" | 4 |
| January 2026 | 73 | 58.7° / 45.4° | 6.3h | 14d | 4.8" | 15 |
| February 2026 | 77 | 62.1° / 46.7° | 6.8h | 5d | 6.02" | 18 |
| March 2026 | 95 | 75.4° / 53.7° | 9.8h | 1d | 0.07" | 31 |
| April 2026 | 85 | 65° / 48.7° | 9.3h | 1d | 5.73" | 22 |
| May 2026 | 90 | 69.7° / 51.6° | 11.8h | 6d | 0.62" | 27 |
| June 2026 | 92 | 73.2° / 53.8° | 12.5h | 7d | 0" | 29 |
| July 2026 | 93 | 76.8° / 55.9° | 11.5h | 3d | 0.04" | 30 |
| August 2026 | 93 | 78.3° / 56.2° | 11h | 4d | 0" | 30 |
| September 2026 | 93 | 76.6° / 56.4° | 10.2h | 2d | 0.66" | 27 |
| October 2026 | 88 | 76.7° / 56.6° | 8.4h | 2d | 0.54" | 28 |
Climate Trends
Average Temperature by Month
About the Orinda climate charts
The temperature chart compares average monthly highs and lows at Orinda, 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 Orinda. 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 Orinda, the warmest typical hour is 3 PM in August (79°F). The coldest is 7 AM in December (44°F).
- Fog: Fog or low cloud covers Orinda in 32% of 8 AM hours in December, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by 4 PM. October mornings are the least foggy (8%).
- Wind: From March through October, wind at Orinda typically builds after 3 PM. In June it peaks around 6 PM, averaging 14 mph with 29% of those hours windy, while mornings average 9 mph.
- Cloud Cover: June middays are the clearest at Orinda (8% average cloud cover), and December middays are the cloudiest (38%).
- Solar Radiation: The strongest typical sun at Orinda comes at 1 PM in June, averaging 1000 W/m².
How to read the hourly heatmaps for Orinda
This heatmap shows how average temperature at Orinda 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 Orinda. 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 Orinda 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 Orinda 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 Orinda 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 Orinda
- October 2026 recap: October 2026 at Orinda averaged a high of 77°F, 6°F warmer than October 2025 (71°F).
- Rain year: The 2025-26 rain year (Oct. 1 to Sep. 30) brought 30.4 in. of rain to Orinda, 111% of the 27.4 in. normal.
Location Details
Orinda weather questions
Everything you need to know about weather and visiting Orinda
What is the weather like at Orinda today?
It's 53°F at Orinda right now, with a comfort score of 77 (great). Monday's forecast high at Orinda is 55°F, 8°F below the mid November normal of 63°F. The best window today is 9 AM to noon, at about 52°F with a 8 mph wind (comfort 55).
What is the best month to visit Orinda?
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Orinda are September, July, and August. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in September, 10 AM to 1 PM in July, and 10 AM to 1 PM in August. The warm season lasts about 3 months, from Jun 30 to Sep 27, when the average high is 79°F or warmer. Highs peak around Aug 8 at about 82°F.
What are the warmest and coldest months at Orinda?
August is the warmest month at Orinda, with an average high of 82°F. January is the coldest, with an average low of 41°F.
When does the fog burn off at Orinda?
Fog or low cloud covers Orinda in 32% of 8 AM hours in December, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by 4 PM. October mornings are the least foggy (8%).
When is it windiest at Orinda?
From March through October, wind at Orinda typically builds after 3 PM. In June it peaks around 6 PM, averaging 14 mph with 29% of those hours windy, while mornings average 9 mph.
How much rain does Orinda get?
December is the wettest month (5.5 in.), out of about 27.4 in. a year. The rainy season runs from Nov 5 to Apr 12, when a day has at least a 20% chance of measurable rain. That stretch brings 85% of the year's rain. The 2025-26 rain year (Oct. 1 to Sep. 30) brought 30.4 in. of rain to Orinda, 111% of the 27.4 in. normal.
How does Orinda weather compare with Claremont District?
Claremont District, 3.6 miles away, runs about 8°F cooler than Orinda on summer afternoons. It also has far more summer morning fog, 56% of morning hours compared with 20%.
What kind of place is Orinda?
Orinda is the first town east of the Caldecott Tunnel on Highway 24. It spreads through oak-covered hills and valleys on the back side of the Berkeley Hills, where San Pablo Creek begins its run north to San Pablo Reservoir. Once a rural area known for ranching and summer cabins, it is mostly residential today, with a small village center around Orinda station on Camino Pablo. Briones Regional Park and Briones Reservoir lie just to the north along Bear Creek Road.
What is Orinda weather like in November?
November at Orinda averages a high of 63°F and a low of 46°F, with 2.8 in. of rain over about 7 rainy days. About 14% of morning hours are foggy. Afternoon wind averages 6 mph.
More about Orinda 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.
- BART, Orinda Station (accessed 2026-10-27)
- City of Orinda, Orinda Ready: Sign Up for Alerts (accessed 2026-10-27)
- East Bay Regional Park District, Briones Regional Park brochure and map (rev. 6/2020) (accessed 2026-10-27)
- East Bay Regional Park District, hill and inland park closures for Red Flag and heat warnings (July 1, 2024) (accessed 2026-10-27)
- East Bay Regional Park District, Fire Danger Levels and Restrictions (accessed 2026-10-27)
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