Palo Alto Weather
Town • San Francisco Bay Area
Palo Alto's downtown grows out from University Avenue and the Caltrain station at the edge of Stanford University. The city itself runs far beyond it, from tidal marsh on the Bay to oak and chaparral in the foothills. At the bay end, the city owns the 1,940-acre Baylands Nature Preserve, a major stop for migrating birds on the Pacific Flyway. In the hills it owns Foothills Nature Preserve up Page Mill Road, next to Portola Valley, Los Altos Hills and the regional open space district's Los Trancos preserve. San Francisquito Creek, the city's northern edge, is watched by live flood gauges in every big storm.
Plan your week
10-Day Forecast
Hour by hour
Hourly Forecast
Current Conditions
Comfort Breakdown
Palo Alto weather today and through the year
It's 53°F at Palo Alto right now (feels like 50°F), with 7 mph wind and a comfort score of 77. Monday's forecast high at Palo Alto is 57°F, 8°F below the mid November normal of 65°F. The best window today is 9 AM to noon, at about 55°F with a 4 mph wind (comfort 60).
September is the warmest month at Palo Alto, with an average high of 77°F. January is the coldest, with an average low of 42°F. February is the wettest month (3.6 in.), out of about 17.6 in. a year. By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Palo Alto are June, September, and July. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in June, 10 AM to 1 PM in September, and 10 AM to 1 PM in July.
Downtown Palo Alto sits on the flat Bay plain a couple of miles from the water. It is close enough to get the afternoon breeze that flows south down San Francisco Bay, but far from any gap in the coastal hills. Summer fog that pours over the Santa Cruz Mountains usually evaporates on the way down, so most summer days are sunny. Gray mornings come mainly when the marine layer, the sheet of fog and low cloud from the ocean, runs deep.
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 Palo Alto in the next few days
No active National Weather Service alerts for this location.
Best time to go
The best window today is 9 AM to noon, at about 55°F with a 4 mph wind (comfort 60).
Best day this week
Of the next 7 days, Friday looks best for Palo Alto, with a 61°F high and midday comfort near 80. Today looks weakest (50).
Rain
Next good chance of rain: today (83%, about 0.31 in.).
Live weather map
Weather around Palo Alto right now
Overcast and 53° at Palo Alto right now.
About the live weather map for Palo Alto
The map centers on Palo Alto 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.
Palo Alto vs nearby places
Typical summer conditions compared with Palo Alto, 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 Palo Alto |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Menlo Park | 2.3 mi | +1°F | 13% | 9 mph | a very similar climate |
| Atherton | 3.3 mi | same | 9% | 10 mph | a very similar climate |
| Los Altos | 4.2 mi | +2°F | 14% | 9 mph | a very similar climate |
| Moss Beach | 21.1 mi | -19°F | 66% | 9 mph | more summer morning fog (66% vs 12% of morning hours) and about 19°F cooler on summer afternoons |
| Montara | 21.6 mi | -21°F | 60% | 8 mph | about 21°F cooler on summer afternoons and more summer morning fog (60% vs 12% of morning hours) |
| Pacifica | 22.3 mi | -22°F | 56% | 9 mph | about 22°F cooler on summer afternoons and more summer morning fog (56% vs 12% of morning hours) |
Places with a climate like Palo Alto's
- Vallejo (46 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
- San Anselmo (43 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
- Novato (52 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
Climate Dashboard
Current conditions vs. NOAA normals and recent destination baseline
What the Palo Alto climate comparisons mean
These cards compare recent conditions at Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto 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.
Palo Alto weather by month
September is the warmest month at Palo Alto, with an average high of 77°F. January is the coldest, with an average low of 42°F. February is the wettest month (3.6 in.), out of about 17.6 in. a year. Morning fog peaks in December, when fog or low cloud covers 17% of the hours from 6 to 10 AM. June has the clearest middays, with clouds covering about 14% of the sky from 11 AM to 3 PM.
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Palo Alto are June, September, and July. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in June, 10 AM to 1 PM in September, 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 | 59°F | 42°F | 3.4 in | 8 | 12% | 32% | 5 mph | 9.9 h | 61 |
| Feb | 62°F | 44°F | 3.6 in | 8 | 9% | 26% | 7 mph | 10.8 h | 64 |
| Mar | 65°F | 46°F | 2.7 in | 7 | 8% | 31% | 8 mph | 11.9 h | 67 |
| Apr | 67°F | 47°F | 1.3 in | 5 | 6% | 25% | 8 mph | 13.2 h | 77 |
| May | 70°F | 51°F | 0.6 in | 3 | 7% | 24% | 9 mph | 14.2 h | 80 |
| Jun | 75°F | 53°F | 0.1 in | 2 | 9% | 14% | 9 mph | 14.7 h | 89 |
| Jul | 76°F | 56°F | 0.0 in | 0 | 14% | 15% | 9 mph | 14.5 h | 88 |
| Aug | 76°F | 56°F | 0.0 in | 1 | 15% | 15% | 9 mph | 13.6 h | 88 |
| Sep | 77°F | 55°F | 0.1 in | 1 | 11% | 18% | 8 mph | 12.3 h | 89 |
| Oct | 73°F | 51°F | 0.8 in | 4 | 10% | 18% | 6 mph | 11.1 h | 85 |
| Nov | 65°F | 46°F | 1.7 in | 5 | 10% | 22% | 5 mph | 10.1 h | 77 |
| Dec | 59°F | 42°F | 3.4 in | 8 | 17% | 34% | 5 mph | 9.6 h | 60 |
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.
What makes Palo Alto's weather different
When the fog burns off
11 AMwhen December fog usually thins (20% foggy at 8 AM)
Fog or low cloud covers Palo Alto in 20% of 8 AM hours in December, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by 11 AM. April mornings are the least foggy (6%).
When the wind picks up
1 PMwhen afternoon wind builds, February–October
From February through October, wind at Palo Alto typically builds after 1 PM. In May it peaks around 4 PM, averaging 10 mph with 3% of those hours windy, while mornings average 3 mph.
Daylight
9.6–14.7 hof daylight, Dec to Jun
Days at Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto
- Warm seasonJun 26 – Sep 30 · highs 75°F+
The warm season lasts about 3.2 months, from Jun 26 to Sep 30, when the average high is 75°F or warmer. Highs peak around Sep 8 at about 77°F.
- Cool seasonNov 28 – Feb 26 · highs 63°F or lower
The cool season runs from Nov 28 to Feb 26, when the average high is 63°F or lower. The coldest nights come around Jan 8, with an average low near 42°F.
- Rainy seasonNov 24 – Mar 26 · 74% of the year's rain
The rainy season runs from Nov 24 to Mar 26, when a day has at least a 20% chance of measurable rain. That stretch brings 74% 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 Nov 5 and half of its annual total by Jan 27.
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, Palo Alto averaged 8 days a year at 90°F or hotter and no freezing nights. It averaged 9 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 49 mornings a year had 3 or more hours of fog or low cloud.
In the same record, the hottest day was Jun 11, 2026 (98°F) and the coldest night was Jan 28, 2025 (35°F). The wettest day was Feb 5, 2025 (1.35 in.), and the strongest 2 PM gust was 46 mph on Mar 12, 2025.
- 8days at 90°F or hotter
- 0nights at or below freezing
- 9days with ½ in. of rain or more
- 1afternoon with 20+ mph wind
- 49mornings with 3+ hours of fog or low cloud
- Hottest day98°FJun 11, 2026
- Coldest night35°FJan 28, 2025
- Wettest day1.35 inFeb 5, 2025
- Strongest 2 PM gust46 mphMar 12, 2025
What shapes Palo Alto's weather
What makes Palo Alto unusual is how much climate fits inside one city. The Baylands are the windiest, most marine part of town, open to the full sweep of the afternoon breeze. Up Page Mill Road, the Foothills Nature Preserve and the Stanford foothills catch more sun and heat on summer afternoons. On clear winter nights, the canyons there hold colder air than the urban flats.
Most rain falls from November through March, and the foothills get more of it than the Bay plain. In wet winters the creeks that cross town (San Francisquito, Matadero and Adobe) can rise fast. The city keeps live gauges on all three because levees and floodwalls let water climb well above bridge bottoms before it spills.
In fall, offshore winds blowing from inland toward the coast bring hot, dry days and fire danger to the grassy foothills. Red Flag Warnings, the alerts for dangerous fire weather, close Stanford's foothill lands, including the Dish trail. They also shut down barbecues in the city's open space preserves.
Tips for visiting Palo Alto
Hike the Dish early in summer
Stanford's Dish trail has no shade, and if the National Weather Service issues a heat advisory for the area, the trail may close at noon.
Expect foothill closures on Red Flag days
When a Red Flag Warning is issued, Stanford closes its foothills to the public and staffs every gate.
Watch the creek gauges in storms
The city's Creek Monitor shows water depth on San Francisquito, Matadero and Adobe creeks. If conditions look unsafe, the city says not to wait for an evacuation order.
Expect seasonal trails to close after heavy rain
At Pearson-Arastradero Preserve, seasonal trails close when more than 0.5 inch of rain falls in 24 hours and reopen only after 48 dry hours.
Walk or bike into Foothills Nature Preserve
Vehicles pay a daily entry fee, but pedestrians and bicyclists enter free. Parking on Page Mill Road is prohibited.
Palo Alto through the seasons
- Spring (March–May)
- Spring brings green foothills and mild, increasingly sunny days. Seasonal trails at Pearson-Arastradero can still close after a heavy spring storm.
- Summer (June–August)
- Summer is sunny and warm downtown and breezy at the Baylands in the afternoon. Heat advisories can close the Dish trail at noon.
- Fall (September–November)
- September is often the warmest month, and fall is the peak of fire weather in the foothills. Red Flag Warnings close Stanford's foothill lands.
- Winter (December–February)
- Winter is the rainy season. The city posts storm-readiness resources for properties in flood zones.
Activities and the weather that matters
- Birding at the Baylands: The Baylands is one of the West Coast's top birding spots. Calm mornings are best, because the afternoon breeze across the marsh is cold even in summer.
- Walking the Dish: Cool, clear mornings are ideal. There is no shade, and Red Flag or heat warnings can close it.
- Hiking Foothills Nature Preserve: The preserve has chaparral, woodland and a lake with views over the Bay Area. Spring and fall are best, since summer afternoons are hot on the open slopes.
- Cycling to the foothills: Ride up Page Mill Road early on summer days, before the heat builds on the climb.
Official sources and current conditions
- City of Palo Alto: open space alerts and closures
- City of Palo Alto: Creek Monitor and cameras
- Stanford Dish Area: plan your visit and closures
- Caltrain: Palo Alto station
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 | 85 | 63.8° / 45.6° | 6.6h | 1d | 1.88" | 23 |
| December 2024 | 77 | 61.4° / 45.1° | 5.4h | 6d | 3.13" | 14 |
| January 2025 | 85 | 60.6° / 40.9° | 6.9h | 3d | 0.08" | 23 |
| February 2025 | 80 | 62.1° / 44.6° | 6.6h | 2d | 4.55" | 18 |
| March 2025 | 86 | 63.4° / 46.3° | 8.5h | 1d | 1.72" | 24 |
| April 2025 | 91 | 68.2° / 49° | 9.2h | 2d | 0.37" | 25 |
| May 2025 | 96 | 74.6° / 52.1° | 12h | 0d | 0.1" | 31 |
| June 2025 | 96 | 75.2° / 54.3° | 12.4h | 1d | 0" | 30 |
| July 2025 | 95 | 76° / 57.4° | 11.4h | 3d | 0" | 31 |
| August 2025 | 93 | 80.2° / 58.8° | 10.9h | 3d | 0" | 31 |
| September 2025 | 92 | 79.5° / 61.1° | 9.3h | 2d | 0.04" | 28 |
| October 2025 | 91 | 72.9° / 53.8° | 8.1h | 1d | 0.78" | 28 |
| November 2025 | 82 | 65.3° / 49.7° | 6.6h | 7d | 2.19" | 18 |
| December 2025 | 74 | 59° / 45.6° | 5.1h | 10d | 2.62" | 10 |
| January 2026 | 83 | 62.4° / 44° | 6.8h | 3d | 2.97" | 22 |
| February 2026 | 81 | 64.1° / 46.8° | 6.5h | 3d | 2.37" | 19 |
| March 2026 | 94 | 76.4° / 51.5° | 9.5h | 0d | 0" | 30 |
| April 2026 | 90 | 69.1° / 50.6° | 8.9h | 2d | 1.69" | 25 |
| May 2026 | 94 | 72.6° / 53.3° | 11.3h | 2d | 0.29" | 31 |
| June 2026 | 95 | 77.5° / 56.9° | 12.2h | 1d | 0" | 29 |
| July 2026 | 95 | 78.8° / 58.4° | 11.5h | 0d | 0" | 31 |
| August 2026 | 93 | 77.5° / 59.3° | 10.7h | 2d | 0" | 31 |
| September 2026 | 94 | 78.7° / 56.7° | 9.9h | 1d | 0.02" | 29 |
| October 2026 | 91 | 75.4° / 53.2° | 8.1h | 2d | 0.07" | 29 |
Climate Trends
Average Temperature by Month
About the Palo Alto climate charts
The temperature chart compares average monthly highs and lows at Palo Alto, 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 Palo Alto. 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 Palo Alto, the warmest typical hour is 3 PM in August (80°F). The coldest is 6 AM in January (45°F).
- Fog: Fog or low cloud covers Palo Alto in 20% of 8 AM hours in December, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by 11 AM. April mornings are the least foggy (6%).
- Wind: From February through October, wind at Palo Alto typically builds after 1 PM. In May it peaks around 4 PM, averaging 10 mph with 3% of those hours windy, while mornings average 3 mph.
- Cloud Cover: June middays are the clearest at Palo Alto (14% average cloud cover), and December middays are the cloudiest (34%).
- Solar Radiation: The strongest typical sun at Palo Alto comes at 1 PM in June, averaging 971 W/m².
How to read the hourly heatmaps for Palo Alto
This heatmap shows how average temperature at Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto. 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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto
- October 2026 recap: October 2026 at Palo Alto averaged a high of 75°F, 2°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 73°F. It brought 0.07 in. of rain, compared with a normal of 0.76 in.
- Rain year: The 2025-26 rain year (Oct. 1 to Sep. 30) brought 12.9 in. of rain to Palo Alto, 73% of the 17.6 in. normal.
Location Details
Palo Alto weather questions
Everything you need to know about weather and visiting Palo Alto
What is the weather like at Palo Alto today?
It's 53°F at Palo Alto right now, with a comfort score of 77 (great). Monday's forecast high at Palo Alto is 57°F, 8°F below the mid November normal of 65°F. The best window today is 9 AM to noon, at about 55°F with a 4 mph wind (comfort 60).
What is the best month to visit Palo Alto?
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Palo Alto are June, September, and July. The best hours are usually 10 AM to 1 PM in June, 10 AM to 1 PM in September, and 10 AM to 1 PM in July. The warm season lasts about 3.2 months, from Jun 26 to Sep 30, when the average high is 75°F or warmer. Highs peak around Sep 8 at about 77°F.
What are the warmest and coldest months at Palo Alto?
September is the warmest month at Palo Alto, with an average high of 77°F. January is the coldest, with an average low of 42°F.
When does the fog burn off at Palo Alto?
Fog or low cloud covers Palo Alto in 20% of 8 AM hours in December, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by 11 AM. April mornings are the least foggy (6%).
When is it windiest at Palo Alto?
From February through October, wind at Palo Alto typically builds after 1 PM. In May it peaks around 4 PM, averaging 10 mph with 3% of those hours windy, while mornings average 3 mph.
How much rain does Palo Alto get?
February is the wettest month (3.6 in.), out of about 17.6 in. a year. The rainy season runs from Nov 24 to Mar 26, when a day has at least a 20% chance of measurable rain. That stretch brings 74% of the year's rain. The 2025-26 rain year (Oct. 1 to Sep. 30) brought 12.9 in. of rain to Palo Alto, 73% of the 17.6 in. normal.
What kind of place is Palo Alto?
Palo Alto's downtown grows out from University Avenue and the Caltrain station at the edge of Stanford University. The city itself runs far beyond it, from tidal marsh on the Bay to oak and chaparral in the foothills. At the bay end, the city owns the 1,940-acre Baylands Nature Preserve, a major stop for migrating birds on the Pacific Flyway. In the hills it owns Foothills Nature Preserve up Page Mill Road, next to Portola Valley, Los Altos Hills and the regional open space district's Los Trancos preserve. San Francisquito Creek, the city's northern edge, is watched by live flood gauges in every big storm.
What is Palo Alto weather like in November?
November at Palo Alto averages a high of 65°F and a low of 46°F, with 1.7 in. of rain over about 5 rainy days. Afternoon wind averages 5 mph.
More about Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto, Foothills Nature Preserve (accessed 2026-10-27)
- City of Palo Alto, Baylands Nature Preserve (accessed 2026-10-27)
- City of Palo Alto, Open Space Preserve Alerts, Notifications and Closures (Sept 18, 2026) (accessed 2026-10-27)
- City of Palo Alto, Creek Monitor and Camera (accessed 2026-10-27)
- City of Palo Alto, What to Expect This Storm Season (Oct 13, 2026) (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Stanford University, Stanford Dish Area: Plan your Visit (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Stanford University, Stanford Dish Area: Heat Advisory (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Stanford University, Stanford Dish Area: Red Flag Warning (accessed 2026-10-27)
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