Wildcat Canyon Regional Park Weather
Park • San Francisco Bay Area
Wildcat Canyon carries Wildcat Creek north from the Tilden Nature Area to historic Alvarado Park in Richmond, and it is the quieter, less developed continuation of Tilden. Most of its roughly 25 miles of trail are old fire roads over grassy ridges, including the paved Nimitz Way from Inspiration Point. The creek gorge holds alder, willow and bay forest. After the 1920s much of its surplus watershed land was sold to developers. Most of their projects failed because of the canyon's landslides, which left the land open for the park district to assemble.
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10-Day Forecast
Hour by hour
Hourly Forecast
Current Conditions
Comfort Breakdown
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park weather today and through the year
It's 54°F at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park right now (feels like 50°F), with 9 mph wind and a comfort score of 76. Monday's forecast high at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park is 55°F, 8°F below the mid November normal of 63°F. Fog is forecast to linger into the afternoon today at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. In November, fog here usually thins by 3 PM. The best window today is 10 AM to 1 PM, at about 51°F with a 4 mph wind (comfort 57).
August is the warmest month at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, with an average high of 79°F. January is the coldest, with an average low of 41°F. December is the wettest month (5.5 in.), out of about 26.9 in. a year. By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park are September, August, and October. The best hours are usually noon to 3 PM in September, 1 PM to 4 PM in August, and 1 PM to 4 PM in October.
Wildcat Canyon runs northwest toward San Pablo Bay, with the hills above El Cerrito and Richmond on its west side and San Pablo Ridge on its east. That western wall is the first high ground the bay's marine air meets north of Berkeley. On summer mornings the canyon often fills with gray while the far side of San Pablo Ridge is in sun.
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 Wildcat Canyon Regional Park in the next few days
No active National Weather Service alerts for this location.
Fog
Fog is forecast to linger into the afternoon today at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. In November, fog here usually thins by 3 PM.
Best time to go
The best window today is 10 AM to 1 PM, at about 51°F with a 4 mph wind (comfort 57).
Hiking conditions
Best hiking day this week: Monday, with 9 daylight hours that are dry, 45 to 80°F, and under 18 mph wind. 4 of the next 7 days have at least 4 such hours.
Best day this week
Of the next 7 days, Friday looks best for Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, with a 60°F high and midday comfort near 80. Today looks weakest (48).
Rain
Next good chance of rain: today (72%, about 0.60 in.).
Live weather map
Weather around Wildcat Canyon Regional Park right now
Overcast and 54° at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park right now.
About the live weather map for Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
The map centers on Wildcat Canyon Regional 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.
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park vs nearby places
Typical summer conditions compared with Wildcat Canyon Regional 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 Wildcat Canyon Regional Park |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| El Cerrito | 1.9 mi | same | 35% | 9 mph | a very similar climate |
| Solano Avenue | 3.2 mi | -1°F | 51% | 9 mph | a very similar climate |
| Richmond | 3.3 mi | +2°F | 35% | 10 mph | a very similar climate |
| Pleasant Hill | 12.3 mi | +17°F | 10% | 7 mph | about 17°F warmer on summer afternoons and less summer morning fog (10% vs 42% of morning hours) |
| Pittsburg | 22.8 mi | +19°F | 2% | 10 mph | about 19°F warmer on summer afternoons and less summer morning fog (2% vs 42% of morning hours) |
| Suisun City | 24.8 mi | +17°F | 5% | 11 mph | about 17°F warmer on summer afternoons and less summer morning fog (5% vs 42% of morning hours) |
Places with a climate like Wildcat Canyon Regional Park's
- Garin Regional Park (26 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
- Anthony Chabot Regional Park (16 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
- La Honda (43 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
Climate Dashboard
Current conditions vs. NOAA normals and recent destination baseline
What the Wildcat Canyon Regional Park climate comparisons mean
These cards compare recent conditions at Wildcat Canyon Regional 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 Wildcat Canyon Regional 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.
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park weather by month
August is the warmest month at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, with an average high of 79°F. January is the coldest, with an average low of 41°F. December is the wettest month (5.5 in.), out of about 26.9 in. a year. Morning fog peaks in July, when fog or low cloud covers 48% of the hours from 6 to 10 AM. June has the clearest middays, with clouds covering about 18% of the sky from 11 AM to 3 PM.
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park are September, August, and October. The best hours are usually noon to 3 PM in September, 1 PM to 4 PM in August, and 1 PM to 4 PM in October.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Rainy days | Morning fog | Midday cloud | Afternoon wind | Daylight | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 41°F | 5.3 in | 10 | 25% | 35% | 7 mph | 9.8 h | 33 |
| Feb | 59°F | 43°F | 5.1 in | 10 | 16% | 27% | 8 mph | 10.7 h | 41 |
| Mar | 63°F | 45°F | 4.0 in | 8 | 14% | 31% | 8 mph | 11.9 h | 60 |
| Apr | 66°F | 46°F | 1.8 in | 6 | 17% | 25% | 9 mph | 13.2 h | 70 |
| May | 70°F | 49°F | 0.8 in | 4 | 28% | 25% | 11 mph | 14.2 h | 69 |
| Jun | 76°F | 53°F | 0.2 in | 2 | 36% | 18% | 11 mph | 14.8 h | 77 |
| Jul | 78°F | 55°F | 0.0 in | 0 | 48% | 21% | 11 mph | 14.5 h | 78 |
| Aug | 79°F | 56°F | 0.0 in | 1 | 42% | 20% | 10 mph | 13.6 h | 84 |
| Sep | 79°F | 55°F | 0.1 in | 1 | 27% | 19% | 9 mph | 12.3 h | 90 |
| Oct | 73°F | 52°F | 1.2 in | 5 | 16% | 19% | 7 mph | 11.1 h | 81 |
| Nov | 63°F | 46°F | 2.8 in | 7 | 14% | 25% | 7 mph | 10.0 h | 67 |
| Dec | 56°F | 41°F | 5.5 in | 10 | 29% | 39% | 7 mph | 9.5 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 Wildcat Canyon Regional Park 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 Wildcat Canyon Regional Park has actually seen.
What makes Wildcat Canyon Regional Park's weather different
When the fog burns off
noonwhen July fog usually thins (56% foggy at 8 AM)
Fog or low cloud covers Wildcat Canyon Regional Park in 56% of 8 AM hours in July, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by noon. November mornings are the least foggy (14%).
When the wind picks up
2 PMwhen afternoon wind builds, April–September
From April through September, wind at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park typically builds after 2 PM. In June it peaks around 4 PM, averaging 12 mph with 11% of those hours windy, while mornings average 9 mph.
Daylight
9.5–14.8 hof daylight, Dec to Jun
Days at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park 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 Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
- Warm seasonJul 1 – Sep 28 · highs 77°F+
The warm season lasts about 3 months, from Jul 1 to Sep 28, when the average high is 77°F or warmer. Highs peak around Aug 8 at about 79°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 · 86% 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 86% 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 26 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, Wildcat Canyon Regional Park averaged 2 days a year at 90°F or hotter and no freezing nights. It averaged 18 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 170 mornings a year had 3 or more hours of fog or low cloud.
In the same record, the hottest day was Sep 9, 2026 (97°F) and the coldest night was Feb 18, 2026 (36°F). The wettest day was Nov 23, 2024 (3.10 in.), and the strongest 2 PM gust was 48 mph on Feb 4, 2025.
- 2days at 90°F or hotter
- 0nights at or below freezing
- 18days with ½ in. of rain or more
- 1afternoon with 20+ mph wind
- 170mornings with 3+ hours of fog or low cloud
- Hottest day97°FSep 9, 2026
- Coldest night36°FFeb 18, 2026
- Wettest day3.10 inNov 23, 2024
- Strongest 2 PM gust48 mphFeb 4, 2025
What shapes Wildcat Canyon Regional Park's weather
Inside Wildcat Canyon, the direction a slope faces decides how sunny and dry it is. The park district notes grassland on the west- and south-facing slopes and oak, bay and maple woodland on the north- and east-facing ones. On a sunny afternoon the exposed ridge roads, Nimitz Way included, feel hot and windswept while the creek trail stays shaded and cool.
The canyon's ground is unstable, with old and fresh landslides throughout. Wet winters make that obvious. Fire roads turn to mud, springs and ponds fill, and Havey Canyon Trail closes to bikes and horses from December through February. By late summer the grass is dry, and the district can close the park during Red Flag Warnings, the weather service's alerts for hot, dry, windy fire weather.
Tips for visiting Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
Start at Alvarado for shade
The Alvarado Staging Area in Richmond starts in the creekside forest, so the first stretch stays cool on hot days. Its gate hours change with the season.
Ride Nimitz Way for the views
The paved, wheelchair-accessible route runs about 2.5 miles from Inspiration Point in Tilden. Dogs must be leashed on it.
Leash dogs around cattle
Cattle graze the park year-round, and dogs must be leashed where grazing animals are present.
Leave dogs out of the Nature Area
Dogs aren't permitted in the Tilden Nature Area at the canyon's south end.
Check closures in fire weather
The district can close Wildcat Canyon during a Red Flag Warning or inland heat wave. On hot, windy days, look at the district's alerts page before driving to a Wildcat Canyon trailhead.
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park through the seasons
- Spring (March–May)
- The grassy slopes are green and native wildflowers compete with introduced mustard, radish and thistle.
- Summer (June–August)
- Marine cloud often fills the canyon in the morning. Satellite imagery has caught it forming as moist air from the Golden Gate meets the Berkeley Hills and San Pablo Ridge.
- Fall (September–October)
- Fall brings dry grass and high fire danger until the first rains. The park district often posts elevated fire-danger signs at Wildcat Canyon from May through October.
- Winter (December–February)
- Winter brings muddy fire roads and full creeks. Havey Canyon Trail is closed to bikes and horses from December 1 to March 1.
Activities and the weather that matters
- Hiking the Wildcat Creek trail: The creek trail stays shaded and cool on hot days and turns muddy after rain.
- Cycling Nimitz Way: The paved ridge route can rise above the morning fog when the marine cloud is shallow. It is exposed to afternoon wind and sun.
- Horseback riding: Fire roads are best in the dry months. Some trails close to horses in midwinter.
- Picnics at Alvarado Park: The shady picnic sites sit among 1930s stonework. They are comfortable on warm days and damp in winter.
Official sources and current conditions
- East Bay Regional Park District: Wildcat Canyon
- Wildcat Canyon trail map and brochure (PDF)
- East Bay Regional Park District: Alerts and closures
- East Bay Regional Park District: Tilden Regional Park
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 | 77 | 60° / 47.6° | 6.4h | 4d | 5.12" | 18 |
| December 2024 | 68 | 57.3° / 47.5° | 4.9h | 14d | 6.35" | 12 |
| January 2025 | 81 | 57.4° / 44.7° | 7h | 6d | 0.26" | 18 |
| February 2025 | 73 | 57.9° / 44.8° | 6.6h | 7d | 9.43" | 12 |
| March 2025 | 78 | 58.4° / 45.2° | 7.6h | 4d | 2.04" | 16 |
| April 2025 | 84 | 61.9° / 47.4° | 9.5h | 10d | 0.26" | 19 |
| May 2025 | 91 | 67.8° / 50.5° | 11.7h | 8d | 0.12" | 26 |
| June 2025 | 82 | 65.6° / 50.9° | 10.9h | 20d | 0" | 18 |
| July 2025 | 79 | 64.9° / 53.2° | 9.7h | 30d | 0" | 17 |
| August 2025 | 86 | 72.1° / 55.9° | 10.1h | 16d | 0" | 23 |
| September 2025 | 85 | 71.9° / 58.4° | 8.5h | 11d | 0.1" | 20 |
| October 2025 | 86 | 68.4° / 53.9° | 7.8h | 7d | 1.06" | 23 |
| November 2025 | 75 | 61.5° / 50.4° | 6.3h | 14d | 3.84" | 12 |
| December 2025 | 64 | 54.6° / 45° | 5h | 19d | 5.26" | 4 |
| January 2026 | 73 | 59° / 47.2° | 6.5h | 14d | 4.38" | 14 |
| February 2026 | 75 | 61.1° / 47.9° | 6.4h | 6d | 5.14" | 14 |
| March 2026 | 94 | 72.8° / 53.6° | 9.6h | 3d | 0.02" | 28 |
| April 2026 | 82 | 63° / 49.2° | 9.1h | 10d | 4.02" | 20 |
| May 2026 | 85 | 65.6° / 51.3° | 10.8h | 14d | 0.7" | 20 |
| June 2026 | 86 | 68.1° / 53.1° | 11.1h | 13d | 0" | 20 |
| July 2026 | 86 | 70.2° / 55.1° | 10.6h | 18d | 0" | 23 |
| August 2026 | 83 | 69.5° / 55.5° | 9.4h | 24d | 0" | 19 |
| September 2026 | 87 | 71.6° / 56° | 9.4h | 10d | 0.13" | 24 |
| October 2026 | 88 | 72.8° / 55.1° | 8.2h | 3d | 0.33" | 25 |
Climate Trends
Average Temperature by Month
About the Wildcat Canyon Regional Park climate charts
The temperature chart compares average monthly highs and lows at Wildcat Canyon Regional 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 Wildcat Canyon Regional 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 Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, the warmest typical hour is 3 PM in September (72°F). The coldest is 7 AM in January (45°F).
- Fog: Fog or low cloud covers Wildcat Canyon Regional Park in 56% of 8 AM hours in July, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by noon. November mornings are the least foggy (14%).
- Wind: From April through September, wind at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park typically builds after 2 PM. In June it peaks around 4 PM, averaging 12 mph with 11% of those hours windy, while mornings average 9 mph.
- Cloud Cover: June middays are the clearest at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park (18% average cloud cover), and December middays are the cloudiest (39%).
- Solar Radiation: The strongest typical sun at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park comes at 1 PM in June, averaging 961 W/m².
How to read the hourly heatmaps for Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
This heatmap shows how average temperature at Wildcat Canyon Regional 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 Wildcat Canyon Regional 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 Wildcat Canyon Regional 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 Wildcat Canyon Regional 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 Wildcat Canyon Regional 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 Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
- October 2026 recap: October 2026 at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park averaged a high of 73°F, 4°F warmer than October 2025 (68°F).
- Rain year: The 2025-26 rain year (Oct. 1 to Sep. 30) brought 24.6 in. of rain to Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, 91% of the 26.9 in. normal.
Location Details
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park weather questions
Everything you need to know about weather and visiting Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
What is the weather like at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park today?
It's 54°F at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park right now, with a comfort score of 76 (great). Monday's forecast high at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park is 55°F, 8°F below the mid November normal of 63°F. The best window today is 10 AM to 1 PM, at about 51°F with a 4 mph wind (comfort 57).
What is the best month to visit Wildcat Canyon Regional Park?
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park are September, August, and October. The best hours are usually noon to 3 PM in September, 1 PM to 4 PM in August, and 1 PM to 4 PM in October. The warm season lasts about 3 months, from Jul 1 to Sep 28, when the average high is 77°F or warmer. Highs peak around Aug 8 at about 79°F.
What are the warmest and coldest months at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park?
August is the warmest month at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, with an average high of 79°F. January is the coldest, with an average low of 41°F.
When does the fog burn off at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park?
Fog or low cloud covers Wildcat Canyon Regional Park in 56% of 8 AM hours in July, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by noon. November mornings are the least foggy (14%).
When is it windiest at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park?
From April through September, wind at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park typically builds after 2 PM. In June it peaks around 4 PM, averaging 12 mph with 11% of those hours windy, while mornings average 9 mph.
How much rain does Wildcat Canyon Regional Park get?
December is the wettest month (5.5 in.), out of about 26.9 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 86% of the year's rain. The 2025-26 rain year (Oct. 1 to Sep. 30) brought 24.6 in. of rain to Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, 91% of the 26.9 in. normal.
What kind of place is Wildcat Canyon Regional Park?
Wildcat Canyon carries Wildcat Creek north from the Tilden Nature Area to historic Alvarado Park in Richmond, and it is the quieter, less developed continuation of Tilden. Most of its roughly 25 miles of trail are old fire roads over grassy ridges, including the paved Nimitz Way from Inspiration Point. The creek gorge holds alder, willow and bay forest. After the 1920s much of its surplus watershed land was sold to developers. Most of their projects failed because of the canyon's landslides, which left the land open for the park district to assemble.
What is Wildcat Canyon Regional Park weather like in November?
November at Wildcat Canyon Regional Park 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 7 mph.
More about Wildcat Canyon Regional 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.
- East Bay Regional Park District, Wildcat Canyon Regional Park (accessed 2026-10-27)
- East Bay Regional Park District, Wildcat Canyon Regional Park brochure and map (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)
- CIMSS Satellite Blog (University of Wisconsin), fog and stratus dissipation in the San Francisco Bay Area (Sept. 3, 2018) (accessed 2026-10-27)
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