November in San Francisco is mild and turning wet: the downtown station averages a high of 63.7°F (17.6°C), a low of 50.7°F (10.4°C) and 2.60 inches of rain. Rain falls on about 8 days, usually in the first storms of the season, and early November can still bring 70-degree afternoons.
November is the month the season flips. It starts with leftover Indian summer and ends feeling like winter, with the clocks changing and the first big storm arriving in between. San Francisco's wettest day on record fell in November: 5.54 inches on November 5, 1994.
What Is November Weather Like in San Francisco?
November weather in San Francisco is a mix of warm, clear days and the first winter storms. About three of every four November days stay dry, but evenings get dark early and cool quickly. Pack for both kinds of day.
| Average high / low | 63.7°F (17.6°C) / 50.7°F (10.4°C) |
|---|---|
| Average rain | 2.60 in (66 mm) |
| Days with rain | About 8 (0.01 in or more) |
| First soaking storm | Around November 3 in a typical year |
| Chance of rain on Thanksgiving | 27% (1991-2020) |
| Sunset | About 5:13 PM on Nov 1, 4:52 PM on Nov 30 |
| Ocean temperature | About 56°F offshore |
San Francisco Downtown station (USW00023272), NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records via RCC-ACIS. Ocean temperature from NOAA buoy 46026.
Why Can Early November Still Feel Like Summer?
Early November can still feel like summer because the Bay Area's warm season runs late. A typical November brings about 5 days of 70°F or warmer, mostly in the first week or two, and the record is 86°F on November 1, 1966. It is the tail end of San Francisco's Indian summer.
The same dry offshore winds that bring warm, clear days also bring fire weather. The 2018 Camp Fire, which started November 8 in Butte County, sent smoke over the Bay Area for about two weeks. On November 16, the AQI reached 239 in San Francisco and 246 in Oakland, the worst in about 20 years of local air-quality records; schools across the region closed and Muni pulled the cable cars off the streets.
The smoke cleared only when rain arrived on November 21, the day before Thanksgiving. For how smoke travels and how to protect yourself, see wildfire smoke and Bay Area air quality.
What Changes When the Clocks Fall Back?
When daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 1, 2026, sunset in San Francisco jumps an hour earlier, to about 5:13 PM. By November 30 the sun sets about 4:52 PM, and daylight shrinks from about 10.6 to 9.8 hours over the month. Evenings cool fast after dark, so outdoor dinners need a jacket.
| Measure | October | November |
|---|---|---|
| Average high | 69.8°F | 63.7°F |
| Days at 70°F or warmer | 13.9 | 5.5 |
| Average rain | 0.94 in | 2.60 in |
| Days with rain | 3.5 | 7.9 |
| Sunset on the 1st | About 6:55 PM | About 5:13 PM |
San Francisco Downtown, 1991-2020 averages computed from NOAA records via RCC-ACIS. Sunset times are computed for downtown San Francisco.
When Does the First Big Storm of the Season Arrive?
The first soaking storm of the season, half an inch of rain or more, arrives around November 3 in a typical year. In half of the years from 1991 to 2020 it came between October 24 and November 26, so some Novembers are stormy from the start and others barely get wet.
The first rain is also the most dangerous for drivers. Oil builds up on roads over the dry months, so the first wet commute is slick, and leaves clog storm drains. Strong El Niño Novembers have often started the season early: 1982 brought 5.62 inches and 1997 brought 6.97 inches. See when the rainy season starts and ends for the full calendar.
What Is Thanksgiving Weather Like in San Francisco?
Thanksgiving in San Francisco is usually mild and dry: the holiday averages a high of 61.5°F and a low of 49.1°F, and measurable rain fell on 27% of Thanksgivings from 1991 to 2020. The warmest reached 77°F in 1959, and the wettest brought 1.14 inches in 1983.
Thanksgiving week 2026 also brings king tides. NOAA predicts a 7.03-foot high tide on November 25 and a 6.95-foot high at 11:38 AM on Thanksgiving Day at the San Francisco gauge, high enough to wet low spots along the Embarcadero. See the 2026-27 king tide dates and the full Thanksgiving weather guide.
When Do Burn Bans and Tule Fog Season Begin?
Burn-ban season begins November 1. From then through February, the Air District can call Winter Spare the Air alerts on calm, cold days, and burning wood indoors or outdoors becomes illegal. Check the Spare the Air rules before lighting a fire.
Tule fog season begins in the Central Valley in November, too. Stockton averages about 5 dense-fog mornings in November, rising to about 7 in December, based on airport visibility records from 2005 to 2025. It rarely reaches San Francisco, but it matters for Thanksgiving drives to Sacramento or Tahoe.
Is November a Good Time to Visit San Francisco?
November is a good time to visit San Francisco, especially the first half of the month, when mild, dry days are still common and crowds are smaller than in summer. The hills start to turn green after the first rains. Plan an indoor backup for storm days and pack for both warm afternoons and early, cool evenings.
For a trip in the next week, check the San Francisco forecast for the first big storm, and check Spare the Air before a fireplace evening. For Thanksgiving week, compare the forecast with the predicted king tide times.