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Palo Alto (CA) Weather and Climate: A Comprehensive Guide

Palo Alto experiences great temperature shifts. The city's weather can transition from warm days to mild weather. It maintains relatively low levels of precipitation throughout the seasons. Let’s explore the climate details in depth to provide you with a complete overview.

Average maximum day and minimum night temperature

The climate in Palo Alto is known for significant temperature differences throughout the year, making the weather dynamic. On average, daytime temperatures range from a comfortable 26°C in September to a moderate 15°C in December.

Nighttime temperatures can drop, with average lows reaching 5°C in December. Check out our detailed temperature page for more information.

Temperature ranges by month

Precipitation and rainy days

Palo Alto maintains relatively dry conditions year-round, recording average annual precipitation of 351 mm. The seasons in Palo Alto, bring significant changes in precipitation. The wettest month, December, receives moderate rainfall, with an average of 83 mm of precipitation. This rainfall is distributed across 12 rainy days.

In contrast, the driest month, July, experiences much less rainfall, totaling 0 mm over 0 rainy days. These distinct seasonal differences provide diverse experiences throughout the year. For more details, please visit our Palo Alto Precipitation page.

The mean monthly precipitation over the year, including rain, hail and snow

Sunshine over the year

In Palo Alto, summer days are longer and more sunny, with daily sunshine hours peaking at 10.8 hours in May. As the darker season arrives, the brightness of the sun becomes less. December sees a soft sun for only 5.3 hours per average day. Visit our detailed sunshine hours page for more information.

Monthly hours of sunshine

Data from: San Francisco, the United States of America (27 KM, 17 Miles).

Daily hours of sunshine

Data from: San Francisco, the United States of America (27 KM, 17 Miles).

Forecast for Palo Alto (CA)

Wed   Dec 25
13°C | 4°C
N 3 m/s
broken clouds and no rain

broken clouds and no rain

Thu   Dec 26
15°C | 8°C
S 4 m/s
1.3 mm
broken clouds and slight rain

broken clouds and slight rain

Fri   Dec 27
16°C | 10°C
N 2 m/s
14 mm
broken clouds and rain

broken clouds and rain

The best time of year to visit Palo Alto in the United States of America

During the months of April, May, June, August and October you are most likely to experience good weather with pleasant average temperatures that fall between 20°C and 26°C.

Other facts from our historical weather data:
  • When is summer in Palo Alto?
    The hottest season / summer takes place in June, July, August and September.
  • Does Palo Alto have a dry season?
    Yes, the months of May, June, July, August, September and October are very dry.
  • Which is the warmest month in Palo Alto?
    September has an average maximum temperature of 26°C and is the warmest month of the year.
  • Which is the coldest month in Palo Alto?
    The coldest month is December with an average maximum temperature of 15°C.
  • Which is the wettest month in Palo Alto?
    December tops the wettest month list with 83 mm of rainfall.
  • Which is the driest month in Palo Alto?
    July is the driest month with 0 mm of precipitation.
  • Which is the sunniest month in Palo Alto?
    May is the sunniest month with an average of 324 hours of sunshine.

  • No idea where to travel to this year? We have a tool that recommends destinations based on your ideal conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.