Palo Alto weather in March

March is when Palo Alto shakes off winter. The month usually opens with a storm or two and ends with warm, breezy afternoons that feel like May. Fruit trees finish blooming, the first wildflowers carpet the low hills and the light changes overnight when the clocks spring forward.

Climate figures on this page come from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for the Palo Alto station (USC00046646), which sits on the flats at about 25 feet. NOAA flags the station's numbers as "representative" because of gaps in its record. Sun times are calculated for central Palo Alto for March 2027 and checked against timeanddate.com. These are long term averages, not a forecast. Our month by month weather guide shows the full year.

March by the numbers

The sunrise and sunset rows split at the clock change on March 14, 2027. The ocean figure is NOAA's long term average for its buoy west of San Francisco, the closest published open ocean reading to Half Moon Bay.

Rain: showers on the way out

March averages 2.19 inches, about a third less than February. About 8 days bring measurable rain and about 6 bring a tenth of an inch or more. The median is 2.00 inches. In one March out of four, the station gets under 1.01 inches. In one out of four it gets more than 2.82.

The character of the rain changes too. Winter fronts give way to showers that pop up behind a cold front, sometimes with small hail or a rumble of thunder, then clear by evening. A late season atmospheric river is still possible in early March. Wet years often end with a stormy first half of the month and a dry second half.

Trails dry out quickly once the showers stop. City preserves sometimes close muddy trails for a day or two after rain. Pearson-Arastradero marks some routes as seasonal.

Daylight saving time and longer days

The big change in March is the clock. Daylight saving time begins on Sunday, March 14, 2027. On March 13 the sun sets at about 6:14 p.m. On March 14 it sets at about 7:15 p.m. Mornings go dark again for a few weeks, with sunrise jumping from about 6:23 a.m. to about 7:21 a.m.

By March 31 sunrise is back to about 6:56 a.m. and sunset reaches about 7:30 p.m. Day length grows fast, from about 11 hours 23 minutes on March 1 to 12 hours 35 minutes on March 31, crossing 12 hours a few days before the equinox on March 20. Stanford posts March hours of 6 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. for the Dish.

Fog, wind and air quality

March is one of the least foggy months in Palo Alto. Valley fog fades as nights shorten and the ground dries. The ocean fog season has not started yet. You may see low clouds over the coast on a few mornings late in the month, but they rarely reach the bay side of the mountains.

Wind becomes the bigger factor. As inland California warms, the pressure difference between the cool ocean and the warm Central Valley grows and afternoon northwest winds pick up. The Baylands and the Bay Trail can be breezy by 2 p.m. along the shoreline. Along the coast, those same winds drive upwelling, which brings cold deep water to the surface and chills the sea in spring.

Air quality is usually at its best of the year. Storms and wind clear the air, the wood smoke season is over and summer ozone has not built up. The weak spot is pollen. Oaks and grasses release pollen in spring. Allergy sufferers often notice it on dry, windy afternoons. Our air quality guide covers where to check the daily AQI.

Microclimates: where spring arrives first

Spring comes to the flats first. The Palo Alto station's March high of 65.5°F is half a degree warmer than Moffett Field's 65.0°F, while Moffett, closer to the water, averages a warmer low of 46.7°F against Palo Alto's 43.6°F. Expect cool mornings in town and the mildest nights right along the bay.

The foothills hold onto winter a little longer. Pearson-Arastradero runs from about 275 to 775 feet and the higher open space along Page Mill Road climbs much farther. Shaded north-facing slopes stay damp and green into April, while south-facing grassland warms and blooms early. On Skyline Boulevard, above 2,000 feet, a sunny day in town can still be windy and in the 50s. Late storms can bring a cold rain that never reaches the flats.

Stanford sits in between. The campus is open and sunny. Its lawns and oaks green up along with town. The Dish loop tops out around 526 feet, high enough to catch the breeze but low enough to share the city's temperatures.

How March compares with San Francisco and San Jose

March is when Palo Alto pulls ahead of San Francisco for warmth. Palo Alto averages a high of 65.5°F, while downtown San Francisco averages 62.1°F, more than three degrees cooler as ocean winds pick up. San Jose is about the same as Palo Alto by day at 65.9°F but nearly three degrees warmer at night.

Rain still favors the city. San Francisco averages 3.15 inches in March, nearly half again Palo Alto's 2.19 inches. San Jose gets 2.08. For a day in the city, bring a windbreaker. See our San Francisco day trip guide for ideas.

The coast in March

NOAA's buoy west of San Francisco averages 53.1°F in March. The Monterey buoy averages 53.9°F. There is no published long term figure for Half Moon Bay. Nearshore water there can run colder than the offshore buoy when spring upwelling sets in. Inside the bay, the Redwood City reading jumps to 58.0°F as shallow water warms under longer days.

Gray whales head north in spring, with mothers and calves passing close to shore from about March to May, according to NOAA. Wildflowers bloom on the coastal bluffs too. Winds can be strong, so a warm hat helps.

What to pack for March

• A light rain shell that doubles as a windbreaker.
• A fleece or sweater for mornings in the 40s.
• Short sleeves for warm afternoons, which can reach the 70s.
• Trail shoes with grip for muddy spots in the hills.
• Sunscreen and sunglasses. The spring sun is strong and the air is clear.
• Allergy medicine if pollen bothers you.

What March weather is good for

March offers the best mix of green hills, flowing creeks and comfortable temperatures. Our March trip guide has the month's events and school dates. Weather-driven ideas:

1. Wildflower walks. The low hills usually start peaking in March. Our wildflower guide lists where to go.
2. Grassland hikes close to town. Pearson-Arastradero Preserve is green, breezy and full of birdsong. See our hiking guide for longer routes.
3. Waterfalls. Seasonal falls still run after a wet winter. The waterfalls guide covers the closest.
4. A day out with a guide. If a shower washes out a hike, you can book a Bay Area tour instead.

With the long evenings after March 14, an after-work walk becomes easy again. Watch for windy afternoons along the bay.

Frequently asked questions