Palo Alto weather in November

November is the turning point of Palo Alto's year. The long dry season usually ends with the first real storms, the hills start to green and the street trees blaze red and gold. Clocks fall back at the start of the month, so evenings go dark around 5 p.m. Between storms the days are often bright, mild and very clear. The month is cooler and more changeable than October, but rarely cold.

Temperature and rain figures are NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for the Palo Alto station (USC00046646), which sits on the flats at about 25 feet. NOAA rates the station's values "representative" because its record has gaps, so small differences are not exact. Sunrise and sunset times are calculated for central Palo Alto for November 2026 and match published tables within a minute. These are long term averages, not a forecast. Our weather guide covers the year.

November by the numbers

Sun times are for November 2026, after daylight saving time ended on November 1. In 2027 the clocks fall back on November 7, so the first week runs an hour later. The ocean row is NOAA's average for its buoy west of San Francisco, the nearest published reading to Half Moon Bay.

Rain: the season begins

November averages 1.60 inches at the Palo Alto station, two and a half times October's total. About 6 days bring measurable rain and about 3.7 bring a tenth of an inch or more. The median is 1.28 inches. In one November out of four the station gets less than 0.61 inches. In one out of four it gets more than 2.21.

Early season storms are usually fronts that bring a day of rain and wind, then clear. Some years an atmospheric river arrives in November and the creeks respond fast once the ground is wet. The city opens its sandbag stations by November 1 and runs creek monitors during big storms. Our rain and storm season guide explains both. Fallen leaves clog storm drains in November, so rake your grate before rain.

Short days

Daylight saving time ended on November 1, 2026. Sunset now comes around 5:10 p.m. at the start of the month and slides to about 4:51 p.m. by November 28. Sunrise moves from about 6:34 a.m. to about 7:04 a.m. Daylight drops from about 10 hours 37 minutes to 9 hours 47 minutes.

That changes outdoor plans. Stanford posts November hours of 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the Dish. City preserves close at sunset. Start hikes by 2 p.m. The upside is that an after-work sunset is easy. Our sunset spots guide lists the best places to catch one.

Fog, frost and air quality

Valley fog and frost

With longer nights and wet ground after the first storms, radiation fog returns. On calm, clear mornings a shallow fog can form over the bay flats and Highway 101, usually lifting by midmorning. Frost becomes possible later in the month. The Palo Alto station averages about one night at or below 32°F in November, mostly in the last two weeks.

Wildfire smoke

Wildfire season does not end on a date. Until the first soaking rain, dry offshore winds can still drive fires. In November 2018 the Camp Fire in Butte County sent dense smoke across the Bay Area for about two weeks. Many schools closed. Most Novembers are clear, especially once the rain starts.

Wood smoke and Spare the Air

The Air District's winter Spare the Air season begins in November and runs through February. On cold, calm nights, smoke from fireplaces gets trapped near the ground. When an alert is called, burning wood is illegal everywhere in the Bay Area. The district has called bans on Thanksgiving Day in recent seasons, so check sparetheair.org before lighting a holiday fire. Our air quality guide has the details.

Microclimates in November

As nights lengthen, Palo Alto's flats start cooling faster than the bay edge. Moffett Field, on the shoreline, averages a November low of 46.3°F, almost four degrees warmer than the Palo Alto station's 42.5°F. Its high of 65.5°F is a little warmer too. Cold air drains off the foothills on clear nights and pools in low neighborhoods, where the first frosts show up on lawns and car windows.

The foothills green up first after the early storms. Pearson-Arastradero and the Dish can go from straw gold to a green haze within two weeks of a good soaking. Dirt trails can be slick for a day or two after rain. City preserves sometimes close muddy routes.

Up on Skyline Boulevard, above 2,000 feet, storms bring more rain and wind than the flats get. Bigleaf maples and black oaks turn color in the hills. Castle Rock State Park is known for its black oaks.

How November compares with San Francisco and San Jose

November afternoons line up closely. Palo Alto and downtown San Francisco both average 63.7°F. San Jose is a bit warmer at 66.1°F. Nights are where they differ: San Francisco averages a low of 50.7°F, San Jose 45.7°F and Palo Alto 42.5°F.

Rain favors the city. San Francisco averages 2.60 inches in November, more than Palo Alto's 1.60 and San Jose's 1.33. A day in the city calls for an umbrella and a warm layer for the evening.

The coast in November

NOAA's buoy west of San Francisco averages 55.6°F in November and the Monterey buoy 57.0°F. NOAA publishes no long term Half Moon Bay figure. Inside the bay, the Redwood City reading drops to 59.6°F as shallow water cools quickly on long nights.

Winter swells arrive in November and the coast can produce big surf. Stay back from the water's edge on beaches, especially on rocks and jetties. Clear days between storms bring some of the sharpest coastal views of the year.

What to pack for November

• A rain jacket with a hood.
• A warm sweater or fleece for evenings and mornings in the 40s.
• Water-resistant shoes for wet leaves and puddles.
• A light layer for sunny afternoons in the 60s.
• A small flashlight or headlamp if you walk or run after 5 p.m.

What November weather is good for

Fall color, clean air after storms and the return of winter birds make November rewarding. Our November trip guide covers Thanksgiving, football and other dated events. Weather-driven ideas:

1. Fall color walks. Mid to late November is the usual peak in town. Our fall colors guide maps the best streets.
2. Birding. Ducks and shorebirds arrive at the bay in late fall. See our birdwatching guide.
3. Outdoor skating. The Winter Lodge rink opened its season on October 16, 2026.
4. Cozy weekends. Rainy weekends call for museums, bookstores and long dinners. Holiday weekends fill fast, so compare Palo Alto hotels early.

Plan around the storms rather than against them. A clear afternoon after a front is the best light of the month.

Frequently asked questions