San Rafael is at its most pleasant from late September to mid January, and again from late February to April. For sun, aim for late December to January; for walking, go from late March to early November.
When to go five ratings · thirty-six ten-day sections · click a cell to read it
The sun season here runs from late December to January. It peaks in late January, at 65. The weakest stretch is from late April to early October, when it drops to 0, mostly because it is too cool. The clearest skies come in February, when the sky is typically 34% covered at midday (mostly clear).
For being outside, go from late September to mid January, with a second spell from late February to April. It peaks in early November, at 80. Avoid mid June to mid July for this: it falls to 12, mostly because it is too cold.
The walking season here runs from late March to early November. It peaks in early May, at 84. The weakest stretch is in late January, when it drops to 15, mostly because it is too warm.
The year, measured
The average temperature in San Rafael over the whole year is 16°C. January is the hottest month, with highs of about 29°C; July is the coldest, with lows of about 3°C. San Rafael has no sharply defined rainy season: the chance of rain on a given day runs from 14% in September, the driest month, to 29% in February, the wettest. Winds in San Rafael are highest in December, averaging 3.2 m/s (12 km/h), and lightest in May, at 2.3 m/s (8 km/h). The prevailing wind is from the E. The clearest skies in San Rafael come in February, when the sky is typically 35% covered; May is the cloudiest month, at 48%.
Month by month San Rafael climate by month: average temperatures year round · click a month to read it
| Month | High | Low | Feels like | Chance of rain | Cloud | Wind | Being outside | Sun | Walking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 29°C | 20°C | 27°C | 29% | 37% | 3.1 m/s | 52 | 59 | 22 |
| February | 28°C | 18°C | 26°C | 29% | 35% | 2.9 m/s | 54 | 55 | 27 |
| March | 25°C | 15°C | 23°C | 27% | 36% | 2.7 m/s | 69 | 38 | 46 |
| April | 21°C | 11°C | 18°C | 25% | 42% | 2.5 m/s | 69 | 10 | 73 |
| May | 17°C | 7°C | 13°C | 23% | 48% | 2.3 m/s | 42 | 1 | 77 |
| June | 14°C | 4°C | 10°C | 17% | 43% | 2.6 m/s | 20 | 0 | 69 |
| July | 14°C | 3°C | 9°C | 15% | 41% | 2.7 m/s | 17 | 0 | 64 |
| August | 16°C | 5°C | 11°C | 16% | 40% | 3.0 m/s | 29 | 1 | 73 |
| September | 19°C | 8°C | 14°C | 14% | 39% | 3.1 m/s | 48 | 3 | 78 |
| October | 21°C | 12°C | 17°C | 25% | 40% | 3.1 m/s | 62 | 10 | 71 |
| November | 26°C | 16°C | 22°C | 25% | 37% | 3.1 m/s | 76 | 31 | 53 |
| December | 28°C | 18°C | 25°C | 24% | 35% | 3.2 m/s | 62 | 51 | 33 |
High and low are the warmest and coolest of four readings a day — midnight, 6am, noon and 6pm — so a true overnight low can sit a degree or two under them. Chance of rain, cloud and wind are the day’s average; feels-like and the three ratings (each out of 100: Good from 55, Ideal from 80) are read at midday.
Seasons, and the year in short San Rafael weather by season
Year round, San Rafael has days of about 14°C at their warmest in July, its coolest month, and 29°C in January, its warmest; the coolest hours of the day run from 3°C to 20°C through the year, and the average temperature over the year is 16°C around the clock. Rain is most likely around February and least likely around September. Every figure here is a decade of observations blended into one representative year, so it reads as what this date is usually like, not a forecast for one particular day.
San Rafael weather in winterJune to August
Winter in San Rafael has typical daily highs of about 15°C and lows of about 4°C, with a 16% chance of rain on a given day.
San Rafael weather in springSeptember to November
Spring in San Rafael has typical daily highs of about 22°C and lows of about 12°C, with a 21% chance of rain on a given day.
San Rafael weather in summerDecember to February
Summer in San Rafael has typical daily highs of about 29°C and lows of about 19°C, with a 27% chance of rain on a given day.
San Rafael weather in autumnMarch to May
Autumn in San Rafael has typical daily highs of about 21°C and lows of about 11°C, with a 25% chance of rain on a given day.
When is the rainy season in San Rafael?
San Rafael has no sharply defined rainy season: the chance of rain on a given day runs from 14% in September, the driest month, to 29% in February, the wettest.
What time of year is San Rafael windiest?
Winds in San Rafael are highest in December, averaging 3.2 m/s (12 km/h), and lightest in May, at 2.3 m/s (8 km/h). The prevailing wind is from the E.
What is the average temperature in San Rafael year round?
The average temperature in San Rafael over the whole year is 16°C. January is the hottest month, with highs of about 29°C; July is the coldest, with lows of about 3°C.
Where to go instead in late June, the weakest time here for being outside
How this is worked out
Every figure is a decade of weather-station observations blended into one typical year, in ten-day sections. The ratings, the chart and the feels-like column are read at midday local solar time. Being outside is the Easy outdoors rating, Sun is Sunbathing and Walking is Active outdoors, each out of 100: Good from 55, Ideal from 80. They describe what a time of year is usually like here, not a forecast. The dotted links open the map at that time of year; set its time of day to midday to see these numbers.