San José weather in November

In November, San José sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 262 mm of rain across 26.2 wet days and about 11.5 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 4th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 16% of the time in November, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 36 min at the start of November to 11 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, November is San José's 6th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see San José's year-round climate.

Daytime high
26°
10th warmest
Overnight low
23°
5th coldest
Rainfall
262 mm
26.2 wet days
Daylight
11 h 30 min
5:41 AM – 5:10 PM
Cloud cover
71%
6th clearest
Wind
15 km/h
7th windiest
Solar energy
3.98 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.0
out of 10

San José is populated place in Upala district of Costa Rico.

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in November

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month.

A typical November day in San José reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 23°C overnight — a 3°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 25°C and 27°C. Set against its neighbours, November runs on par with October and on par with December.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202530
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12623
22623
32623
42623
52623
62623
72623
82623
92623
102623
112623
122623
132623
142623
152623
162623
172623
182623
192623
202623
212623
222623
232623
242623
252623
262623
272623
282623
292623
302623

San José weather by month

How November compares with the rest of the year at a glance. November is the 10th-warmest and 4th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 22°17126.811.44.5
Feb27° / 22°11322.111.64.8
Mar28° / 23°8019.811.95.3
Apr28° / 23°6318.112.24.8
May28° / 24°22326.712.53.7
Jun27° / 24°28129.412.63.3
Jul27° / 23°30830.612.63.4
Aug27° / 23°25930.512.43.4
Sep27° / 23°26029.312.13.4
Oct27° / 23°29929.311.83.5
Nov26° / 23°26226.211.54.0
Dec26° / 22°21427.311.44.2

Cloud cover in November

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 16% of the time in November.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of November, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 65%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
12377
22575
32575
42674
52773
62773
72872
82872
93070
103070
113169
123268
133367
143367
153466
163565
173565
183664
193763
203763
213763
223862
233961
244060
254258
264357
274555
284654
294753
304852

Chance of precipitation in November

Any precipitation

San José gets around 262 mm of rain over 26.2 wet days in November. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 87% and peaks near 92% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
192
291
391
490
589
689
788
888
987
1087
1186
1285
1385
1485
1585
1685
1785
1885
1986
2086
2186
2286
2387
2487
2587
2688
2788
2888
2989
3089

Humidity in November

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of November feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, November lands in the oppressive band about 85% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 99% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
10694
20793
30793
40892
50892
60991
70991
801090
901189
1001189
1101288
1211386
1311386
1411485
1511485
1621484
1721583
1821583
1921583
2031582
2131681
2231681
2331681
2431780
2531780
2621781
2721880
2821880
2921979
3021979

Wind in November

Winds average 15 km/h in November.

Across November, daily wind ranges from about 13 km/h on the calmest days to 18 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202530
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
113light breeze
213light breeze
313light breeze
413light breeze
513light breeze
614light breeze
714light breeze
814light breeze
914light breeze
1014light breeze
1114light breeze
1215light breeze
1315light breeze
1415light breeze
1515light breeze
1615light breeze
1715light breeze
1815light breeze
1916light breeze
2016light breeze
2116light breeze
2216light breeze
2316light breeze
2417light breeze
2517light breeze
2617light breeze
2717light breeze
2817light breeze
2918light breeze
3018light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in November

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 36 min at the start of November to 11 h 24 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over November. Sunrise moves from 5:36 AM to 5:48 AM, and sunset from 5:12 PM to 5:12 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.65:365:12
211.65:365:12
311.65:375:12
411.65:375:12
511.65:375:11
611.65:375:11
711.65:385:11
811.55:385:11
911.55:385:11
1011.55:395:11
1111.55:395:11
1211.55:405:11
1311.55:405:10
1411.55:405:10
1511.55:415:10
1611.55:415:10
1711.55:425:10
1811.55:425:11
1911.55:425:11
2011.55:435:11
2111.55:435:11
2211.55:445:11
2311.45:445:11
2411.45:455:11
2511.45:455:11
2611.45:465:11
2711.45:465:12
2811.45:475:12
2911.45:475:12
3011.45:485:12

Solar energy in November

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in November, about 3.98 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.98 kWh/m² to a high of 6.04 kWh/m² in April across the year — November's 3.98 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

012345151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.1Bright
24.1Bright
34.1Bright
44.1Bright
54.1Bright
64.1Bright
74.1Bright
84.0Bright
94.0Bright
104.0Bright
114.0Bright
124.0Bright
134.0Bright
144.0Bright
154.0Bright
164.0Bright
174.0Bright
184.0Bright
194.0Moderate
204.0Moderate
214.0Moderate
224.0Moderate
234.0Moderate
244.0Moderate
254.0Moderate
264.0Moderate
274.0Moderate
284.0Moderate
294.0Moderate
304.0Moderate
Planning a trip in November

Is November a good time to visit San José?

Our two travel scores rate November for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

4.0
Sightseeing
6th-best month of the year
3.9
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

November is a reasonable time to visit San José for sightseeing.

What to pack for San José in November

From November's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In November, San José sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 23°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes. About 26 days see rain.

rain gearlight clothes

Sea temperature near San José in November

The nearest coast averages about 28°C in November — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 65 km away) is warmest in May at about 29°C and coldest in February near 27°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb27Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr29Tropical
May29Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct28Tropical
Nov28Warm
Dec27Warm

UV index in San José in November

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in November peaks around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in San José peaks around March 18 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 16 at about 9 (very high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highMar 18UV 14Dec 16UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan11Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar14Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May13Extreme
Jun13Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec9Very high

Air quality in San José in November

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where November falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in San José is worst in July — around 23 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.8× the cleanest month (December, 6 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1622 µg/m³Dec 166 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb8Good
Mar9Good
Apr19Moderate
May21Moderate
Jun19Moderate
Jul23Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct9Good
Nov6Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is San José?

San José sits at 11.0°N, 85.1°W, 50 m above sea level, in Costa Rica. The nearest listed city is San Carlos, 44 km away.

San CarlosLiberiaCañasLa FortunaMonteverdeEl CastilloSan Juan del Sur

Topography around San José

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of San José.

Within 3 km, the terrain around San José has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 55 m around an average of 51 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 659 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,977 m.

The land around San José is covered by grassland (51%) and trees (48%) within 3 km, trees (59%) and grassland (36%) within 16 km, and trees (45%), water (27%) and grassland (24%) within 80 km.

3 km
55 m
16 km
659 m
80 km
1,977 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
November weather nearby: San Carlos 44 km · Liberia 48 km · Cañas 58 km · La Fortuna 76 km · Monteverde 80 km · El Castillo 81 km · San Juan del Sur 87 km · Rivas 93 km

Costa Rica travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 59% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$19,970
2025
Happiness
7.4 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
81%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
17.7
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
14.8
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 516
Religion
Roman Catholic 48%none 27%Evangelical and Pentecostal 20%other 3%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for San José (10.9519°, -85.1357°, elevation 50 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).