Novato weather in January

In January, Novato sees average daytime highs of 56°F and overnight lows near 44°F, with 4.5 in of rain across 9.9 wet days and about 9.7 hours of daylight. It is the 11th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 56°F through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 32% of the time in January, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 24 min at the start of January to 10 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Novato's 12th-clearest and 10th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Novato's year-round climate.

Daytime high
56°
11th warmest
Overnight low
44°
2nd coldest
Rainfall
4.5 in
9.9 wet days
Daylight
9 h 36 min
7:31 AM – 5:08 PM
Cloud cover
61%
12th clearest
Wind
6 mph
10th windiest
Solar energy
2.29 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.9
out of 10

Novato is city in Marin County, California, United States.

Density
767/km²
people per km²
Founded
1960

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

Temperature in January

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 56°F through the month.

A typical January day in Novato reaches about 56°F in the afternoon and slips back to 44°F overnight — a 12°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 51°F and 61°F. Set against its neighbours, January runs on par with December and about 2°F cooler than February.

30°40°50°60°70°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
15544
25544
35544
45544
55544
65544
75644
85644
95644
105644
115644
125644
135644
145644
155644
165644
175644
185645
195645
205645
215645
225745
235745
245745
255745
265745
275745
285745
295745
305845
315845

Novato weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 11th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan56° / 44°4.59.99.73.9
Feb58° / 46°4.7910.54.4
Mar61° / 48°3.48.811.75.2
Apr63° / 49°1.54.9136.5
May67° / 52°0.83147.6
Jun71° / 54°0.20.814.68.6
Jul72° / 55°0.00.114.48.9
Aug73° / 56°0.00.213.59.0
Sep73° / 55°0.10.412.39.0
Oct70° / 53°1.02.9118.1
Nov62° / 48°2.269.95.9
Dec56° / 44°4.49.89.43.9

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 32% of the time in January, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 12% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 56%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14456
24357
34357
44357
54357
64258
74159
84357
94357
104357
114357
124258
134357
144456
154456
164456
174456
184555
194555
204555
214555
224456
234456
244456
254555
264555
274456
284456
294456
304456
314555

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Novato gets around 4.5 in of rain over 9.9 wet days in January. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 32% and peaks near 34% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
131
231
331
431
531
631
731
831
931
1031
1131
1232
1332
1432
1532
1633
1733
1833
1934
2034
2133
2233
2333
2433
2532
2632
2731
2831
2930
3030
3129

Humidity in January

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, January lands in the dry band about 99% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)
1982
2982
3982
4991
5991
6991
7991
8991
9991
10991
11991
12991
13991
14991
15991
16991
17991
18991
19991
20991
21991
22991
23991
241000
251000
26991
27991
28991
29991
30991
31991

Wind in January

Winds average 6 mph in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 6 mph on the calmest days to 6 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
16calm
26calm
36calm
46calm
56calm
66calm
76calm
86calm
96calm
106calm
116calm
126calm
136calm
146calm
156calm
166calm
176calm
186calm
196calm
206calm
216calm
226calm
236calm
246calm
256calm
266calm
276calm
286calm
296calm
306calm
316calm

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 24 min at the start of January to 10 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 36 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 7:32 AM to 7:23 AM, and sunset from 4:55 PM to 5:24 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.47:324:55
29.47:324:56
39.47:324:57
49.47:324:58
59.47:324:58
69.57:324:59
79.57:325:00
89.57:325:01
99.57:325:02
109.57:325:03
119.57:325:04
129.57:325:04
139.67:325:05
149.67:315:06
159.67:315:07
169.67:315:08
179.67:305:09
189.77:305:10
199.77:305:11
209.77:295:12
219.77:295:13
229.87:295:14
239.87:285:16
249.87:275:17
259.87:275:18
269.97:265:19
279.97:265:20
289.97:255:21
2910.07:245:22
3010.07:245:23
3110.07:235:24

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 2.29 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.13 kWh/m² to a high of 7.85 kWh/m² in June across the year — January's 2.29 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.2Moderate
22.2Moderate
32.2Moderate
42.2Moderate
52.2Moderate
62.2Moderate
72.2Moderate
82.2Moderate
92.2Moderate
102.2Moderate
112.2Moderate
122.2Moderate
132.2Moderate
142.2Moderate
152.3Moderate
162.3Moderate
172.3Moderate
182.3Moderate
192.4Moderate
202.4Moderate
212.4Moderate
222.4Moderate
232.5Moderate
242.5Moderate
252.5Moderate
262.6Moderate
272.6Moderate
282.6Moderate
292.7Moderate
302.7Moderate
312.7Moderate
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Novato

In seasonPeak

In January, Novato sits inside its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Novato's rainy season runs November–March, when most of the year's rain falls.

Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is January a good time to visit Novato?

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

3.9
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
12th-best month of the year

January is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Novato.

What to pack for Novato in January

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

In January, Novato sees daytime highs around 56°F and nights near 44°F. Worth packing: a warm layer and rain gear. About 10 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

Sea temperature near Novato in January

The nearest coast averages about 53°F in January — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 16 mi away) is warmest in September at about 58°F and coldest in April near 53°F.

The water stays below 68°F all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.

52°54°56°58°60°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcool
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan53Bracing
Feb53Bracing
Mar54Bracing
Apr53Bracing
May53Bracing
Jun54Bracing
Jul56Bracing
Aug58Bracing
Sep58Bracing
Oct57Bracing
Nov55Bracing
Dec54Bracing

UV index in Novato in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Novato peaks around July 11 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 15 at about 2 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJul 11UV 10Dec 15UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May8Very high
Jun10Extreme
Jul10Extreme
Aug10Very high
Sep6High
Oct5High
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Novato in January

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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

Air quality in Novato is worst in September — around 29 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.2× the cleanest month (June, 7 µg/m³).

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

010203040JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateSep 1829 µg/m³Jun 127 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan13Moderate
Feb13Moderate
Mar13Moderate
Apr10Good
May8Good
Jun7Good
Jul10Good
Aug25Moderate
Sep29Moderate
Oct27Moderate
Nov16Moderate
Dec12Good
Location & terrain

Where is Novato?

Novato sits at 38.1°N, 122.6°W, 30 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Petaluma, 9.3 mi away.

Topography around Novato

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Novato.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Novato has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 689 ft around an average of 102 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,870 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,915 ft.

The land around Novato is covered by trees (38%), artificial surfaces (29%) and grassland (26%) within 2 miles, grassland (39%) and trees (32%) within 10 miles, and water (37%), trees (26%) and grassland (23%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
689 ft
10 miles
1,870 ft
50 miles
4,915 ft
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
January weather nearby: Petaluma 9.3 mi · San Rafael 9.3 mi · Agua Caliente 16 mi · San Pablo 16 mi · Pinole 16 mi · Hercules 17 mi · Richmond 17 mi · Vallejo 17 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

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 Novato (38.1074°, -122.5697°, elevation 30 ft), 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).