San Rafael in Fall
In fall (September, October and November), San Rafael sees average daytime highs around 68°F and overnight lows near 52°F, with 3.3 in of rain over about 9 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the 3rd-wettest season.
Over the season highs ease from about 73°F in early September to 59°F by late November. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 64% of the time across fall, and the air most often feels dry.
Fall is San Rafael's 2nd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see San Rafael's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 68°F
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 52°F
- Rainfall
- 3.3 in
- 9 wet days
- Avg wind
- 6 mph
- Travel score
- 7.7
- 2nd-best season
- Months
- Sep · Oct · Nov
Temperature in San Rafael in Fall
Over the season highs ease from about 73°F in early September to 59°F by late November.
A typical fall day in San Rafael reaches about 68°F and drops to 52°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is September, the coolest November.
San Rafael weather by month
How the three fall months (September, October and November) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56° / 44° | 4.5 | 9.9 | 9.7 | 3.9 |
| Feb | 58° / 46° | 4.7 | 9 | 10.5 | 4.4 |
| Mar | 61° / 48° | 3.4 | 8.8 | 11.7 | 5.2 |
| Apr | 63° / 49° | 1.5 | 4.9 | 13 | 6.5 |
| May | 67° / 52° | 0.8 | 3 | 14 | 7.6 |
| Jun | 71° / 54° | 0.2 | 0.8 | 14.6 | 8.6 |
| Jul | 72° / 55° | 0.0 | 0.1 | 14.4 | 8.9 |
| Aug | 73° / 56° | 0.0 | 0.2 | 13.5 | 9.0 |
| Sep | 73° / 55° | 0.1 | 0.4 | 12.3 | 9.0 |
| Oct | 70° / 53° | 1.0 | 2.9 | 11 | 8.1 |
| Nov | 62° / 48° | 2.2 | 6 | 9.9 | 5.9 |
| Dec | 56° / 44° | 4.4 | 9.8 | 9.4 | 3.9 |
Cloud cover in Fall
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 64% of the time across fall.
Chance of precipitation in Fall
San Rafael gets around 3.3 in of rain over 9 wet days across fall. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Fall
Most of fall feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Fall
Winds average 6 mph across fall.
Sunrise & sunset in Fall
Daylight runs from about 12 h 54 min in early September to 9 h 36 min by late November. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Fall
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across fall, about 4.2 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for San Rafael
In fall, San Rafael overlaps its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
San Rafael's rainy season runs November–March, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is fall a good time to visit San Rafael?
Our two travel scores rate fall for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
fall is one of the better times to visit San Rafael for general sightseeing.
What to pack for San Rafael in Fall
From fall's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In fall, San Rafael sees daytime highs around 68°F and nights near 52°F. Worth packing: light clothes, a warm layer and sun protection. About 9 days see rain.
Sea temperature near San Rafael in Fall
The nearest coast averages about 57°F across fall — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 9 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°F) | 53 | 53 | 54 | 53 | 53 | 54 | 56 | 58 | 58 | 57 | 55 | 54 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 53 | Bracing |
| Feb | 53 | Bracing |
| Mar | 54 | Bracing |
| Apr | 53 | Bracing |
| May | 53 | Bracing |
| Jun | 54 | Bracing |
| Jul | 56 | Bracing |
| Aug | 58 | Bracing |
| Sep | 58 | Bracing |
| Oct | 57 | Bracing |
| Nov | 55 | Bracing |
| Dec | 54 | Bracing |
UV index in San Rafael in Fall
Clear-sky midday UV across fall averages around 5 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in San Rafael 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 2 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 2 | 2 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | High | Moderate | Low |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 2 | Moderate |
| Feb | 4 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | Moderate |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 10 | Extreme |
| Jul | 10 | Extreme |
| Aug | 10 | Very high |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 5 | High |
| Nov | 2 | Moderate |
| Dec | 2 | Low |
Air quality in San Rafael in Fall
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where fall falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in San Rafael 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).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 13 | 13 | 13 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 25 | 29 | 27 | 16 | 12 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13 | Moderate |
| Feb | 13 | Moderate |
| Mar | 13 | Moderate |
| Apr | 10 | Good |
| May | 8 | Good |
| Jun | 7 | Good |
| Jul | 10 | Good |
| Aug | 25 | Moderate |
| Sep | 29 | Moderate |
| Oct | 27 | Moderate |
| Nov | 16 | Moderate |
| Dec | 12 | Good |
Where is San Rafael?
San Rafael sits at 38.0°N, 122.5°W, 43 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Novato, 9.3 mi away.
Topography around San Rafael
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of San Rafael.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around San Rafael has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 994 ft around an average of 174 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,808 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,459 ft.
The land around San Rafael is covered by trees (62%) and artificial surfaces (31%) within 2 miles, trees (42%) and water (36%) within 10 miles, and water (40%), trees (23%) and grassland (22%) within 50 miles.
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
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 Rafael (37.9735°, -122.5311°, elevation 43 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.