Best time to visit Oakland
The best time to visit Oakland is April–October, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Oakland, California, United States
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14.4 °C / 58 °F | 6.4 °C / 44 °F | 85 mm / 3.3 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 15.9 °C / 61 °F | 7.2 °C / 45 °F | 79 mm / 3.1 in | good month |
| March | 16.9 °C / 62 °F | 8.3 °C / 47 °F | 74 mm / 2.9 in | good month |
| April | 18.8 °C / 66 °F | 9.4 °C / 49 °F | 31 mm / 1.2 in | best month |
| May | 20.6 °C / 69 °F | 10.9 °C / 52 °F | 13 mm / 0.5 in | best month |
| June | 22.7 °C / 73 °F | 12.5 °C / 55 °F | 3 mm / 0.1 in | best month |
| July | 23.2 °C / 74 °F | 13.2 °C / 56 °F | 1 mm / 0 in | best month |
| August | 23.8 °C / 75 °F | 13.8 °C / 57 °F | 0 mm / 0 in | best month |
| September | 24.6 °C / 76 °F | 13.4 °C / 56 °F | 2 mm / 0.1 in | best month |
| October | 22.6 °C / 73 °F | 11.7 °C / 53 °F | 24 mm / 1 in | best month |
| November | 17.7 °C / 64 °F | 8.6 °C / 47 °F | 45 mm / 1.8 in | good month |
| December | 14 °C / 57 °F | 6.5 °C / 44 °F | 86 mm / 3.4 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: good
- MMarch: good
- AApril: best
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- April–October
- Good
- February–March, November
Oakland's dry, sunny season from April through October is consistently excellent for outdoor exploring, with mild, never-hot days. December and January are the weakest weeks, coldest, dullest and rainiest, while the surrounding cooler months are still clearly fine.
Why these months
February · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 81%, feels like (high) 13.6 °C / 56 °F, average daily low 7.2 °C / 45 °F, relative humidity 74%.
Against: average daily high 15.9 °C / 61 °F, days with heavy rain 2.9 days, precipitation 79 mm / 3.1 in, wet days 7.5 days, sunshine per day 8.8 h.
Also on: Winter bird migration at Lake Merritt.
Watch out for: Presidents' Day closures.
March · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 15 °C / 59 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 82%, average daily high 16.9 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 8.3 °C / 47 °F, relative humidity 74%.
Against: wet days 9.2 days, days with heavy rain 2.7 days, precipitation 74 mm / 2.9 in.
Watch out for: Easter closures, Good Friday closures.
April · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.5 °C / 64 °F, average daily high 18.8 °C / 66 °F, precipitation 31 mm / 1.2 in, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, wet days 4.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, average daily low 9.4 °C / 49 °F, relative humidity 70%.
Watch out for: Easter closures, Good Friday closures.
May · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 19.4 °C / 67 °F, average daily high 20.6 °C / 69 °F, precipitation 13 mm / 0.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, wet days 2.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, average daily low 10.9 °C / 52 °F, relative humidity 69%.
Watch out for: Memorial Day closures.
June · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 22.3 °C / 72 °F, average daily high 22.7 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 3 mm / 0.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, wet days 0.6 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 12.5 °C / 55 °F, relative humidity 69%.
Watch out for: Juneteenth closures.
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 23.4 °C / 74 °F, average daily high 23.2 °C / 74 °F, precipitation 1 mm / 0 in, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, wet days 0.3 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, average daily low 13.2 °C / 56 °F, relative humidity 73%.
Watch out for: Independence Day closures.
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 24 °C / 75 °F, average daily high 23.8 °C / 75 °F, precipitation 0 mm / 0 in, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, average daily low 13.8 °C / 57 °F, relative humidity 73%.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 24.2 °C / 76 °F, average daily high 24.6 °C / 76 °F, precipitation 2 mm / 0.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, wet days 0.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 13.4 °C / 56 °F, relative humidity 71%.
Watch out for: Labor Day closures.
October · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 21.2 °C / 70 °F, average daily high 22.6 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 24 mm / 1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, wet days 2.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, average daily low 11.7 °C / 53 °F, relative humidity 68%.
Also on: Día de Los Muertos Annual Festival, Halloween On Piedmont.
Watch out for: Halloween business closures.
November · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.9 °C / 61 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, average daily high 17.7 °C / 64 °F, average daily low 8.6 °C / 47 °F, relative humidity 74%.
Against: days with heavy rain 1.3 days, precipitation 45 mm / 1.8 in, wet days 5.6 days, sunshine per day 8.6 h.
Watch out for: Holiday season travel rush, Thanksgiving crowds and closures, Veterans Day closures.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: best
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- April–October
- Good
- November
April through October brings dry trails, long daylight and cool-to-mild temperatures that are ideal for hiking, with November a decent but wetter, shorter-day transition. December through March sees the most rain and shortest days, leaving trails wet and hiking less rewarding.
Why these months
April · best
In its favour: average daily high 18.8 °C / 66 °F, precipitation 31 mm / 1.2 in, wet days 4.2 days, days with heavy rain 0.9 days, feels like (high) 17.5 °C / 64 °F, average daily low 9.4 °C / 49 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 88%, daylight per day 13.2 h, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
Watch out for: Easter closures, Good Friday closures.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 20.6 °C / 69 °F, precipitation 13 mm / 0.5 in, wet days 2.4 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, feels like (high) 19.4 °C / 67 °F, average daily low 10.9 °C / 52 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, daylight per day 14.2 h, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
Watch out for: Memorial Day closures.
June · best
In its favour: average daily high 22.7 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 3 mm / 0.1 in, wet days 0.6 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 12.5 °C / 55 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, daylight per day 14.7 h, feels like (high) 22.3 °C / 72 °F, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 11 mph.
Watch out for: Juneteenth closures.
July · best
In its favour: precipitation 1 mm / 0 in, average daily high 23.2 °C / 74 °F, wet days 0.3 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, average daily low 13.2 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, daylight per day 14.5 h, feels like (high) 23.4 °C / 74 °F, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 11 mph.
Watch out for: Independence Day closures.
August · best
In its favour: precipitation 0 mm / 0 in, average daily high 23.8 °C / 75 °F, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, average daily low 13.8 °C / 57 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, daylight per day 13.6 h, feels like (high) 24 °C / 75 °F, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 10 mph.
September · best
In its favour: precipitation 2 mm / 0.1 in, wet days 0.5 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily high 24.6 °C / 76 °F, average daily low 13.4 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, daylight per day 12.4 h, feels like (high) 24.2 °C / 76 °F, wind (daily max) 15 km/h / 10 mph.
Watch out for: Labor Day closures.
October · best
In its favour: average daily high 22.6 °C / 73 °F, precipitation 24 mm / 1 in, wet days 2.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, feels like (high) 21.2 °C / 70 °F, average daily low 11.7 °C / 53 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 89%, daylight per day 11.2 h, wind (daily max) 14 km/h / 9 mph.
Against: sunshine per day 9.9 h.
Also on: Día de Los Muertos Annual Festival, Halloween On Piedmont.
Watch out for: Halloween business closures.
November · good
In its favour: average daily high 17.7 °C / 64 °F, feels like (high) 15.9 °C / 61 °F, average daily low 8.6 °C / 47 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, wind (daily max) 13 km/h / 8 mph, daylight per day 10.1 h.
Against: days with heavy rain 1.3 days, precipitation 45 mm / 1.8 in, wet days 5.6 days, sunshine per day 8.6 h.
Watch out for: Holiday season travel rush, Thanksgiving crowds and closures, Veterans Day closures.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Bear Valley, 207 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 12.3 °C | 13.6 °C | 15 °C | 17.5 °C | 19.4 °C | 22.3 °C | 23.4 °C | 24 °C | 24.2 °C | 21.2 °C | 15.9 °C | 11.9 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 3 days | 2.9 days | 2.7 days | 0.9 days | 0.3 days | 0.1 days | 0 days | 0 days | 0.1 days | 0.7 days | 1.3 days | 2.9 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 3 pm | 4 pm | 5 pm | 12 pm | 2 pm | 11 am | 12 pm | 12 pm | 1 pm | 5 pm | 12 pm | 4 am |
| Sunshine per day | 7.5 h | 8.8 h | 9.8 h | 11.6 h | 13.1 h | 13.6 h | 13.6 h | 12.8 h | 11.7 h | 9.9 h | 8.6 h | 7.1 h |
| Relative humidity | 78% | 74% | 74% | 70% | 69% | 69% | 73% | 73% | 71% | 68% | 74% | 78% |
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 11.1 µg/m³ | 11.5 µg/m³ | 9.1 µg/m³ | 9.1 µg/m³ | 7.2 µg/m³ | 7.7 µg/m³ | 7.9 µg/m³ | 8 µg/m³ | 9.2 µg/m³ | 9.6 µg/m³ | 12.3 µg/m³ | 14.8 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 19.3 µg/m³ | 18 µg/m³ | 14.5 µg/m³ | 12.8 µg/m³ | 10 µg/m³ | 10.5 µg/m³ | 11.1 µg/m³ | 11.3 µg/m³ | 12.8 µg/m³ | 14.2 µg/m³ | 19.5 µg/m³ | 24 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.
Events and seasons
What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.
Reasons to go
- Winter bird migration at Lake Merritt
January, February and December
- Halloween On Piedmont
31 October
- Día de Los Muertos Annual Festival
31 October
Worth knowing before you go
- New Year's Day closures
1 January
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day closures
15–21 January, dates vary from year to year
- Presidents' Day closures
15–21 February, dates vary from year to year
- Good Friday closures
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- Easter closures
March and April, dates vary from year to year
- Memorial Day closures
25–31 May, dates vary from year to year
- Juneteenth closures
19 June
- Independence Day closures
4 July
- Labor Day closures
1–7 September, dates vary from year to year
- Halloween business closures
31 October
- Veterans Day closures
11 November
- Thanksgiving crowds and closures
22–29 November, dates vary from year to year
- Holiday season travel rush
22 November–31 December, dates vary from year to year
- Christmas closures
24–25 December