Photo: KenShirriff · CC BY-SA 4.0Few U.S. towns have cooler summers than North Fair Oaks
Midwinter brings lows of about 43°. By January nights alone, it runs milder than 91% of U.S. towns. Since 1901–2000, the year has warmed by 1.7°, most of all in January. The frost-free window for a garden runs roughly February 1 to December 7.
A year in North Fair Oaks at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about North Fair Oaks’ climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with North Fair Oaks’ place in California beside it.
What a year in North Fair Oaks feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 310 frost-free days a year
In half of years the last 32° night comes by February 1 and the first by December 7. Frost and day counts come from NOAA’s station at Palo Alto, CA, 4 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height.
The 2023 USDA map puts North Fair Oaks’ center in zone 10a: the coldest night of a typical winter, averaged over 1991–2020, reaches about 30°. Plant labels use the zone; frost dates tell you when to plant.
Freezing nights by month
Average nights at or below 32°
90° days by month
Average days at 90° or more
About 19 inches of rain a year
January is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain falls on about 60 days a year. Snow is rare: about 0.0" in a normal year at Newark, CA, so most winters see none.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Heating and cooling a home in North Fair Oaks
88% of the work is heating, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner. Months averaging under 55° run from December through February.
Degree days add up how far each day’s average falls below (heating) or rises above (cooling) 65° over a year. NOAA normals at Palo Alto, CA.
Living with North Fair Oaks’ climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
310 frost-free days in zone 10a. The last frost comes by Feb 1 in half of years, so many gardeners wait a week or two past that to set out tomatoes. The first fall frost comes by Dec 7.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in North Fair Oaks from natural hazards, earthquakes are the largest share (76%); heat waves, cold waves, winter storms and ice storms together are 1%. Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →North Fair Oaks and its neighbors
Atherton has the coldest January nights next door (41°, 2° colder) and Atherton the hottest July afternoons (79°, 4° warmer). Differences under a degree are within what the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.
Climates most like North Fair Oaks’, farther away
TownRatings’ own comparison of NOAA 1991–2020 normals, not a NOAA product: places of 5,000+ at least 150 miles away, one per state, closest on January low, July high, precipitation and snow.
| Town | Jan. low | July high | Precip. | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Fair Oaks, CA | 43° | 75° | 19" | 0.0" |
| Makawao, HI | 53° | 75° | 23" | 0.0" |
| Sequim, WA | 34° | 71° | 18" | 1.4" |
| Cedar Mill, OR | 36° | 81° | 39" | 3.6" |
| Hayden, ID | 25° | 83° | 26" | 27" |
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in North Fair Oaks averaged 1.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+2.1°).
A bigger shift than in 74% of U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How North Fair Oaks compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with North Fair Oaks’ place among California’s.
North Fair Oaks weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at North Fair Oaks’ center; snow, wet days and snow on the ground from Newark, CA. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 59° | 43° | 3.7" | 0.0" | 11 | 0 | 48° – 55° |
| February | 62° | 44° | 3.7" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 49° – 58° |
| March | 64° | 46° | 2.9" | 0.0" | 9 | 0 | 50° – 60° |
| April | 67° | 48° | 1.3" | 0.0" | 6 | 0 | 53° – 61° |
| May | 70° | 51° | 0.6" | 0.0" | 3 | 0 | 56° – 65° |
| June | 74° | 54° | 0.1" | 0.0" | 1 | 0 | 60° – 66° |
| July | 75° | 56° | 0.0" | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 62° – 69° |
| August | 75° | 56° | 0.0" | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 63° – 69° |
| September | 76° | 55° | 0.1" | 0.0" | 1 | 0 | 62° – 69° |
| October | 73° | 51° | 0.8" | 0.0" | 3 | 0 | 59° – 67° |
| November | 65° | 46° | 1.8" | 0.0" | 7 | 0 | 50° – 59° |
| December | 59° | 42° | 3.7" | 0.0" | 10 | 0 | 47° – 56° |
| Year | 68° | 49° | 18.6" | 0.0" | 60 | 0 |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. March swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 50° to 60°. August is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Where North Fair Oaks’ numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at North Fair Oaks’ center.
- Snow: Newark, CA.
- Frost, freezing nights, 90° and 100° days, heating and cooling: Palo Alto, CA, 4 miles from the town’s center, at about the same height; the nearest station that passes our checks for distance, height and agreement with the grid.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about North Fair Oaks’ climate
What is the weather like in North Fair Oaks?
A typical July afternoon reaches 75°, a January night drops to 43°, and snow is almost unheard of. Milder January nights than 91% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 98% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in North Fair Oaks in winter?
December nights average 42°. About 14 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest December of the last 30 years the month averaged 47°.
How much snow does North Fair Oaks get?
About 0.0 inches in a normal winter at Newark, CA, so most winters see none.
How hot does it get in North Fair Oaks?
July, with a typical high of 75° and a low of 56°. About 12 days a year reach 90° (Palo Alto, CA).
When is the first and last frost in North Fair Oaks?
In half of years the last spring frost (32°) comes by February 1 and the first fall frost by December 7, about 310 frost-free days, at Palo Alto, CA.
What growing zone is North Fair Oaks in?
Zone 10a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 30°.
What is the best time of year to visit North Fair Oaks?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is North Fair Oaks getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 1.7° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than 74% of U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in North Fair Oaks.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.