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The best months to get married in Santa Rosa are May through August, based on 30 years of weather records. In May, an average afternoon reaches 75°F, the average night drops to 47°F, and rain of 0.10 inch or more falls on 2 days.
The figures come from Santa Rosa Sonoma County Airport. The method page explains how the score, rain odds and light times are worked out.
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Best Months To Get Married In Santa Rosa
Weakest for an outdoor ceremony: December and January. Average highs run from 58°F in December to 84°F in August. Days at or above 90°F become common in June through October.
Santa Rosa is the gateway to Sonoma wine country, and its weather is a good guide for Sonoma County venues. Napa Valley runs a little warmer inland. Wildfire smoke has affected Northern California in some late summer and fall seasons. It is not part of the weather normals, so check the air quality forecast in the weeks before an outdoor wedding.
Cool Nights, Hot Afternoons And Smoke Season In Santa Rosa
Santa Rosa's summers are warm by day and cool by night. July averages 84°F with a 52°F low, a 32-degree gap, so the afternoon can feel hot and the reception can feel chilly at the same wedding.
That gives it a long window: May through September all score 82 or higher, led by May at 88. Winter is the weak side. December averages 8.8 rainy days and scores 58.
Smoke is the issue the numbers don't capture. Wildfires in Sonoma County in recent autumns, including 2017 and 2020, put smoke and fire risk on the calendar for September and October, which are also harvest season. If you book then, ask about a date-change policy.
Vineyard venues often have little shade among the vines, so a late-afternoon start is the comfortable choice from June to September.
How Santa Rosa Compares With The Rest Of California
It gets about 47 days a year with 0.10 inch of rain or more, the 2nd most of the 15 places. It sees about 34 days a year at or above 90°F, the 5th most of the 15 places. The state median is 8 months scoring 80 or higher, and Santa Rosa is below it, so the date matters more.
| Place | Best month | Top score | Months 80+ | Rain days a year | Days 90°F+ a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa | May | 88 | 7 | 47 | 34 |
| San Francisco | July | 99 | 8 | 39 | 4 |
| Sacramento | October | 89 | 4 | 36 | 84 |
| San Jose | May | 95 | 8 | 30 | 16 |
| Monterey | July | 100 | 8 | 34 | 2 |
Santa Rosa Wedding Weather By Month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain days | Days 90°F+ | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 58°F | 38°F | 8 | 0 | 62 |
| February | 62°F | 39°F | 7.8 | 0 | 66 |
| March | 65°F | 41°F | 7 | 0 | 73 |
| April | 69°F | 43°F | 4.2 | 0.6 | 82 |
| May | 75°F | 47°F | 2 | 2 | 88 |
| June | 82°F | 50°F | 0.5 | 6.1 | 86 |
| July | 84°F | 52°F | 0 | 6.6 | 87 |
| August | 84°F | 52°F | 0 | 7.3 | 86 |
| September | 83°F | 50°F | 0.5 | 7.8 | 82 |
| October | 77°F | 46°F | 2.5 | 3.1 | 84 |
| November | 65°F | 40°F | 5.7 | 0 | 77 |
| December | 58°F | 37°F | 8.8 | 0 | 58 |
The Odds Of Rain On Your Wedding Day In Santa Rosa
On an average May day in Santa Rosa, there is about a 12% chance of any measurable rain and about a 6% chance of rain heavy enough to spoil an outdoor ceremony.
| Month | Any measurable rain | 0.10 inch or more | Monthly rainfall |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 40% of days | 26% of days | 6.67 in |
| February | 39% of days | 28% of days | 6.67 in |
| March | 35% of days | 23% of days | 4.58 in |
| April | 25% of days | 14% of days | 2.10 in |
| May | 12% of days | 6% of days | 1.27 in |
| June | 5% of days | 2% of days | 0.31 in |
| July | 1% of days | 0% of days | 0.01 in |
| August | 1% of days | 0% of days | 0.05 in |
| September | 6% of days | 2% of days | 0.13 in |
| October | 14% of days | 8% of days | 1.65 in |
| November | 31% of days | 19% of days | 3.58 in |
| December | 41% of days | 28% of days | 6.76 in |
Sunset And Golden Hour In Santa Rosa
| Month | Sunrise | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Daylight | Ceremony start |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 7:27 AM | 4:34 PM | 5:15 PM | 9.8 hrs | 4:00 PM |
| February | 7:01 AM | 5:13 PM | 5:50 PM | 10.8 hrs | 4:45 PM |
| March | 7:21 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:19 PM | 12 hrs | 6:15 PM |
| April | 6:34 AM | 7:12 PM | 7:48 PM | 13.2 hrs | 6:45 PM |
| May | 5:59 AM | 7:38 PM | 8:16 PM | 14.3 hrs | 7:15 PM |
| June | 5:47 AM | 7:58 PM | 8:37 PM | 14.8 hrs | 7:30 PM |
| July | 6:00 AM | 7:56 PM | 8:34 PM | 14.6 hrs | 7:30 PM |
| August | 6:26 AM | 7:29 PM | 8:05 PM | 13.6 hrs | 7:00 PM |
| September | 6:54 AM | 6:44 PM | 7:19 PM | 12.4 hrs | 6:15 PM |
| October | 7:21 AM | 5:57 PM | 6:33 PM | 11.2 hrs | 5:30 PM |
| November | 6:54 AM | 4:19 PM | 4:58 PM | 10.1 hrs | 3:45 PM |
| December | 7:22 AM | 4:10 PM | 4:52 PM | 9.5 hrs | 3:45 PM |
Daylight runs from 9.5 hours in December to 14.8 hours in June.
More places: California wedding weather, the hub and special wedding dates.
Santa Rosa Wedding Weather Questions
What is the best month to get married in Santa Rosa?
May, at a score of 88, with June through August close behind. Santa Rosa has 7 months scoring 80 or higher, against a California median of 8.
When does it rain most in Santa Rosa?
December has the most days with 0.10 inch of rain or more, at 8.8. Over a year that is about 47 days, the 2nd wettest of the 15 places.
How hot does it get for a Santa Rosa wedding?
August is warmest, with an average high of 84°F. Across a year Santa Rosa sees about 34 days at or above 90°F, the 5th hottest of the 15 places.
Is wildfire smoke a risk for Santa Rosa weddings?
It can be, mostly in late summer and fall. The weather normals don't track air quality, so check the forecast the week of the wedding and ask the venue about an indoor backup.
Is Santa Rosa too hot for a summer wedding?
Usually not. July averages an 84°F high, with about 6 to 7 days a month at 90°F or above, and the nights fall to around 52°F. Evening starts and shade handle most of it.