Palo Alto in February

February is the month when Palo Alto looks least like a drought-country town. The hills are as green as Ireland, creeks run full and the first fruit trees blossom along residential streets. It is also, on average, the wettest month of the year. A good February trip builds in some flexibility: hike on the bright days, save museums and long lunches for the wet ones.

This guide covers the February 2027 weather, what is in season, events with published dates, the school and university calendar and ideas for day trips and outdoor time. For the bigger picture, our weather guide compares all 12 months.

February weather

These numbers are NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for the Palo Alto weather station (USC00046646), the same data our weather page uses.

The averages hide a lot of swing. Some Februaries bring a parade of storms with flooded creeks and wind. Others feel like early spring, with weeks of sun and afternoons in the mid 60s. Days are noticeably longer than in January, with sunset moving from around 5:30 p.m. toward 6 p.m. by month's end.

When a big storm is forecast, the National Weather Service Bay Area office posts flood and wind advisories. Low spots near San Francisquito Creek and Matadero Creek can flood in heavy rain. Some dirt trails in the foothills also close until they dry.

What is in season

Blossoms and green hills

Flowering plum and other ornamental fruit trees bloom in pink and white along many residential streets, especially in the older neighborhoods north of Oregon Expressway. At Gamble Garden on Waverley Street, the first spring color appears among the beds and trees. In the foothills, the grass is at its greenest. At Foothills Nature Preserve, western leatherwood, a rare shrub found only in the Bay Area, blooms yellow in late winter before its leaves come out.

Birds

The winter flocks of ducks and shorebirds are still at the Baylands through February. Toward the end of the month some species start to move north. The first spring migrants begin passing through soon after. Go at high tide for birds close to the boardwalk, or at low tide to watch shorebirds feed on the open mud.

Farmers market produce

Citrus is still the star: mandarins, blood oranges, navel oranges and Meyer lemons. Kale, chard, leeks, cabbage, carrots and other root vegetables fill the tables. The downtown market runs on Saturdays and the California Avenue market on Sundays, both year-round. See our farmers markets guide for details.

Events in February 2027

• Lunar New Year. The new year falls on Saturday, February 6, 2027. In 2026 the city listed a free Lunar New Year Fair at the Mitchell Park Community Center, organized by the Palo Alto Asian American Connection with registration through Eventbrite. A Lantern Festival Fair with lion dances and crafts followed at the same center on March 1, 2026. Neither had a 2027 date in October 2026. Watch the city's event listing and the city calendar.
• Stanford Live. The published season includes the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra and Chorale with "Vivaldi and the Oud" on February 7, the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis on February 20 and International Guitar Night on February 21, all at Bing Concert Hall. Book through Stanford Live.
• Valentine's Day. February 14 falls on a Sunday in 2027. The best restaurants book up early for that weekend. Our fine dining guide lists the top tables.
• Skating. The Winter Lodge outdoor rink runs public sessions through April 11, 2027.
• College baseball. College baseball season usually opens in mid-February. Stanford plays its home games at Klein Field at Sunken Diamond. Check the Stanford Athletics schedule.

Two campus notes: the Hoover Institution listed the Hoover Tower observation deck as closed through January 25, 2027, so it should be open again in February, though it is worth confirming on hoover.org. Pollock's Lucifer was on loan to the Met through January 31, 2027. Check the Anderson Collection's website for when it is back on view.

Holidays and school calendars

Dates below come from Stanford's 2026 to 2027 academic calendar and the PAUSD school year calendar.

The PAUSD holiday on Friday, February 12 and Presidents' Day on Monday, February 15 give local families a four-day weekend. Many head to the snow, so expect heavy traffic toward Lake Tahoe on Friday and back on Monday afternoon. Palo Alto itself feels quieter that weekend, while hotels in Napa, Monterey and the coast see more demand. Stanford stays in session the rest of the month, so weekday traffic near campus is at full strength.

What to pack

• Rain gear. A hooded waterproof jacket is more useful than an umbrella, especially on the bay or in the hills.
• Waterproof walking shoes or a spare pair, since trails and grassy lawns stay wet.
• Layers. A sweater for the afternoon and a warmer jacket for evenings around 41°F.
• Sunglasses and sunscreen. Clear days after a storm are bright and the sun is getting stronger.
• A small daypack to carry layers as the temperature changes through the day.

Hotel demand and booking tips

February is a working month in Palo Alto. Business travel runs at full speed and Stanford's winter quarter brings visiting faculty, recruiters and parents. Weekday rates tend to be firm. Weekends are often more relaxed, except around Valentine's Day and the Presidents' Day holiday, when couples and families travel.

A few tips for February:

1. If you have flexibility, stay Friday to Sunday rather than Sunday to Tuesday. Business hotels often price weekends lower.
2. Book Valentine's weekend early if you want a downtown hotel within walking distance of dinner.
3. Check cancellation terms. Winter storms occasionally disrupt flights. A refundable rate protects you.
4. Compare Palo Alto with nearby Caltrain towns. Menlo Park and Mountain View are a short ride away.

When you are ready, compare Palo Alto hotels for February or check winter weekend deals.

Day trips for February

• Napa and Sonoma. Late winter is mustard season, when wild yellow flowers bloom between the bare vines. Tasting rooms are calmer than in summer or harvest season. Our Napa and Sonoma guide covers the drive. If you would rather not drive back after tasting, you can book a wine country day tour.
• Redwood forests. Rain fills the creeks and the forests are at their freshest. See our redwood forests guide for parks within an hour, including Big Basin, where day use needs a parking reservation.
• Half Moon Bay and the coast. Gray whales pass in winter and spring. Big winter swells sometimes light up Mavericks off Pillar Point. Año Nuevo's guided elephant seal walks run through March 31. In February 2026 an H5N1 bird flu outbreak cancelled the rest of that season's walks, so check our Año Nuevo guide before you book. Read our Half Moon Bay guide.
• Santa Cruz. The monarchs at Natural Bridges usually leave by mid-February, so go early in the month if they are the goal.

Outdoor activities for February

• Foothills hikes on dry days. The ridge trails are green and cool. Give dirt trails a day to dry after heavy rain and respect posted closures.
• Birding at the Baylands. Winter flocks are still in residence. The preserve is open from 8 a.m. to sunset.
• The Stanford Dish. The paved loop is the best rainy-season hike in town, since it does not turn to mud.
• Garden walks. Gamble Garden is free and open daily during daylight hours.
• Skating. The Winter Lodge has public sessions most days. Book online.

If you only have a weekend

Saturday

Begin at the downtown farmers market on Gilman Street, then walk south through Professorville to Gamble Garden and its first blossoms. After lunch on University Avenue, drive up Page Mill Road to Foothills Nature Preserve for a loop around Boronda Lake. In the evening, catch a Stanford Live concert at Bing Concert Hall or dinner downtown.

Sunday

Walk the Dish loop early, then shop the California Avenue farmers market. Spend the afternoon on campus at the Cantor Arts Center and the Rodin Sculpture Garden. Finish at the Baylands for sunset if the sky is clear. If it pours, swap the hike for a long brunch and a movie.

Looking for drier weather and wildflowers? Read Palo Alto in March. For the cooler, quieter month before, see Palo Alto in January.

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