Climate

The climate of San Francisco is at most times of the year very changeable; a generally warm temperate weather system can change suddenly to be much cooler. The city is famous for its fog and this can roll in with very little notice other than the famous fog horn that is situated on the Golden Gate Bridge, as the bridge end of the bay joins the Pacific Ocean this is the first area to be hit by the rolling mist.

Summers in northern California are mild and can have long and prolonged periods of sun but it is always worth remembering to pack a long sleeved option in the bay areas as temperatures can drop. Winters are again mild but rain is most common in these months with November, December and January being the wettest. Year round temperatures rarely drop below 10 degrees Celsius but the air can be chilly when the fog blocks the sun. Like many destinations in America it is advised to dress in layers as the weather can change suddenly and you often enter the climate controlled building of the museums and shops. The chart below gives you the average climate conditions year round.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Average Temperature Fahrenheit

49

52

53

56

58

62

63

64

65

61

55

49

Average rainfall mm

111

82

77

34

8

3

0

1

5

25

60

88

Sunshine % of each day

56

62

69

74

72

73

66

66

72

71

62

45

As you can see from the chart the temperatures in San Francisco are rarely hot but the city does get plenty of sunshine making sightseeing ideal and comfortable. When exploring inland from San Francisco the climate is milder as the mist that the city experiences regularly hardly ever travels further than the bay area.

Overall the city has a great climate and although the famous fog can make the temperature drop suddenly it adds to the experience and makes for a breathtaking view as it pours on the Bridge in into the bay.