San Francisco Weather: Temperatures by Month

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San Francisco Weather Averages

When you plan a trip to San Francisco, you'll need to get an idea what the typical weather is like for the month that you visit. It's especially important as there are a wide range of temperatures by month and even during the day different areas of city can vary widely in climate. The weather in San Francisco is complicated and if you ask any local, it will probably take about 20 minutes to explain it. Here are some tips on what kind of weather to expect and how to pack and dress accordingly. One of the strangest nuances of the city’s peculiar weather is its notoriously cold summers. After having spent a summer in the city, Mark Twain had said “the coldest winter I ever saw was the summer I spent in San Francisco.” So against all logic, the summer is winter and the winter is summer here. Around the time football season starts you’ll find less fog and harsh wind in the morning and more sunny, warmer days, making the autumn and winter the best seasons to make the trip.

Month	Avg High Temp	Avg Low Temp	Avg Rain (inches)
January	57	46	5
February	60	48	3
March	61	49	3
April	63	50	1
May	64	51	1

June	66	53	0
July	66	54	0
August	67	55	0
September	70	56	0
October	69	55	1
November	64	51	3
December	57	47	4

But even on nice days the steep hills can change the weather pretty drastically after just a few blocks. In fact, some hills can be quite windy all year round while at the bottom it can get pretty warm. So the best thing to do is to pack layers: tank tops, shirts, sweaters, shorts, a warm jacket, and pants. Not only should you pack layers but also wear them. In one neighborhood you can wear a t-shirt, but in another you may need a sweatshirt, so make sure you wear both, even if seems warm out. You’ll find lots of people, both tourists and locals, donning a t-shirt with a jacket or sweater wrapped around their waist or shoulders.

Once in a while there are few heat waves, but these only happen a few times a year. On these strange occasions everywhere is t-shirt and flip-flop weather. But don’t let this fool you. Once the evening fog rolls in you’ll be wishing for your sweatshirt and sneakers again, so always be prepared.

Speaking of sneakers, you should bring a comfortable pair with lots of support. Your calves will have never experienced hills so steep they have stairs and without proper shoes you could end up with sore calves and shin splints. Once you brave the hills, San Francisco is a lovely city for long walks, so you’ll probably find yourself doing a lot of it when you go from neighborhood to neighborhoods to see the sights.

Want to make money in San Francisco? Just sell sweatshirts at any tourist attraction. This sure isn't Hawaii and the weather can vary by neighborhood and time of day quite drastically. You will probably want to bring a light jacket almost anywhere you go. You're much more likely to be too cool than too hot. The coastal breezes really keep the city nice, but it's rarely too hot. Here is a chart to help plan your trip of average temperatures - both minimum and maximum, and rainfall.

If you're looking for warm, sunny weather, the fall months are actually your best bet. Just ask the ghost of Mark Twain. Check out our data below - it averages out the last 50 years!

By: Jesse Whitman, Copyright sfTravel LLC