Climate Overview
San Francisco has a cool Mediterranean climate with remarkably narrow temperature bands — 15–23°C highs all year — and near-zero summer rainfall (under 1mm Jun–Aug). Winter holds nearly all the rain (72–105mm Dec–Feb). Sep–Oct is the warmest, sunniest window; summers are famously foggy thanks to Pacific upwelling.
Monthly Climate
Temperature range, rainfall, and humidity by month
Monthly Data
| Month | High | Low | Rainfall | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16° | 6° | 9mm | 69% |
| Feb | 16.2° | 7.4° | 117mm | 83% |
| Mar | 16.4° | 8.3° | 38mm | 76% |
| Apr | 17.7° | 9.5° | 10mm | 74% |
| May | 19.5° | 11° | 5mm | 70% |
| Jun | 18.9° | 11.6° | 0mm | 77% |
| Jul | 19.7° | 13.3° | 1mm | 83% |
| Aug | 22.1° | 14° | 1mm | 79% |
| Sep | 22.9° | 15.3° | 3mm | 81% |
| Oct | 20.8° | 12.1° | 33mm | 78% |
| Nov | 17.8° | 10° | 64mm | 87% |
| Dec | 14.9° | 7.7° | 95mm | 86% |
When to Visit
Experiences to seek out and peak periods to plan around
Experiences & Highlights
Chinatown's Southwest Airlines Chinese New Year Parade (one of the largest outside Asia) winds from 2nd/Market to Kearny; cool 16°C highs and Feb's 72mm rain mean pack a shell for the Golden Dragon finale.
Civic Center's two-day festival and the Market Street parade draw 1M+ on the last weekend of June; dry 22°C highs (≈1mm rainfall) but fog can drop afternoon temps sharply — layers help.
The marine layer blankets the Golden Gate and Sunset daily; highs stall at 22°C while inland Mission stays sunny. Near-zero rain (<1mm/mo) makes Lands End and Baker Beach hikes reliable.
Blue Angels roar over the Bay during Fleet Week's first full week; Oct's 23°C highs and dry 27mm rainfall make Marina Green and Crissy Field the classic viewing spots before winter rains arrive.
Peak Periods & Travel Advisories
Three-day music festival in Golden Gate Park pushes Sunset/Richmond hotel rates 40–70% above shoulder; Ubers and N-Judah lines surge, and foggy 22°C evenings catch festival-goers in t-shirts off guard.
SoMa and Castro hotels sell out 2–3 months ahead; Market St closes Sat – Sun, and BART's Civic Center/Powell stations run crowd-control flow during the parade.
Blue Angels airshow plus Hardly Strictly Bluegrass in Golden Gate Park overlap one weekend; Marina/Fisherman's Wharf rates climb 30–50% and Doyle Drive closures snarl Presidio traffic.
United States Destination Comparison
Compare climate across destinations in United States
| City | Avg High | Avg Low | Annual Rain | Season Overview |
|---|---|---|---|---|
🇺🇸 San Francisco | 19° | 11° | 376 mm | |
🇺🇸 New York | 18° | 9° | 742 mm |
Official Resources
Government portals and tourism boards for San Francisco, United States