Related Sponsors

San Francisco's Climate

Home » San Francisco » San Francisco-Overview and History » San Francisco's Climate

It is not surprising to find that San Francisco’s climate is influenced profoundly by the Pacific Ocean. San Francisco is surrounded on three sides by the cool waters of the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which makes the weather amazingly cool all year-round. The city’s climate is modified further by its location on the northern end of the peninsula. Don’t let its California location deceive you: summer in San Francisco can sometimes seem like winter.

Summers are characterized by being “foggy” and temperatures average from 60- 70° Fahrenheit, although rain in the summer is very rare with a total of less than an inch. The warmest temperatures are normally found farthest from the coast and in the wind sheltered valleys east of the Coast Range bisector. Winters are known for their rain, and temperatures average from 50 - 60° Fahrenheit during the day. It is even possible that on a very cold day, temperatures may fall to 41° Fahrenheit and freezing at night. Despite these low temperatures, snowfall rarely occurs.

The city is known for its “foggy” weather that can immerse the western half of the city in fog all day during the summer and early fall, and can even reach as far as 35 to 50 miles inland, though this inland fog is typically burned off during the day. The fog results from the combination of cold ocean water and the extreme heat of California’s mainland. The Pacific Ocean off the west coast of the city is actually very cold with an average ocean temperature at about 50° Fahrenheit year round. The fog is less dense during the late spring and during the months of September and October. These months are generally San Francisco’s “summer” as they are typically the warmest months of the year. While the rest of inland California can experience sweltering temperatures in the summer, San Francisco remains a great place to go and get cooled off.

Next Page: San Francisco's Culture

Related San Francisco-Overview and History Articles