San
Francisco's climate is, if nothing else, dependably changeable.
Temperatures and conditions change literally by the hour and can
differ markedly from one part of the city to the other.
Yet overall, the City by the Bay
enjoys an eternally spring-like climate. Temperatures beside the
Golden Gate average 54-65 degrees Fahrenheit (12-18 Celsius) in
summer, 48-59 degrees (8-14 C.) in winter. San Francisco
residents save on wardrobe costs because the same clothes
suffice year round - knits, light wools, long sleeves and pants.
In June, July and August, days
usually start in fog, catching many vacationers off guard.
Sweatshirts replace tee shirts as the souvenir of choice in
popular tourist areas like Fisherman's Wharf.
By noon the city is basking in
bright sunlight. The fog returns just in time to put on a show
during the cocktail and dinner hours as it curls over the tops
of landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower and the
Transamerica Pyramid. No extra charge for the entertainment.
Fall is the warmest season. The
days of Indian Summer are in the upper 60's (15 C.). The
occasional arrival of 80-degree (26 degrees C.) temperatures
draws residents from their homes to bask at the city's many
parks and beaches.
Rainfall in San Francisco
averages 19.33 inches per year, falling mostly in the late fall
and early winter. Rains can be gentle or robust but with
temperatures in such a moderate range, the experience is more
refreshing than regrettable.
There’s an apt,
if oversimplified, adage that says the temperature goes up 10
degrees every 10 miles (160 km) you travel east from the city.
When it’s a comfortable 65 (18 C.) in San Francisco, it will
be in the 80's (26 C.) across the Golden Gate in Marin County to
the north, on the Peninsula to the south, and in Contra Costa
County to the east. Sacramento, 88 miles (141 km) away, Solano
County, 45 miles (72 km) away, and the valley farmlands simmer
in the 90s and 100s (31-37 C.)
SAN
FRANCISCO WEATHER
ATTRACTIONS
