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Best time to visit San Francisco

The best time to visit San Francisco is April–October, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.

San Francisco, California, United States

°C

mm

−10°0°10°20°30°40°
0100200300400500
  • Average daily high and low
  • Precipitation
  • Good month
  • Best month
  • Made good or best by an event
Average daily high and low temperature, average precipitation and each month's verdict
MonthAverage daily highAverage daily lowPrecipitationVerdict
January13.3 °C / 56 °F8.1 °C / 47 °F97 mm / 3.8 inneither best nor good
February13.9 °C / 57 °F8.6 °C / 47 °F93 mm / 3.7 inneither best nor good
March14.3 °C / 58 °F9.4 °C / 49 °F83 mm / 3.3 inneither best nor good
April15.2 °C / 59 °F10 °C / 50 °F34 mm / 1.4 inbest month
May16.2 °C / 61 °F11 °C / 52 °F13 mm / 0.5 inbest month
June17.7 °C / 64 °F12.3 °C / 54 °F4 mm / 0.1 inbest month
July18 °C / 64 °F12.9 °C / 55 °F1 mm / 0 inbest month
August18.8 °C / 66 °F13.7 °C / 57 °F0 mm / 0 inbest month
September19.7 °C / 67 °F13.8 °C / 57 °F2 mm / 0.1 inbest month
October18.9 °C / 66 °F12.8 °C / 55 °F28 mm / 1.1 inbest month
November15.8 °C / 60 °F10.3 °C / 51 °F53 mm / 2.1 ingood month
December13.2 °C / 56 °F8.3 °C / 47 °F102 mm / 4 inneither best nor good
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen

Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:

  • Daytime highs
  • Night-time lows
  • How warm it feels
  • Humidity
  • How much of the day is sunny
  • Hours of daylight
  • Monthly rainfall
  • How many days it rains
  • Days of heavy rain
  • Wind
  • Snowfall and days with snow
  • Major events, such as festivals

The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.

The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.

Best months by activity

Exploring outdoors

Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.

  1. JJanuary: neither
  2. FFebruary: neither
  3. MMarch: neither
  4. AApril: best
  5. MMay: best
  6. JJune: best
  7. JJuly: best
  8. AAugust: best
  9. SSeptember: best
  10. OOctober: best
  11. NNovember: good
  12. DDecember: neither
Best
April–October
Good
November

San Francisco's dry, sunny window runs April through October, driest and brightest from June to September; November is a decent but rainier shoulder month, and December through March turn cool, wet and dull, with December the low point.

Why these months

  • April · best

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 87%, average daily high 15.2 °C / 59 °F, average daily low 10 °C / 50 °F, relative humidity 77%.

    Against: feels like (high) 13.5 °C / 56 °F, precipitation 34 mm / 1.4 in, wet days 4.5 days, days with heavy rain 1 days.

    Watch out for: Good Friday and Easter closures.

  • May · best

    In its favour: precipitation 13 mm / 0.5 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, average daily high 16.2 °C / 61 °F, wet days 2.1 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, average daily low 11 °C / 52 °F.

    Against: feels like (high) 14.7 °C / 58 °F, relative humidity 77%.

    Watch out for: Memorial Day closures.

  • June · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 16.8 °C / 62 °F, precipitation 4 mm / 0.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, average daily high 17.7 °C / 64 °F, wet days 0.6 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 12.3 °C / 54 °F.

    Against: relative humidity 79%.

    Watch out for: Juneteenth closures.

  • July · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 17.8 °C / 64 °F, average daily high 18 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 1 mm / 0 in, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, average daily low 12.9 °C / 55 °F.

    Against: relative humidity 82%.

    Watch out for: Independence Day closures.

  • August · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 18.7 °C / 66 °F, average daily high 18.8 °C / 66 °F, precipitation 0 mm / 0 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, average daily low 13.7 °C / 57 °F.

    Against: relative humidity 83%.

  • September · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 19.3 °C / 67 °F, average daily high 19.7 °C / 67 °F, precipitation 2 mm / 0.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, wet days 0.6 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 13.8 °C / 57 °F.

    Against: relative humidity 80%.

    Also on: Farallon Islands great white shark season.

    Watch out for: Labor Day closures.

  • October · best

    In its favour: feels like (high) 17.6 °C / 64 °F, average daily high 18.9 °C / 66 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 87%, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, average daily low 12.8 °C / 55 °F.

    Against: precipitation 28 mm / 1.1 in, wet days 3.4 days, sunshine per day 9.7 h, relative humidity 77%.

    Also on: Farallon Islands great white shark season.

    Watch out for: Halloween closures.

  • November · good

    In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 84%, average daily high 15.8 °C / 60 °F, average daily low 10.3 °C / 51 °F.

    Against: feels like (high) 14 °C / 57 °F, days with heavy rain 1.7 days, precipitation 53 mm / 2.1 in, wet days 5.8 days, sunshine per day 8.5 h, relative humidity 79%.

    Also on: Farallon Islands great white shark season.

    Watch out for: Holiday season crowds, Thanksgiving travel crush and closures, Veterans Day closures.

Hiking and trekking

Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.

  1. JJanuary: neither
  2. FFebruary: neither
  3. MMarch: neither
  4. AApril: best
  5. MMay: best
  6. JJune: best
  7. JJuly: best
  8. AAugust: best
  9. SSeptember: best
  10. OOctober: best
  11. NNovember: good
  12. DDecember: neither
Best
April–October
Good
November

The same dry, long-day stretch from April to October suits hiking best, with trails driest and brightest June through September; November's shorter, wetter days make it only good, and December through March are too rainy and short on daylight for enjoyable trekking.

Why these months

  • April · best

    In its favour: average daily high 15.2 °C / 59 °F, feels like (high) 13.5 °C / 56 °F, average daily low 10 °C / 50 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 87%, daylight per day 13.2 h, wind (daily max) 23 km/h / 14 mph.

    Against: precipitation 34 mm / 1.4 in, wet days 4.5 days, days with heavy rain 1 days.

    Watch out for: Good Friday and Easter closures.

  • May · best

    In its favour: average daily high 16.2 °C / 61 °F, precipitation 13 mm / 0.5 in, wet days 2.1 days, days with heavy rain 0.3 days, feels like (high) 14.7 °C / 58 °F, average daily low 11 °C / 52 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, daylight per day 14.2 h, wind (daily max) 24 km/h / 15 mph.

    Watch out for: Memorial Day closures.

  • June · best

    In its favour: average daily high 17.7 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 4 mm / 0.1 in, wet days 0.6 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 16.8 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 12.3 °C / 54 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, daylight per day 14.7 h, wind (daily max) 23 km/h / 14 mph.

    Watch out for: Juneteenth closures.

  • July · best

    In its favour: average daily high 18 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 1 mm / 0 in, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, feels like (high) 17.8 °C / 64 °F, average daily low 12.9 °C / 55 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, daylight per day 14.5 h, wind (daily max) 20 km/h / 12 mph.

    Watch out for: Independence Day closures.

  • August · best

    In its favour: average daily high 18.8 °C / 66 °F, precipitation 0 mm / 0 in, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, feels like (high) 18.7 °C / 66 °F, average daily low 13.7 °C / 57 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, daylight per day 13.6 h, wind (daily max) 20 km/h / 12 mph.

  • September · best

    In its favour: average daily high 19.7 °C / 67 °F, precipitation 2 mm / 0.1 in, wet days 0.6 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 19.3 °C / 67 °F, average daily low 13.8 °C / 57 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, daylight per day 12.4 h, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.

    Also on: Farallon Islands great white shark season.

    Watch out for: Labor Day closures.

  • October · best

    In its favour: average daily high 18.9 °C / 66 °F, days with heavy rain 0.7 days, feels like (high) 17.6 °C / 64 °F, average daily low 12.8 °C / 55 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 87%, daylight per day 11.2 h, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.

    Against: precipitation 28 mm / 1.1 in, wet days 3.4 days, sunshine per day 9.7 h.

    Also on: Farallon Islands great white shark season.

    Watch out for: Halloween closures.

  • November · good

    In its favour: average daily high 15.8 °C / 60 °F, feels like (high) 14 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 10.3 °C / 51 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 11 mph, daylight per day 10.1 h.

    Against: days with heavy rain 1.7 days, precipitation 53 mm / 2.1 in, wet days 5.8 days, sunshine per day 8.5 h.

    Also on: Farallon Islands great white shark season.

    Watch out for: Holiday season crowds, Thanksgiving travel crush and closures, Veterans Day closures.

An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Bear Valley, 220 km away.

Weather averages

Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Feels like (high) 11.1 °C11.6 °C12.3 °C13.5 °C14.7 °C16.8 °C17.8 °C18.7 °C19.3 °C17.6 °C14 °C11 °C
Days with heavy rain 3.4 days3.4 days3.1 days1 days0.3 days0.1 days0 days0 days0.1 days0.7 days1.7 days3.5 days
Time rain usually falls 3 pm6 am12 pm5 am2 pm10 am12 pm12 pm1 pm5 pm12 pm4 am
Sunshine per day 7.4 h8.7 h9.7 h11.5 h12.9 h13.4 h13.2 h12.4 h11.5 h9.7 h8.5 h7 h
Relative humidity 81%79%78%77%77%79%82%83%80%77%79%80%

Air quality

Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.

  JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–202513.1 µg/m³13.9 µg/m³11.2 µg/m³11.2 µg/m³9.7 µg/m³10.1 µg/m³8.9 µg/m³9.1 µg/m³10.4 µg/m³11.3 µg/m³13.8 µg/m³16.4 µg/m³
Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–202520.6 µg/m³21.7 µg/m³16.4 µg/m³15.4 µg/m³13.1 µg/m³13.2 µg/m³11.9 µg/m³12.9 µg/m³15.1 µg/m³17.2 µg/m³21.1 µg/m³24.9 µg/m³
  • Good 15 µg/m³ or less
  • Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
  • Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
  • Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
  • Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
  • Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³

Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.

Events and seasons

What the weather records cannot show. A major event can lift a month to good or best. The warnings are there to help you plan, and never count against a month.

Reasons to go

  • Farallon Islands great white shark season

    September, October and November

Worth knowing before you go

  • Holiday season crowds

    22 November–1 January, dates vary from year to year

  • New Year's Day closures

    1 January

  • Martin Luther King Jr. Day closures

    15–21 January, dates vary from year to year

  • Presidents' Day closures

    15–21 February, dates vary from year to year

  • Good Friday and Easter closures

    March and April, dates vary from year to year

  • Memorial Day closures

    25–31 May, dates vary from year to year

  • Juneteenth closures

    19 June

  • Independence Day closures

    4 July

  • Labor Day closures

    1–7 September, dates vary from year to year

  • Halloween closures

    31 October

  • Veterans Day closures

    11 November

  • Thanksgiving travel crush and closures

    22–28 November, dates vary from year to year

  • Christmas closures

    24–25 December

Other places in United States

Compare places month by month on the travel calendar

Monthly averages over 2006–2025, unless stated otherwise.

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com (CC-BY 4.0), generated using Copernicus Climate Change Service information (ERA5). City data from GeoNames (CC-BY 4.0). Air quality from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) and sea temperature from Météo-France / Copernicus Marine, both via Open-Meteo.com. Coastline from Natural Earth. Ski areas from OpenSkiMap.org, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Skimap.org. World Heritage sites from Wikidata (CC0), from the World Heritage List © UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Readership from Wikimedia pageview data (CC0). Destination classification derived from English Wikivoyage, © Wikivoyage contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).