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Best time to visit San Francisco: month by month
Short answer
September and October are the best months: the warmest and sunniest, with highs of about 20°C and almost no rain. Summer is often foggy and cool (highs of 18-20°C), spring is mild and green, and winter (13-15°C) brings most of the rain (up to 13 rainy days in December) but few crowds. Pack layers in every season.
Month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14°C | 8°C | 9 | low |
| Feb | 15°C | 7°C | 6 | low |
| Mar | 14°C | 8°C | 10 | medium |
| Apr | 15°C | 9°C | 3 | medium |
| May | 17°C | 11°C | 3 | high |
| Jun | 18°C | 13°C | 1 | high |
| Jul | 18°C | 13°C | 0 | very high |
| Aug | 20°C | 14°C | 0 | very high |
| Sep | 20°C | 15°C | 1 | high |
| Oct | 20°C | 13°C | 4 | high |
| Nov | 16°C | 10°C | 6 | medium |
| Dec | 13°C | 8°C | 13 | medium |
Temperatures and rainy days: Copernicus ERA5 averages, 2021–2023. Crowd levels are our estimate.
Season by season
Spring (Mar–May)
Mild, highs of 14-17°C, with rain tapering from about 10 days in March to 3 in April and May.
Summer (Jun–Aug)
Cool and often foggy near the ocean, highs of 18-20°C and lows of 13-14°C, almost no rain; busy with visitors.
Autumn (Sep–Nov)
September and October are the warmest and clearest (20°C), with few rainy days; November (16°C) starts the rains.
Winter (Dec–Feb)
Cool and wetter, highs of 13-15°C and lows of 7-8°C, with 6-13 rainy days; quieter and cheaper.
Events worth planning around
- San Francisco Pride, last weekend of June
- Chinese New Year Parade, in February or March
- Outside Lands music festival in Golden Gate Park, usually in August
- Fleet Week, in early October
- Hardly Strictly Bluegrass, a free festival in Golden Gate Park, usually in early October
When to avoid
Do not expect beach weather in July and August, when fog is common; very big conferences and festival weekends can make hotels scarce and expensive.
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Common questions
What is the best month to visit San Francisco?
September or October, the warmest and sunniest months.
Why is San Francisco cold in summer?
Cool ocean air and fog roll in, keeping highs around 18-20°C; bring a jacket.
When is the rainy season?
Roughly November to March, with most rain in December to February.