The best times to visit San Francisco for ideal weather are

April 16th to November 4th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other San Francisco Travel Info

Weather in San Francisco

Temperature

Average temperatures in San Francisco vary somewhat. Considering humidity, temperatures feel nice most of the year, excluding some cold weeks in the winter, with a very low chance of rain or snow throughout the year. The area is more temperate than most — in the 63rd percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit San Francisco, the hottest months are September, August, and then July. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally late August to early September where highs are regularly around 78.1°F (25.6°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 57.5°F (14.2°C) at night.

San Francisco Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

San Francisco Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

San Francisco Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

San Francisco Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average San Francisco Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 59.1 49.3 40.6
Feb 61 52.1 44.2
Mar 64.8 54.7 46.7
Apr 66.8 56.3 48.4
May 68.5 58.5 51.4
Jun 71.9 61.2 53.7
Jul 72.1 62.4 56.4
Aug 73 63 56.7
Sep 75.9 63.9 55.7
Oct 73.3 61.6 52.5
Nov 65.5 55.5 46.4
Dec 58.2 49.8 42

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 15.1 9.6 4.8
Feb 16.1 11.2 6.8
Mar 18.2 12.6 8.2
Apr 19.3 13.5 9.1
May 20.3 14.7 10.8
Jun 22.2 16.2 12.1
Jul 22.3 16.9 13.6
Aug 22.8 17.2 13.7
Sep 24.4 17.7 13.2
Oct 22.9 16.4 11.4
Nov 18.6 13.1 8
Dec 14.6 9.9 5.6

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in San Francisco are July, August, and then September. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around mid June. For example, on the week of June 18th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in mid December with an average of 2 days of significant precipitation the week of December 17th.

When can you find snow in San Francisco? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in San Francisco.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in San Francisco (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 14% 0 1.7
Feb 23% 0 2.8
Mar 15% 0 2.1
Apr 13% 0 1.5
May 4% 0 0.3
Jun 3% 0 0.3
Jul 0% 0 0
Aug 0% 0 0
Sep 2% 0 0.2
Oct 6% 0 1
Nov 15% 0 1.7
Dec 22% 0 3.9

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 14 0 4.3
Feb 23 0 7.1
Mar 15 0 5.3
Apr 13 0 3.8
May 4 0 0.8
Jun 3 0 0.8
Jul 0 0 0
Aug 0 0 0
Sep 2 0 0.5
Oct 6 0 2.5
Nov 15 0 4.3
Dec 22 0 9.9

 

Humidity and Wind

San Francisco has some high humidity months, with other comfortably humid months. The least humid month is April (59.9% relative humidity), and the most humid month is August (69.3%).

Wind in San Francisco is usually calm. The windiest month is May, followed by July and April. May’s average wind speed of around 8.8 knots (10.2 MPH or 16.4 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early to mid April where average top sustained speeds reach 18 knots, which is considered a fresh breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in San Francisco.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 4.6 Light breeze 10.9 Gentle breeze
Feb 6.2 Light breeze 13.5 Significant breeze
Mar 7.1 Gentle breeze 15 Gentle breeze
Apr 8.4 Gentle breeze 17.3 Strong breeze
May 8.8 Gentle breeze 16.6 Gentle breeze
Jun 8.3 Gentle breeze 16.2 Significant breeze
Jul 8.5 Gentle breeze 15.6 Gentle breeze
Aug 7.8 Gentle breeze 15.1 Significant breeze
Sep 6.8 Light breeze 14.3 Gentle breeze
Oct 5.7 Light breeze 13 Significant breeze
Nov 4.8 Light breeze 11.5 Gentle breeze
Dec 5.3 Light breeze 11.9 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 66.6%
Feb 68.5%
Mar 64.4%
Apr 59.9%
May 62.1%
Jun 64.2%
Jul 68.7%
Aug 69.3%
Sep 65%
Oct 61.6%
Nov 62.8%
Dec 66.4%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to San Francisco?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for the United States; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in San Francisco, CA, US is July, followed by August and June. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit San Francisco in November. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is very reliable. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 57.9 in November means 57.9% of the tourists vs. July.

 

 

Overall San Francisco Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderate. Highs range from 71.4°F (21.9°C) and 61.9°F (16.6°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is rare with 1 to 5 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have comfortably cool weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see the least precipitation with 0 to 1 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in San Francisco, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 77.3°F (25.2°C) and 62.1°F (16.7°C), which will feel comfortable given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a normal amount: 1 to 4 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is too cold this time of year in San Francisco to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 62.1°F (16.7°C) and 56.8°F (13.8°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 4 to 7 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› the United States › San Francisco, CA, US