GeoStats:

Nicknames: Fog City, The City by the Bay (just don't call it Frisco)

Population: 815,358

Languages: English, Spanish and Chinese are the most common, though many others are spoken

Time Zone: Pacific Standard Time, 8 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-8 GMT)

Telephone Codes: 415, for San Francisco and Marin County; 707, for Napa and Sonoma Counties, 510, for the East Bay; 650, for the Peninsula; 408, for the South Bay; 831, for Santa Cruz, Monterey, Carmel and Big Sur

Destination:

San Francisco and the Bay Area


Basics

topWhen to Go

San Francisco has a Mediterranean-style climate – wet winters and dry summers, with mild temperatures year-round. The San Francisco Bay, which covers 1600 square miles, has a big effect on the weather, often creating strong winds and fog, and the city’s various microclimates mean it can be sunny in some neighborhoods while it’s overcast in others. Spring (Apr-May) and fall (Sep-Oct) are the best times to visit, when temperatures are pleasant and skies are generally clear. The city can get foggy and chilly during the summer months, particularly in the western districts and near the Golden Gate Bridge. Extreme temperatures are rare, though 2-3 day heat waves have been more common in recent years, with temperatures into the 90s. Whatever time of year you visit, be sure to bring a sweater or jacket and long pants, and dress in layers. Wind is typical during the day and nights are nearly always cool, even if the day is warm. Rainfall is fairly frequent and occasionally heavy during the winter months (Nov-Mar).

The East Bay, South Bay, inland areas of Marin County and the wine regions of Napa and Sonoma have more traditional summer weather, with temperatures reaching into the 80s and 90s. Monterey, Santa Cruz and Big Sur, like San Francisco, are prone to fog in summertime. Early fall and late spring tend to offer good weather throughout the greater Bay Area.

topWeather & Temperature

San Francisco
 
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
Average High Temperature°F 57 61 62 63 65 68 69 70 73 70 63 57
°C 14 16 17 17 18 20 21 21 23  21 17 14
Average Low Temperature°F 44  48  48  49  51  53  55  56  56  54  50  45
°C  7  9  9  9  11  12  13  13  13  12  10  7
Average Precipitationin  4.06  2.95  3.07  1.29  0.25  0.15  0.04  0.07  0.26  1.26  3.21  3.10
cm  10.3  7.4  7.8  3.3  0.6  0.4  0.1  0.2  0.7  3.2  8.2  7.9

topTime Difference

San Francisco is in the Pacific Standard Time Zone, 8 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time (-8 GMT).