Fog / Weather Conditions, San Francisco

Luggage and bags: yes, bring a jacket or sweater wherever you go. san francisco has many microclimates, so if you are in one area, let's say the mission, and you go to haight ashbury, i guarantee that you will be cold when the fog rolls in over sutro hill. pack in layers.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Someone, I believe it was Mark Twain, said that the coldest winter he ever spent was a summer in San Francisco. Due to the fog and the generally non-humid conditions, it can be quite chilly in the summer. Most visitors, suitcases laden with shorts and t-shirts, are not prepared for this. Layering is the key. Its a good idea to bring a warm sweater or lightweight fleece pullover and a jacket for cool evenings.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: It's been said of other places, but it's most true of San Francisco - "if you don't like the weather, wait around for a few hours." SF weather is totally unpredictable and temps can go from 90 to 50 in the same day!

In general, Fall is the warmest time of the year. We usually get a hot spell or two in September/October. Summer is cold and foggy. January is usually the worst month, with heavy rain and temps in the low 40s.

The way San Franciscans dress is in layers - a t-shirt, a long-sleeve shirt and a light jacket. Leave your shorts at home - unless you catch an Indian summer hotspell in the fall, you won't need them. Pick up an umbrella when you get here. Watch the weather reports.

Miscellaneous: SF is a microclimate - surrounded by water on all sides. SF can be foggy and drizzly in the 50s while, 15 miles away, in Oakland it will be sunny and in the 80s! The inland parts of the Bay Area have a much more typical summer weather pattern. Try to visit SF in the Fall if you can, less tourists and far better weather!

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Based on weather.com's yearly averages for San Francisco, the temperature reaches the 70's F (20's C) in June through mid-October, with September being the warmest month (because of the amount of wind and fog during the summer). Lows are in the 50's F (10-13 C) during those months. From November to May, average high's are in the 50's and 60's F with lows in the 40's F.

So, you can see that you need to bring sweaters and a light jacket in the summer & a warm coat in the winter when you come to San Francisco. The winds off the ocean can make it feel a lot colder.

California gets almost all of it's rain in the winter months, with January being the coolest time with the most rain.

You can always check the 10 day forecast on
weather.com before you pack for your trip.

Miscellaneous: Last Christmas we had an early dinner at a friend's house in SF and it was so warm and sunny that we left the doors and windows open all day. No need for a sweater that day.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: ... was a summer in San Francisco". OK, so this quote is incorrectly attributed to Mark Twain, and who knows really said it. But the message is clear. San Francisco has its own special air conditioner. When the fog comes in, or the winds blow, it can be COLD. You can buy the really cheap fleece sweatshirts the countless Fisherman's Wharf vendors sell, or you can come prepared. The key is LAYERS.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: San Francisco is often called "The fog city", and that doesn´t come by chance. Even on a warm, sunny summerday, the weather often changes at around 4 p.m., it gets foggy, windy and pretty cold. As well, there is the possibility that even in summer you can have cold and rainy days. I was there last year in August, and brought only summer clothes with me. Result was that a had to buy a winter jacket and 2 or 3 sweatshirts on the first evening. So it´s good to bring some warm stuff with you... Or buy one of the cute "San Francisco"-Sweaters that are sold almost everywhere at Fisherman´s Wharf. They´re not to expensive, pretty warm and of a good quality for the little money they cost. And it´s a nice souvenir as well!

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: We Bay Area residents love to make fun of the folks from out-of-state who wear Bermuda shorts and Hawaiian shirts---the kind of clothing folks wear in Hawaii, Florida, the Gulf Coast, Southern California---or, for that manner, any major city in the East or Midwest---and find out that instead of Miami with cable cars, San Francisco has a rather cool summer climate--coolest of any major city in the USA, between 60-70 degrees F. You should dress "layered" in SF---we can have hot spells up to around 100 in June/October---and at least around 80 degrees in other months....

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: Even in the height of summer I would pack a light jacket in your day-sack. Thick blankets of fog often roll in quickly from the sea and can envelop the city in no time, literally chilling the city out!

Luggage and bags: * Map and guidebook;
* Crackers;
* 0.5 Liter of water;
* Fruit / power bars.

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: * Hiking boots;
* 1 extra t-shirt;
* Shorts with many pockets;
* Sunglasses;
* Fleece type jacket;
* Hat / cap;
* Raincoat.

Toiletries and Medical Supplies: * Lip balm;
* Band-aids.

Photo Equipment: * Camera and lots of films!
* Filter;
* Extra batteries;
* Lens 210 mm.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: None ...

Clothing/Shoes/Weather Gear: The fog dipstick on Mount Sutro indicates a fog depth of approximately 1,100 feet.

Camping/Beach/Outdoor Gear: Unless you were raised in New England, Scandanavia or Russia, don't even think about going in the Pacific Ocean or the Bay. One reason Alcatraz was so formidable, aside from the walls, the guards, and the tidal currents through the Golden Gate, is that an escapee would probably suffer hyperthermia before reaching the mainland.
If you are from one of these countries, you might want to visit us on New Year's Day when our Polar Bear Club goes for a bracing dip at Aquatic Park.