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San Francisco, CA Climate

Temperature, precipitation, and comfort score from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals →

30-year climate normals from 1 weather station (1991-2020).

San Francisco, California has an average annual temperature of 59°F and a climate comfort score of 67/100 (Good). Annual precipitation totals 19.6". Based on NOAA 30-year normals (1991–2020).

Avg Temperature

59°F (15°C)

Avg High

67°F

Avg Low

51°F

Annual Precip

19.6"

Comfort Score

67/100

Good

Climate Comfort Score

67/100

Good

Avg Annual Temperature

59°F

30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)

Annual Precipitation

19.6"

Liquid-equivalent total

Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (San Francisco) 67.0%
National median (≈55)

PlainClimate composite — temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Good for the San Francisco area.

Warming context for San Francisco

Methodology

How the U.S. land temperature anomaly tracks against the global mean since 1900. The current NOAA 1991-2020 normal for San Francisco captures average conditions across the spread shown — the most recent decade is warmer than the 30-year mean.

Warming context — U.S. vs global, with Paris reference lines Anomaly chart from 1900 to 2024. Local series shows warming of 0.11 °C per decade versus a global rate of 0.11 °C per decade (ratio 1.00). Paris Agreement thresholds at 1.5 and 2.0 °C are dashed. -1.0°C -0.5°C +0.0°C +0.5°C +1.0°C +1.5°C +2.0°C +2.5°C Paris 1.5°C Paris 2.0°C 1900192019401960198020002020
  • United States land mean (NOAA NCEI) +0.11 °C/decade
  • Global anomaly (NASA GISTEMP) +0.11 °C/decade
  • Paris Agreement thresholds 1.5°C / 2.0°C
Sources: NOAA NCEI, NASA GISTEMP. Paris thresholds per IPCC AR6 WG1.

Monthly Temperatures

Average daily high and low temperatures by month

Month Avg High Avg Low Mean
January 58°F (14°C) 45°F (7°C) 51°F (11°C)
February 61°F (16°C) 46°F (8°C) 54°F (12°C)
March 63°F (17°C) 48°F (9°C) 56°F (13°C)
April 66°F (19°C) 49°F (10°C) 57°F (14°C)
May 68°F (20°C) 52°F (11°C) 60°F (16°C)
June 72°F (22°C) 54°F (12°C) 63°F (17°C)
July 73°F (23°C) 55°F (13°C) 64°F (18°C)
August 73°F (23°C) 56°F (14°C) 65°F (18°C)
September 75°F (24°C) 56°F (13°C) 65°F (19°C)
October 72°F (22°C) 53°F (12°C) 63°F (17°C)
November 64°F (18°C) 49°F (9°C) 56°F (14°C)
December 58°F (15°C) 45°F (7°C) 51°F (11°C)

Monthly Precipitation

Average monthly rainfall

January 3.9"

10.9 days with precipitation

February 4.0"

10.8 days with precipitation

March 2.7"

10.3 days with precipitation

April 1.4"

6.2 days with precipitation

May 0.5"

3.3 days with precipitation

June 0.1"

1.2 days with precipitation

July 0.0"

0.0 days with precipitation

August 0.0"

0.4 days with precipitation

September 0.1"

0.9 days with precipitation

October 0.8"

3.1 days with precipitation

November 2.0"

7.2 days with precipitation

December 4.1"

11.1 days with precipitation

Frost Dates & Growing Season

First Fall Freeze

December 26

50% probability date

Last Spring Freeze

December 29

50% probability date

Heating & Cooling Degree Days

Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling

Heating Degree Days

2,475

Higher = more heating needed

Cooling Degree Days

200

Higher = more cooling needed

Warmest Month

September

Coldest Month

January

Humidity & Wind

Monthly averages from hourly observations

Month Humidity Wind (mph)
January 78% 7.1
February 74% 9.1
March 71% 11.3
April 69% 13.2
May 72% 13.8
June 72% 13.1
July 76% 12.5
August 72% 11.6
September 69% 10.0
October 70% 8.0
November 73% 7.1
December 77% 6.9

Related Data

Climate Guides

Climate Insight: San Francisco, CA

The NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals describe San Francisco, California as a location with an annual average temperature of 59°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 67°F to a mean daily low of 51°F. September is typically the warmest month of the year, while January is the coldest. These thirty-year averages, computed from station USW00023234, smooth out year-to-year variability and give a baseline expectation for typical conditions in any given month.

Precipitation patterns matter as much as temperature for anyone planning to live, garden, or travel here. San Francisco receives roughly 19.6 inches of precipitation each year, predominantly as rainfall. Growing-season length varies with elevation and microclimate, with the last spring freeze near December 29 and the first fall freeze near December 26. For energy use, 2,475 heating degree days and 200 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.

On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, San Francisco scores 67/100 (Good), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. Use the monthly tables above to plan around specific windows — shoulder seasons for mild highs and lows, peak summer for September-driven heat, or deep winter for January-driven cold. All figures here are thirty-year averages: any single year may run warmer, wetter, drier, or cooler than the normal, so treat them as planning guidance rather than forecasts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average temperature in San Francisco, CA?
The average annual temperature in San Francisco, California is 59°F. The warmest month averages 75°F (24°C) and the coldest averages 45°F (7°C).
How much rain does San Francisco get?
San Francisco receives 19.6 inches of precipitation annually. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for San Francisco?
San Francisco has a climate comfort score of 67/100 (Good). This score considers temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, and extreme weather frequency.
When is the growing season in San Francisco?
Growing season data is not available for San Francisco.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in San Francisco?
San Francisco has 2,475 heating degree days and 200 cooling degree days annually. Higher heating degree days indicate greater winter energy demand, while higher cooling degree days indicate greater summer cooling needs.
Where does this San Francisco climate data come from?
All climate data comes from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1, covering the 30-year period from 1991 to 2020. Data is collected from weather station USW00023234. These 30-year averages are the standard reference for typical weather conditions.

Data Sources

Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USW00023234. For informational purposes only.

Related

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainClimate Editorial