The climate of San Diego, CA
San Diego has a semi-arid climate (Köppen climate classification BSh) that borders on the Mediterranean type (Köppen climate classification Csa) with hot and dry summers, and cold and wet winters. San Diego lies in the southern part of the American state of
California on the Pacific Ocean coast near the Mexican border. The ocean governs the climate near the seaside, while the desert influences the eastern side beyond the mountains.
San Diego has different microclimates within short distances of each other due to the city's topography that consists of the Bay, hills, mountains, canyons, and desert areas. The temperatures vary to a remarkably low degree over the year, but they differ across the microclimates. Summer fog is dense due to the thick cloud cover over the coastal areas, but the inland areas are hot due to the weak influence of the ocean.
Summers are warm, dry, and foggy as the cold currents engulf the coast. The average temperatures are between 62°F (16.7°C) and 76°F (24.4°C) from
June to
September with a peak at 76°F (24.4°C) in
August. Winters are cold and wet with the average temperatures between 48°F (8.9°C) to 65°F (18.3°C). Spring and autumn are mild, pleasant, and relatively dry. Annual precipitation is hardly above 10" (254mm), with the majority occurring between
December and
March. Snow is rare and falls on the mountain peaks, but the nights are occasionally frosty during the winter in San Diego.
San Diego has a pleasant climate for the majority of the year, with 3050 hours of sunshine. The average humidity lies in the range of 63% to 75%, but the rainfall is scanty due to the influence of the desert on the eastern side. San Diego is prone to earthquakes due to its location near major fault lines.
The highest temperature on record for San Diego is 111°F (43.9°C), set on September 26, 1963, while the record for the lowest temperature is 25°F (-3.9°C), set on
January 7, 1913.
The best time to visit San Diego, CA
The best time to visit
San Diego is during the summer from
June to
September when the temperatures are in the 60°F (15.6°C) to 80°F (26.7°C) range. The days are pleasant, but the city is a popular tourist destination throughout the year. San Diego has mild summer temperatures compared to most of the cities in the United States. Spring and autumn are mild but tend to be damp compared to the summer. Summers have a singular fog around the coast, typically in June, that keeps the weather cool.
The worst time to visit San Diego, CA
Although there is hardly any extreme weather period over the year, the worst time to visit
San Diego is during the cold and wet winter.
December to
February sees the majority of the annual precipitation, and the winter brings storms with occasionally heavy rainfall. The days are the shortest in December, and a cold front may drop the night temperatures in the chilly zone. Though snow is mostly absent, the nights and mornings may be frosty.
Weather hazards
San Diego is prone to earthquakes as it lies in the Pacific Ring of Fire in
California. Two significant faults - the Hayward Fault and the San Andreas Fault are close to San Diego, which results in the occurrence of minor earthquakes regularly, and moderate to major occasionally. San Diego's infrastructure development mandates safe building codes as it faces a threat from major earthquakes.
Weather in January
January, like
December, in
San Diego,
California, is another enjoyable winter month, with an average temperature fluctuating between 52.7°F (11.5°C) and 64.2°F (17.9°C). In San Diego, the average high-temperature in January is relatively the same as in December - a still comfortable 64.2°F (17.9°C).
Weather in January » Weather in February
The last month of the winter,
February, is another comfortable month in
San Diego,
California, with an average temperature fluctuating between 51.8°F (11°C) and 63.1°F (17.3°C). With an average high-temperature of 63.1°F (17.3°C) and an average low-temperature of 51.8°F (11°C), February is the coldest month.
Weather in February »Weather in March
March, the first month of the spring in
San Diego, is still a comfortable month, with temperature in the range of an average low of 52.7°F (11.5°C) and an average high of 64.4°F (18°C). In San Diego, the average high-temperature in March is almost the same as in
February - a still enjoyable 64.4°F (18°C).
Weather in March »
Weather in April
April, the same as
March, is another comfortable spring month in
San Diego,
California, with an average temperature ranging between max 66.2°F (19°C) and min 54.1°F (12.3°C). In April, the average high-temperature is almost the same as in March - a still enjoyable 66.2°F (19°C).
Weather in April » Weather in May
May, the last month of the spring in
San Diego, is another comfortable month, with temperature in the range of an average high of 67.6°F (19.8°C) and an average low of 56.3°F (13.5°C). In San Diego,
California, the average high-temperature in May is almost the same as in
April - a still enjoyable 67.6°F (19.8°C).
Weather in May » Weather in June
The first month of the summer,
June, is an agreeable month in
San Diego,
California, with an average temperature fluctuating between 58.8°F (14.9°C) and 70.7°F (21.5°C). In June, the average high-temperature is essentially the same as in
May - an agreeable 70.7°F (21.5°C).
Weather in June »
Weather in July
July in
San Diego,
California, is a warm summer month, with an average temperature fluctuating between 75.4°F (24.1°C) and 64.2°F (17.9°C). In July, the average high-temperature is almost the same as in
June - a warm 75.4°F (24.1°C).
Weather in July » Weather in August
August, the last month of the summer in
San Diego, is another warm month, with an average temperature ranging between min 65.7°F (18.7°C) and max 77.4°F (25.2°C). The warmest month is August, with an average high-temperature of 77.4°F (25.2°C) and an average low-temperature of 65.7°F (18.7°C).
Weather in August » Weather in September
September, the first month of the autumn in
San Diego, is also a moderately hot month, with an average temperature fluctuating between 65.1°F (18.4°C) and 76.6°F (24.8°C). In San Diego, the average high-temperature in September is almost the same as in
August - a still moderately hot 76.6°F (24.8°C).
Weather in September »
Weather in October
October, like
September, is an agreeable autumn month in
San Diego,
California, with an average temperature fluctuating between 61.9°F (16.6°C) and 73.2°F (22.9°C). In October, the average high-temperature is relatively the same as in September - an agreeable 73.2°F (22.9°C).
Weather in October » Weather in November
The last month of the autumn,
November, is another pleasant month in
San Diego,
California, with temperature in the range of an average high of 68.5°F (20.3°C) and an average low of 57.4°F (14.1°C). In November, the average high-temperature is practically the same as in
October - a still pleasant 68.5°F (20.3°C).
Weather in November »Weather in December
December, the first month of the winter in
San Diego, is still a comfortable month, with an average temperature varying between 52.7°F (11.5°C) and 63.3°F (17.4°C). In December, the average high-temperature is almost the same as in
November - an enjoyable 63.3°F (17.4°C).
Weather in December » [Resources]