San Diego Weather

Spring

With mild temperatures typically in the mid-'70s, and clear blue skies, you'll not only be comfortable sightseeing, but you'll also be able to take great selfies with your family.

There's hardly any rain at this time of year in March, April and May, so whether you stay in the city, relax by the ocean, or head for the mountains around Julian, you'll avoid the crowds while basking in the sunshine and really making the most of that Southern California outdoor lifestyle.

Summer

In the summer months of June, July, and August, the tourist season reaches its peak. The average temperature in the city peaks at around 75 degrees, with relatively high humidity.

Inland it's somewhat warmer with high temperatures in the desert often reaching above 100 degrees during the day and dipping around 30 degrees to the 70’s during the overnight hours.

Fall

As the mercury falls, signaling the end of summer, the tourists head home, and the city prepares to come out and party! The weather is perfect for sightseeing, hiking, swimming (still), and generally exploring every corner of the city.

Plan a full-day trip to the world-famous San Diego Zoo, or maybe an exciting day enjoying top-flight horse-racing at the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club.

We actually feature Fall as the best time to visit San Diego!

Winter

If you love exploring, the winter months of January, February and March are the ideal season to visit. The climate is still mild, and although you may experience a few rain showers, they'll most likely be brief and refreshing. The sun will soon be back out, and the sky clear and blue.

While December and January hold the distinction as the months with the least number of daylight hours, they also carry the prize as the months with the highest sunshine percentage of the entire year. January averages 74% sunshine and December averages a whooping 75% sunshine during the daylight hours!

Explore the city on foot, maybe visit San Diego’s many museums, or head out to La Mesa's uplands, the mountains around Julian or head to the desert and Borrego Springs to really get to know the region.

The whole region is blessed with a climate that rarely experiences extremes of temperature, although inland areas can experience hot spells during the summer months.

San Diego is known worldwide for having great weather and a big part of that is its temperate climate, complete with comfortable temperatures in all areas year-round.

While high temperatures can reach over 100 degrees in the summer months in the desert and just below 40 degrees at night in the winter months primarily in the transition, mountain and desert areas, you can expect relatively mild temperatures in the 60s and 70s to be available almost any time of the year for your visit to San Diego.

Rainfall is minimal throughout all areas of San Diego with passing showers in the winter months and almost no recorded rain many years in the summer months.

So, given the dry and pleasant climate that the San Diego region basks in for most of the year, you'll be able to get the most from your visit no matter when you choose to come. Clear blue skies are waiting for you!

San Diego experiences relatively high levels of humidity throughout the year with an average humidity for the year at 69% as reported in the coastal area at the San Diego International Airport. The months from July to September are generally when the weather can feel muggy at times with humidity levels averaging in the mid-70s.

However, muggy air is rare, and even in the peak of the summer, humidity levels are estimated to remain at a comfortable level for over 93% of the time. So, whether it's some gentle sightseeing or extreme sports you're planning, you won't be limited as to the range of outdoor activities you can do.

If great weather is one of your priorities for a vacation, there are few better places to come than San Diego. In the summer months of June, July and August when there are close to 13.5 and 14.5 hours of daylight each day, expect between 8 and 10 hours of these to be filled with clear skies and bright sunshine. In winter, when the days are shorter with around 10 to 11 hours of daylight each day, you can still expect it to be sunny for approximately 75% of the time!

In fact, the only months when the average hours of sunshine fall below 60% are May and June, and they still have clear blue skies for an average of 55-56% of the daytime!

As you can see from the chart, San Diego, as reported from San Diego International Airport - Lindbergh Field in the coastal area, is blessed with, on average, 146 clear days per year, with a further 117 being classified as 'partly cloudy' during daylight hours.

May and June are the months most likely to experience thin cloud cover and haze in the mornings. April, May and June being classified as ‘partly cloudy months’, still averaging 8 to 10 days each month of completely clear and sunny skies!

Tides

There are two high tides along the coastal area and, unsurprisingly, two low tides per day. There are many features, such as tide pools, caves, and even natural arches, formed over millennia to explore at low tides. Select beaches in San Diego may only be accessible at low tides.

For surfers, the best waves tend to be on an incoming tide, but this does depend on the break. If you choose the perfect moment, that is, in the middle of a rising tide, you can expect a couple of hours of almost-perfect waves for an unforgettable challenge!

June Gloom and May Gray

May Gray and June Gloom are weather patterns, much resented by Southern Californians, who expect clear skies throughout the year. They're created by high air pressure, which causes clouds to get trapped right above the city.

The climate is still warm and pleasant; it just tends to become a little more overcast, especially in the mornings, when the clouds are lower. It doesn't stop people heading to the beaches in their droves, or still enjoying the relaxed outdoor lifestyle, though.

Fog

Between May and late August, San Diego experiences marine layer clouds, which are caused by the cooling effect of the ocean on the warm air above it. The result can be cloudy skies and patchy fog conditions, typically in the mornings.

As the temperature rises, the sun's heat generally causes the moisture in the air to evaporate, but sometimes the haze can last deep into the day.

El Niño & La Niña

These intricate weather patterns, which impact ocean temperatures and every aspect of the global climate, were first noted by South American fishermen in the 1600s. They recur, on average, every 2 to 7 years.

El Niño typically affects North America during the winter, bringing higher than average temperatures and greater than average rainfall over the western USA, including San Diego. Water temperatures tend to rise with the advent of an El Nino event.

La Nina events produce opposite effects, so they typically bring with them cooler temperatures and less precipitation. The temperature of the ocean waters will also be lower than average during La Nina years.

Santa Ana Conditions

The Santa Anas are strong winds that blow down from the mountains, across the great basin and the Mojave Desert, towards the Pacific Ocean.

They most often occur in the Fall but have been known to appear at other times of the year. With wind speeds that can exceed 64km/h, these hot, dry air currents can have a catastrophic effect on wildfires, especially after the summer droughts and at times when rainfall is still scarce.