San Diego Weather Tips

  Photo Credit: Flickr: moonjazz 

The biggest determining factor for weather here in San Diego is where you are relative to the coast. The climate changes a lot when you leave the beaches and head inland! In the summer-time, coastal towns will have cooler temperatures and steady, refreshing sea breezes; they also have more of a marine layer - low-lying clouds that form over the water and typically burn off by late-morning or early-afternoon. As you head inland (during the summer), temperatures will heat up and air flow will be a little less, but you’ll have more sun in the mornings. During the winter, it’s the opposite. The coastal towns stay warmer/more temperate due to the ocean, and the inland areas get colder. I recommend that you check the average temperatures for different towns/neighborhoods that you’re considering (for different months of the year), so you have an idea of what the weather will be like.

Another thing that new San Diegans are always surprised about is that we do, in fact, have seasons! They may not be as dramatic as they are in other places, but our weather definitely does change throughout the year. One of our most noticeable seasonal patterns is “May Gray and June Gloom” - this is the time of year when the marine layer is the strongest. These months are the least sunny of the entire year. During May and June, we can have days when the sun doesn’t break through the clouds until late in the afternoon.

Summer in San Diego can get hot and humid, especially inland; it’s common for temperatures to reach the mid-80s and even 90s in some of the eastern areas of the county during the summer months. Winter is San Diego’s rainy season, which typically runs from around December through around March. Even in normal years, though, we don’t get much rain - usually less than 12 inches per year.

At the coast, even summer nights can get a little chilly.

If you’re a fan of fall foliage, don’t worry - you can still see leaves change here in San Diego! Some beautiful fall hikes are just a short drive north of the city in places like Julian and Fallbrook, and you can even watch the colors change in the city itself in Balboa Park and other green spaces.

Enjoying the weather where you live is a big part of finding your desired lifestyle and your dream home. I personally think that San Diego is a great place to live all year long, but if you’re considering a move to San Diego, I recommend visiting during a couple different seasons to get a taste of the true San Diego climate!