Who thinks San Francisco has the best weather in the USA? (Oakland: pollution, beach)

[Radical347]

Originally Posted by AliveandWell

One of the things I don't quite understand is this: why do some people think San Francisco is too cold? Could it be because of the wind? SF is not Alaska or Minnesota so I'm wondering how could it be cold? Can anyone please clarify this? I'm curious.

By 'cold' they don't mean colder than AK or MN...they mean that it never really gets hot. Summers are by no means any sort of 'coldest winter' (despite the quote that Mark Twain didn't really say), but SF is one of the very few places where you may have to wear a jacket in summer. The rest of the year isn't much warmer, if at all.

[Dusty Rhodes]

Originally Posted by andyadhi01

Well it is the rainy season. The fog season starts in summer. So it will be cold rain followed by cool fog-

I don't know about the summer fog, I remember several mornings in Concord when it was so foggy you could not see your feet and crossing a street on the way to school became an adventure.

[tstieber]

Originally Posted by Dusty Rhodes

I don't know about the summer fog, I remember several mornings in Concord when it was so foggy you could not see your feet and crossing a street on the way to school became an adventure.

Oh for sure, but that's a totally different fog than the one SF is famous for. The CA coast gets coastal stratus ("marine layer") that comes in off the ocean, primarily in the summertime, and extends a bit inland. It's not usually ground-hugging but rather a few hundred feet off the ground, and it blows in with a wind. This marine layer rarely gets all the way out to Concord, which is why Concord is generally sunny every day during the dry season, while SF is not.

In the winter, when there is a clear weather pattern, inland areas get traditional, old fashioned fog as everyone knows it, due to radiational cooling (i.e. it cools down at night) and the air reaches the dew point and forms fog. This is most prevalent in the Central Valley but can creepy through the Sacramento River Delta into Pittsburg, Concord, and sometimes down into Walnut Creek, Danville, etc. But on those days, SF and the coast are often gloriously sunny and much warmer. Fortunately, this winter inland fog pattern is more sporadic than the summer marine layer, because in the winter, we don't always have clear weather patterns like we do in the summer.

[stephmi]

Obviously weather preference is a matter of option, but I actually really don't like the weather in San Fransisco. First of all, its too foggy- that creeps me out, I often feel like I'm in a horror film. Also, every time I visit (I've gone at several different times in the year), the weather is very blah and a bit chilly. I personally prefer warmer weather where you don't always have to carry a jacket around. If its not going to be warm, I'd at least prefer a variety of weather instead of the same old slightly chilly feel. Then again I haven't lived there over a long period of time so I could be interpreting the weather incorrectly.

[andyadhi01]

Originally Posted by stephmi

Obviously weather preference is a matter of option, but I actually really don't like the weather in San Fransisco. First of all, its too foggy- that creeps me out, I often feel like I'm in a horror film. Also, every time I visit (I've gone at several different times in the year), the weather is very blah and a bit chilly. I personally prefer warmer weather where you don't always have to carry a jacket around. If its not going to be warm, I'd at least prefer a variety of weather instead of the same old slightly chilly feel. Then again I haven't lived there over a long period of time so I could be interpreting the weather incorrectly.

If you live here for a long time it will be far worse! I liked the horror film analogy! Hehe..this is so true..Mount Sutro on a foggy day is the perfect setting for horror movies...also the dim lights in the fog on a dark street...

[AliveandWell]

I remember reading a travel guide from the AAA Auto Club several years ago and in that guidebook it said that San Francisco weather is not noted for its extremes but for its consistency. Temperatures usually don't drop below 40 or go above 80 and this is SF proper. So for those that don't like to sweat, SF is one of the best places to be.

[silverkris]

Originally Posted by AliveandWell

I remember reading a travel guide from the AAA Auto Club several years ago and in that guidebook it said that San Francisco weather is not noted for its extremes but for its consistency. Temperatures usually don't drop below 40 or go above 80 and this is SF proper. So for those that don't like to sweat, SF is one of the best places to be.

I actually like the weather in SF and the Bay Area in general, because I am really sensitive to humidity. I've lived in Asia, the US East Coast, so I know what humidity is, and it's pretty rotten to walk outside and have your hair all dripping wet with sweat in under an hour!

[Taboo2]

Originally Posted by AliveandWell

One of the things I don't quite understand is this: why do some people think San Francisco is too cold? Could it be because of the wind? SF is not Alaska or Minnesota so I'm wondering how could it be cold? Can anyone please clarify this? I'm curious.

Depends on where you live SF also. Sunset is a wall of fog while the Embarcadero is sunny. Which part of SF are we talking about?

[boltsfanofsdpop1376]

1. Los Angeles and San Diego region
2. Hawaii area
3. Dry part of Florida
4. New York City (when dry)
5. Buffalo (especally when you want snow)
6. SF Bay

[andyadhi01]

Finally a nice a warm sunny day in SF...This is the first one of 2010 and there will be another one tomorrow. Although 2 days of nice weather out of the 8 months this year seems like a cruel joke but still enjoying it as long as it lasts. The fog will be back with vengeance later in the week.