Fog/marine layer by area within the city (Mountain View, Palo Alto: crime, to live)

[rah]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

Noe Valley gets sun almost every day during the "fog season." And less wind than many areas.

Depends what part of Noe Valley you're in. It can get pretty foggy and windy, especially up closer to diamond heights and twin peaks.

[sonarrat]

The sunniest area that would be interesting to a straight 30-something would be the South Beach/Mission Bay area. It's right on the eastern waterfront and is typically blanketed in sun while fog rolls over the rest of the town. It also happens to be the closest to the major rail connections which makes for an easy commute.

[jfields]

It really depends on the day. I went to USF, which is slightly northwest of Twin Peaks. I have lived a block away from campus, in the Inner Sunset and in the Mission District. There are days when it is sunny by USF and overcast in the Sunset. There are days when it is foggy right on the beach but clear everywhere else in the city. The are also days when the fog covers everything west of towin peaks, as well as some parts east of Twin Peaks as well, but the Mission District will be sunny. Twin Peaks, which is right in the middle of SF, tends to stop the fog from moving to the east, so if you want the sunny weather, your best be is to go to the neighborhoods directly east of Twin peaks that are closest to the bay, which would be the Upper Mission District and the Potrero District. But the temps in these areas will still be cool if the west side of SF is foggy. They may be like 5 degrees warmer. The Upper Mission Disrtict is my favorite neighborhood in all of SF. It has a very large hispanic community, but it is diverse. It isn't almost all hispanic like say, Pacoima or Pico Rivera ( in case you couldn't tell, I've lived in SF and LA). There are also alot of artist and activist types there, which I happen to like. It's a very lively neighboorhood with alot of good, inexpensive places to eat and alot of bars and clubs. The down side is that there is alot of crime, Especially by the BART stations on 16th and 24th and along Cesar Chavez as well. The Portrero District is alot safer. There is one housing project, I think it's on 24th but I'm not 100% sure on that one, that is dangeous but other than that, Potrero is safe. I'd say if you are more concerned about safety, look in the Potrero District. If you don't mind a fairly dangerous neighboorhood and enjoy clubs, arts, liberal politics, hispanic culture and Mexican food, you should look in the Upper Mission District.

[Jonotastic]

Richmond, Sunset, Presido, Daly City I think are the worse. The eastern parts such as Mission, Union Square are much more sunny.

[skyway31]

Good information from everybody, thanks.

I can't quite pinpoint where South Beach is, (although I could use my genius level of intellignence to conclude it is somewhere south of North Beach lol). Exactly what streets make up its borders?

It seems to me that, socially, Cow Hollow and the Marina fit what I'd be interested in. And I'm going to check out North Beach/Little Italy as well. Mind you, my visits to SF were 10 years ago and I didn't check out the city like I will when I head up there in a couple weeks. I have done quite a bit of reading though.

I am encouraged by a conclusion I think I can make-correct me if I am wrong please:
The eastern parts of the city see sun most every day between April-August (fog season). These parts may have periods of fog most every day as well in the morning and/or evening, but they also get sun for a few hours as well. Correct?

If I'm correct in the above, is it accurate to apply the same statement to Cow Hollow/Marina area?

Thanks again!

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Because of proximity to the Golden Gate fog gap* Marina / Cow Hollow can have some days where it does not completely burn off - talking constant broken stratus moving in with many sunny breaks.

* Fog gap - a low spot in one of the coast ranges or sea level gap, which allows intrusion of non modified marine air toward the more inland areas of rising hot air. Typical fog gaps - Bodega/Petaluma, Sausalito ridge, Golden Gate, Visitacion Valley, San Bruno Gap, San Mateo Gap, Windy Hill Gap, Pajaro Gap, Monterey Bay Gap, Los Osos Gap, Santa Maria Valley, Lopoc Gap, and so on. Being in or downwind from a gap means experiencing more summer marine influence than in other places a comparable distance inland.

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by skyway31

Good information from everybody, thanks.

I can't quite pinpoint where South Beach is, (although I could use my genius level of intellignence to conclude it is somewhere south of North Beach lol). Exactly what streets make up its borders?

South Beach is southeast of I-80 around King St, close to the ballpark.

[skyway31]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

Because of proximity to the Golden Gate fog gap* Marina / Cow Hollow can have some days where it does not completely burn off - talking constant broken stratus moving in with many sunny breaks.

* Fog gap - a low spot in one of the coast ranges or sea level gap, which allows intrusion of non modified marine air toward the more inland areas of rising hot air. Typical fog gaps - Bodega/Petaluma, Sausalito ridge, Golden Gate, Visitacion Valley, San Bruno Gap, San Mateo Gap, Windy Hill Gap, Pajaro Gap, Monterey Bay Gap, Los Osos Gap, Santa Maria Valley, Lopoc Gap, and so on. Being in or downwind from a gap means experiencing more summer marine influence than in other places a comparable distance inland.

Great. really appreciate the detailed nature of the post!

Hermosa Beach will have several days each spring/summer where it will be completely overcast the entire day. I'll estimate it to be around 20 days between April and August with absolutely zero sunshine attributed solely to the marine layer. Not to mention the days where there are several daylight hours with no sunshine before/after it ultimately burns off. Most people don't know this becuase they just loop Hermosa under the L.A. umbrella. And, to be clear, if you go about a mile inland from the coast you would see sun on an overwhelming majority of those days. But not in Hermosa. Hermosa and the south bay beach cities are by far the most overcast parts of the L.A. and OC counties. Could it be that a not insignificant chunk of SF gets as much or more sun than Hermosa Beach??

[skyway31]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

South Beach is southeast of I-80 around King St, close to the ballpark.

Thanks. What is the social scene there like? I do not anticipate the Mission being what I'm looking for. So I hope it's not an extension of there.

[bellalunatic]

Originally Posted by ImRandy

To visit maybe.

what the heck do you mean by that? It's always sunnier in The Mission, and it is filled with straight hipsters in their 20 & 30's...but if you're scared of it, then that's your problem.