Any major weather differences in North County i.e. Carlsbad v San Diego (Oceanside: home, live in)

[thisguy]

Just curious if people believe there is any major weather difference, not so much in temperature but in cloudiness and the like anywhere up the coast? I was just comparing in a weather almanac the weather in Carlsbad v San Diego itself for 2009 and I noticed many more cloudy days in Feb-May 2009 in Carlsbad. Is that a one off year? Or like in San Fran are there areas with more fog due to proximity to the coast? If so is it the same in other areas like Oceanside, Encinitas etc? Thanks

[sav858]

North County feels a little cloudier along the coast to me. I work in Carlsbad but live in Pacific Beach and I notice a slight difference between the two. Many times on my drive home it is cloudy or starting to get cloudy when I leave Carlsbad but when I get into PB it is still clear or not as cloudy. And sometimes in the morning, it will be clear in PB but as I get farther north closer to Carlsbad it's cloudier but eventually clears up later. Most people probably wouldn't even notice the difference though b/c it is pretty subtle.

[Encinitan]

Originally Posted by thisguy

Just curious if people believe there is any major weather difference, not so much in temperature but in cloudiness and the like anywhere up the coast? I was just comparing in a weather almanac the weather in Carlsbad v San Diego itself for 2009 and I noticed many more cloudy days in Feb-May 2009 in Carlsbad. Is that a one off year? Or like in San Fran are there areas with more fog due to proximity to the coast? If so is it the same in other areas like Oceanside, Encinitas etc? Thanks

I've lived along the north county coast (Del Mar to Carlsbad) my entire life and I've never really noticed a difference in the cloudiness. It's pretty consistent, I'd say.

[f_m]

Originally Posted by thisguy

Just curious if people believe there is any major weather difference, not so much in temperature but in cloudiness and the like anywhere up the coast? I was just comparing in a weather almanac the weather in Carlsbad v San Diego itself for 2009 and I noticed many more cloudy days in Feb-May 2009 in Carlsbad. Is that a one off year? Or like in San Fran are there areas with more fog due to proximity to the coast? If so is it the same in other areas like Oceanside, Encinitas etc? Thanks

Closer to the ocean you will get more fog in the morning and evening than inland.

[thisguy]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

[bloom]

Originally Posted by Encinitan

I've lived along the north county coast (Del Mar to Carlsbad) my entire life and I've never really noticed a difference in the cloudiness. It's pretty consistent, I'd say.

My observations are totally aligned with sav858 and contrary (again) to Encinitan.

[MiTaylor]

I live in Solana Beach and work in Carlsbad. I take highway 101 up the coast to work most days, and I've noticed that it tends to be more cloudy in Carlsbad than Solana Beach when the clouds roll in. Like sav858 said, it is very subtle.

[Encinitan]

Originally Posted by bloom

My observations are totally aligned with sav858 and contrary (again) to Encinitan.

I'm always wrong.

[NYSD1995]

From La Jolla area north you have foothills very close to the ocean and a high ridge just west of 5, with deep, steep, and wide valleys. The fog can collect in the valleys and become very thick during late spring / early summer. East of 5 it is sunnier. Contrast that with flatter topography of central San Diego where the marine layer can creep all the way up to the 163 corridor (5+ miles inland)

[tstieber]

I live farther inland in Central SD and definitely, definitely notice that Carlsbad in particular is often overcast when I drive up I-5, while downtown is not. It sort of starts around La Jolla/Del Mar and gets much thicker up in Carlsbad. I also notice that Carlsbad is windier and cooler, often quite windy when I've been there. Not a fan of the Carlsbad microclimate.