Quintessential Bay Area Microclimates Today...

[tstieber]

Originally Posted by sav858

Santa Cruz sure as it's pretty much the exception in Northern CA since it faces south so it gets sunnier and warmer than everywhere else up here. Water is still too cold though. The rest though, in comparison to the east coast and Southern CA they're relatively empty and certainly don't resemble your stereotypical summer beach scene that most people enjoy.

Exactly, Santa Cruz is the exception to the weather that dominates 95 percent of the NorCal coast. But that's why it's sooo packed. I'll bet those 5 percent of beaches that are warm and sunny most of the year attract 90 percent of NorCal's beach goers. Especially with its proximity to the highly populated Silicon Valley.

I don't mind Santa Cruz's water temps being cool, bc I generally find the ocean everywhere in California to be too cold for 11 months of the year anyway. The one time San Diego (where I now live full time) hits record breaking 80f water temps, I'm spending the summer near San Francisco. By the time I get back in a couple weeks, I'll probably have missed it. I did dip my feet into 74f water a few years ago, but that still felt cold for someone who's used to swimming pools. The point is, west coast beaches are mostly about the beach, not about the water, at least for most of the year. So Santa Cruz hits the spot for beachgoing. All you really need is sand and palm trees. :-)

[sav858]

Originally Posted by tstieber

I believe on the day in question, Brentwood was 108f. I've actually seen temp spreads in August of 55 degrees between coast and inland, so her example isn't unusual. I've never paid attention to this writer's weather articles.

It was 101 in Brentwood that day.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by tstieber

Exactly, Santa Cruz is the exception to the weather that dominates 95 percent of the NorCal coast. But that's why it's sooo packed. I'll bet those 5 percent of beaches that are warm and sunny most of the year attract 90 percent of NorCal's beach goers. Especially with its proximity to the highly populated Silicon Valley.

I don't mind Santa Cruz's water temps being cool, bc I generally find the ocean everywhere in California to be too cold for 11 months of the year anyway. The one time San Diego (where I now live full time) hits record breaking 80f water temps, I'm spending the summer near San Francisco. By the time I get back in a couple weeks, I'll probably have missed it. I did dip my feet into 74f water a few years ago, but that still felt cold for someone who's used to swimming pools. The point is, west coast beaches are mostly about the beach, not about the water, at least for most of the year. So Santa Cruz hits the spot for beachgoing. All you really need is sand and palm trees. :-)

You didn't even give it a chance, if you would have dived fully in it really doesn't take more than a few minutes to become acclimated to where it doesn't feel cold anymore.

Southern CA beaches are about the water during summer, I was swimming in Santa Monica in late October last year because the water was still around 70. I would not lump SoCal's beaches in with the rest of the west coast, totally different vibe and feel.

[CaliforniaPlaya]

One of the few things I love about travelling from home in Fremont to work in Brisbane, its usually a lot cooler at the Brisbane marina than the East Bay in summer. I grew up in San Francisco and got used to the cool, foggy summers until September/October when it warms up. I thought I wanted warmer weather and at least 3 seasons when I moved to Fremont. That move made me realize I actually like the cool, foggy weather and hearing the fog horns and don't necessarily like the 90+ days. There's no going back to the City now, but plan to eventually move north on the coast where fog is in abundance, but doesn't have a cool name like Karl.

[tstieber]

Originally Posted by sav858

You didn't even give it a chance, if you would have dived fully in it really doesn't take more than a few minutes to become acclimated to where it doesn't feel cold anymore.

Southern CA beaches are about the water during summer, I was swimming in Santa Monica in late October last year because the water was still around 70. I would not lump SoCal's beaches in with the rest of the west coast, totally different vibe and feel.

I don't find the SoCal vibe very different from places like Pismo, Capitola (pictured), or Santa Cruz (pictured), but very different from other NorCal places like Monterey, Half Moon Bay, or Pt Reyes, for example. They aren't all one flavor.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by tstieber

I don't find the SoCal vibe very different from places like Pismo, Capitola (pictured), or Santa Cruz (pictured), but very different from other NorCal places like Monterey, Half Moon Bay, or Pt Reyes, for example. They aren't all one flavor.

And the vast majority of Nothern CA beaches/coast are like Monterey, Half Moon Bay, and Pt Reyes, not Santa Cruz.

[modernist1]

Somebody said they love the microclimates here, apart from the dubious joy of shocking visitors, I tolerate them.

[tstieber]

Originally Posted by sav858

And the vast majority of Nothern CA beaches/coast are like Monterey, Half Moon Bay, and Pt Reyes, not Santa Cruz.

Exactly, I said previously that SC probably represents only about 5 percent of the NorCal coast. But I'd say it attracts the vast majority of beach goers. Most other beaches (except maybe Stinson) attract more the beachcombing types. In any case, NorCal is lucky to have that one little taste of California beach life in SC.

[sav858]

Originally Posted by tstieber

Exactly, I said previously that SC probably represents only about 5 percent of the NorCal coast. But I'd say it attracts the vast majority of beach goers. Most other beaches (except maybe Stinson) attract more the beachcombing types. In any case, NorCal is lucky to have that one little taste of California beach life in SC.

Sure but I still wouldn't try to lump SoCal with them even if they do likely attract the majority of beachgoers in Northern CA. The water is so much warmer in Southern CA it makes a big difference imo. Southern CA are very much about the water too during summer.