San Diego Weather and Climate Guide

Let's talk about San Diego weather. Even though the weather here doesn't change much, it's always a topic of conversation.

Sunny, blue sky days abound and of all the cool things about San Diego, one thing you'll love is its warm weather, especially if you're visiting from a place where the weather isn't quite so...agreeable.

San Diego weather patterns most closely resemble those of the Mediterranean, so it's similar to the climate in Italy, Chile and Western Australia. From January through December, the weather in and around this area stays relatively the same, with only a few minor temperature changes. It is truly a tempered paradise, with the average daily temperature year round of 70.5 degrees Fahrenheit (21.4 degrees Celsius).

However, don't let the "Sunny San Diego" motto fool you; just an hour or so from our gorgeous beaches, you can find snow in the mountains nearby during winter months. On one memorable day, we took our kids sledding in Julian, 4x4ing in the Anza-Borrego Desert, then back to the beach for dinner!

When's the best time to visit San Diego and enjoy our weather? Summer months in San Diego can get quite warm, so if you're planning a trip to the San Diego Wild Animal Park, for example, temperatures over 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) are possible. The more inland you get from the San Diego beaches, the warmer it gets. If heat is a problem, consider visiting your favorite attractions earlier in the day, take a mid-afternoon break, then return to enjoy the cooler evening weather. August tends to be the hottest month of the year.

Even places with gorgeous weather get rain. San Diego's annual rainfall is about 11 inches per year, with most rain falling during the winter months of December through March.

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