Bernal Heights Weather
Town • San Francisco Bay Area
Bernal Heights wraps around Bernal Hill, a largely treeless, grassy summit south of the Mission that Recreation and Parks manages as Bernal Heights Park. Bernal Heights Boulevard loops around the hilltop, part of it closed to cars, and a fenced microwave station sits on the peak. The neighborhood's streets fall away on every side, with Cortland Avenue's shops on the south slope and Precita Park at the north foot. Its hill stands alone, well east of Twin Peaks, and its stable rock spared most homes here in the 1906 earthquake.
Plan your week
10-Day Forecast
Hour by hour
Hourly Forecast
Current Conditions
Comfort Breakdown
Bernal Heights weather today and through the year
It's 54°F at Bernal Heights right now (feels like 51°F), with 6 mph wind and a comfort score of 78. Monday's forecast high at Bernal Heights is 56°F, 7°F below the mid November normal of 63°F. The best window today is 8 AM to 11 AM, at about 52°F with a 8 mph wind (comfort 52).
September is the warmest month at Bernal Heights, with an average high of 72°F. January is the coldest, with an average low of 44°F. December is the wettest month (5.0 in.), out of about 24.1 in. a year. By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Bernal Heights are September, August, and October. The best hours are usually 11 AM to 2 PM in September, noon to 3 PM in August, and noon to 3 PM in October.
Bernal Hill is a lone knob a couple of miles east of the main Twin Peaks and Diamond Heights ridge. The valleys of Noe Valley and Glen Park separate the two. That distance is what gives the neighborhood its reputation. Recreation and Parks says Bernal's windswept slopes are still sunny when Twin Peaks is shrouded in afternoon fog. By the time summer marine air has crossed the big ridge and the valleys beyond it, it has usually thinned out.
Forecast updated November 15, 2026 at 4:00 AM PST. Climate figures come from NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Hourly patterns come from NOAA's HRRR hourly analysis from September 2014 to April 2026.
What to expect at Bernal Heights in the next few days
Active National Weather Service alerts
- High Surf Advisory until Tue 4:00 AM
Best time to go
The best window today is 8 AM to 11 AM, at about 52°F with a 8 mph wind (comfort 52).
Best day this week
Of the next 7 days, Friday looks best for Bernal Heights, with a 60°F high and midday comfort near 79. Today looks weakest (43).
Rain
Next good chance of rain: today (73%, about 0.58 in.).
Live weather map
Weather around Bernal Heights right now
Overcast and 54° at Bernal Heights right now.
About the live weather map for Bernal Heights
The map centers on Bernal Heights and stacks fog, satellite clouds, and precipitation radar on one view. Clouds come from the GOES-West satellite and rain from NOAA radar, and both show current conditions. Fog comes from our HRRR-based fog model, and the slider steps through its forecast for the next 12 hours.
Dots mark nearby places with their current temperature, colored by comfort score. Use the layer buttons to turn any layer off, or open the full map for every destination in the region.
Nearby Temperature Comparison
Conditions at nearby San Francisco Bay Area destinations
Tip: Bay Area temperatures can change by 20 to 30°F over a short distance because of microclimates.
Bernal Heights vs nearby places
Typical summer conditions compared with Bernal Heights, from the same NOAA HRRR hourly record. The list shows the closest places, then nearby places whose climate differs the most.
| Place | Distance | Summer afternoons | Morning fog | Afternoon wind | Compared with Bernal Heights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noe Valley | 1 mi | -5°F | 48% | 13 mph | more summer morning fog (48% vs 24% of morning hours) and about 5°F cooler on summer afternoons |
| Glen Park | 1.1 mi | -4°F | 44% | 13 mph | more summer morning fog (44% vs 24% of morning hours) and about 4°F cooler on summer afternoons |
| Mission District | 1.3 mi | same | 24% | 11 mph | a very similar climate |
| Moss Beach | 15.7 mi | -11°F | 66% | 9 mph | more summer morning fog (66% vs 24% of morning hours) and about 11°F cooler on summer afternoons |
| Half Moon Bay | 19.2 mi | -6°F | 64% | 8 mph | more summer morning fog (64% vs 24% of morning hours) and about 6°F cooler on summer afternoons |
| Pleasant Hill | 24 mi | +16°F | 10% | 7 mph | about 16°F warmer on summer afternoons and calmer summer afternoons (7 vs 12 mph) |
Places with a climate like Bernal Heights'
- Ring Mountain Preserve (12 mi away): nearly the same temperatures every month
- Larkspur (15 mi away): nearly the same temperatures every month
- China Camp State Park (19 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
Climate Dashboard
Current conditions vs. NOAA normals and recent destination baseline
What the Bernal Heights climate comparisons mean
These cards compare recent conditions at Bernal Heights with the available local baseline. Temperature and year-to-date rainfall use long-term normals when available. Fog, sunshine, wind, and comfort use the matching recent or modeled baseline identified on each card.
Positive and negative differences describe how Bernal Heights departs from its own usual pattern. They should not be read as a direct comparison with another city or as a forecast beyond the period shown.
Bernal Heights weather by month
September is the warmest month at Bernal Heights, with an average high of 72°F. January is the coldest, with an average low of 44°F. December is the wettest month (5.0 in.), out of about 24.1 in. a year. Morning fog peaks in July, when fog or low cloud covers 28% of the hours from 6 to 10 AM. October has the clearest middays, with clouds covering about 23% of the sky from 11 AM to 3 PM.
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Bernal Heights are September, August, and October. The best hours are usually 11 AM to 2 PM in September, noon to 3 PM in August, and noon to 3 PM in October.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Rainy days | Morning fog | Midday cloud | Afternoon wind | Daylight | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 44°F | 4.5 in | 9 | 14% | 36% | 5 mph | 9.8 h | 58 |
| Feb | 60°F | 46°F | 4.6 in | 9 | 13% | 28% | 7 mph | 10.7 h | 60 |
| Mar | 62°F | 47°F | 3.4 in | 8 | 11% | 32% | 8 mph | 11.9 h | 63 |
| Apr | 64°F | 48°F | 1.7 in | 5 | 10% | 27% | 10 mph | 13.2 h | 70 |
| May | 66°F | 51°F | 0.8 in | 4 | 13% | 31% | 12 mph | 14.2 h | 70 |
| Jun | 69°F | 53°F | 0.2 in | 2 | 18% | 24% | 12 mph | 14.8 h | 80 |
| Jul | 70°F | 55°F | 0.0 in | 0 | 28% | 27% | 12 mph | 14.5 h | 81 |
| Aug | 71°F | 56°F | 0.1 in | 1 | 26% | 27% | 11 mph | 13.6 h | 85 |
| Sep | 72°F | 55°F | 0.1 in | 2 | 17% | 25% | 10 mph | 12.3 h | 90 |
| Oct | 70°F | 53°F | 1.1 in | 4 | 12% | 23% | 7 mph | 11.1 h | 84 |
| Nov | 63°F | 48°F | 2.6 in | 7 | 11% | 25% | 6 mph | 10.0 h | 68 |
| Dec | 57°F | 45°F | 5.0 in | 9 | 21% | 37% | 5 mph | 9.6 h | 37 |
Morning fog is the share of hours from 6 to 10 AM with fog or low cloud. Midday cloud is the average from 11 AM to 3 PM, and afternoon wind is the average from 1 to 5 PM. The highlighted rows are the most comfortable months.
What makes Bernal Heights' weather different
When the fog burns off
noonwhen July fog usually thins (34% foggy at 6 AM)
Fog or low cloud covers Bernal Heights in 34% of 6 AM hours in July, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by noon. April mornings are the least foggy (10%).
When the wind picks up
2 PMwhen afternoon wind builds, February–October
From February through October, wind at Bernal Heights typically builds after 2 PM. In June it peaks around 5 PM, averaging 14 mph with 28% of those hours windy, while mornings average 6 mph.
Microclimate
−5°FNoe Valley, 1 mi away, on summer afternoons
Noe Valley, 1 mile away, runs about 5°F cooler than Bernal Heights on summer afternoons. It also has far more summer morning fog, 48% of morning hours compared with 24%.
Model resolution
2 placesshare one 3 km NOAA HRRR grid cell
Bernal Heights shares one 3 km grid cell in NOAA's HRRR model with Bayview-Hunters Point. The hourly fog, wind, cloud, and temperature patterns on this site are the same for both. Real differences between them come from hills, elevation, and wind exposure that the model cannot resolve.
Daylight
9.6–14.8 hof daylight, Dec to Jun
Days at Bernal Heights range from about 9.6 hours in December to 14.8 hours in June. In mid-June the sun sets around 8:34 PM, and in mid-December around 4:58 PM.
Seasons at Bernal Heights
- Warm seasonJul 8 – Oct 6 · highs 70°F+
The warm season lasts about 3 months, from Jul 8 to Oct 6, when the average high is 70°F or warmer. Highs peak around Sep 8 at about 72°F.
- Cool seasonNov 28 – Mar 1 · highs 61°F or lower
The cool season runs from Nov 28 to Mar 1, when the average high is 61°F or lower. The coldest nights come around Jan 8, with an average low near 44°F.
- Rainy seasonNov 6 – Apr 7 · 84% of the year's rain
The rainy season runs from Nov 6 to Apr 7, when a day has at least a 20% chance of measurable rain. That stretch brings 84% of the year's rain.
The dark line marks today. Season dates come from the smoothed daily NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Counting from Oct. 1, a typical year has its first inch of rain by Oct 29 and half of its annual total by Jan 23.
Days per year and extremes (Nov 1, 2024 to Oct 31, 2026)
This record runs from Nov 1, 2024 to Oct 31, 2026. Over this record, Bernal Heights averaged 3 days a year at 90°F or hotter and no freezing nights. It averaged 15 days a year with at least half an inch of rain and 2 afternoons with wind of 20 mph or more at 2 PM. About 86 mornings a year had 3 or more hours of fog or low cloud.
In the same record, the hottest day was Sep 9, 2026 (96°F) and the coldest night was Feb 10, 2025 (40°F). The wettest day was Nov 23, 2024 (2.93 in.), and the strongest 2 PM gust was 42 mph on Mar 12, 2025.
- 3days at 90°F or hotter
- 0nights at or below freezing
- 15days with ½ in. of rain or more
- 2afternoons with 20+ mph wind
- 86mornings with 3+ hours of fog or low cloud
- Hottest day96°FSep 9, 2026
- Coldest night40°FFeb 10, 2025
- Wettest day2.93 inNov 23, 2024
- Strongest 2 PM gust42 mphMar 12, 2025
What shapes Bernal Heights' weather
Wind is the trade-off on Bernal Hill. The summit stands well above the streets around it, so the grassland on top takes the afternoon sea breeze at full strength. The park's own description mentions the native grasses blowing in waves from the almost constant ocean breeze. The south slope along Cortland Avenue and the north slope above Precita Park are more sheltered than the summit loop.
Bernal is also one of the best places in the city to watch the fog. On summer afternoons you can stand in sun on the hilltop and see Sutro Tower poking out of the fog that has swallowed Twin Peaks.
Tips for visiting Bernal Heights
Expect wind on the summit
Recreation and Parks describes an almost constant ocean breeze across the hilltop grassland. Bring a windbreaker even on sunny days.
Walk the car-free stretch of the boulevard
Part of Bernal Heights Boulevard around the hilltop is closed to vehicles and heavily used for walking.
Keep dogs leashed where coyotes roam
The park has an off-leash dog area, but coyotes have returned to Bernal Hill, and the city advises leashing dogs where coyotes are known to frequent.
Come in February for wildflowers
By early February the hill turns green and native wildflowers such as footsteps of spring, blue-eyed grass, and shooting star begin to bloom.
Bernal Heights through the seasons
- Spring (March–May)
- Spring is peak wildflower season on the hill's native grassland, and April has the fewest foggy mornings of the year.
- Summer (June–August)
- Summer is often sunny here when the western neighborhoods are gray, but it is windy on top. The grasses dry out and turn tawny.
- Fall (September–October)
- Fall's warm spells quiet the ocean wind, making this the calmest season for summit sunsets.
- Winter (November–February)
- Rain wakes the grassland, and the dirt trails on the hill's flanks get muddy and gullied. Clear days after a front passes bring long views east across the bay.
Activities and the weather that matters
- Summit loop walk: The loop is sunny more often than the western hills, but bring a layer for the wind. Calm fall evenings are the best time for sunset.
- Dog walking: The off-leash slopes are popular year-round. Mornings are calmer than windy summer afternoons.
- Wildflower and bird watching: Go on clear spring mornings, when kestrels hunt over the blooming grassland.
Official sources and current conditions
- SF Recreation and Parks: Bernal Heights Park
- SF Recreation and Parks: Precita Park
- SF Recreation and Parks: Holly Park
Numbers on this page come from NOAA data. The text draws on the official sources linked above.
Historical Climate Data
Long-term weather patterns and climate data
Data sources: Recent temperatures come from NOAA URMA and recent precipitation from NOAA Stage IV. Fog, cloud, wind, humidity, and sunshine come from NOAA HRRR, and long-term baselines from NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
Climate Overview
Based on NOAA 30-year temperature/rain normals (1991-2020) with recent fog/sun baseline
🌟 Best Months to Visit
⚠️ Challenging Months
Monthly Breakdown
| Month | Comfort | High/Low | ☀️ Sun | 🌫️ Fog | 💧 Rain | Perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2024 | 80 | 62.5° / 49.8° | 6.6h | 3d | 4.58" | 21 |
| December 2024 | 71 | 59.6° / 48.3° | 5.1h | 8d | 5.81" | 12 |
| January 2025 | 84 | 59.7° / 45.7° | 6.9h | 3d | 0.18" | 21 |
| February 2025 | 75 | 60.6° / 46.8° | 6.6h | 6d | 7.04" | 16 |
| March 2025 | 82 | 61.7° / 48° | 8.2h | 1d | 1.78" | 21 |
| April 2025 | 89 | 63.5° / 49.7° | 9.8h | 0d | 0.38" | 26 |
| May 2025 | 92 | 67.7° / 51.9° | 12h | 2d | 0.16" | 31 |
| June 2025 | 88 | 65.9° / 53.1° | 11.7h | 8d | 0" | 23 |
| July 2025 | 88 | 66.2° / 55.6° | 10.8h | 9d | 0" | 30 |
| August 2025 | 90 | 71.6° / 57.6° | 10.6h | 6d | 0.02" | 29 |
| September 2025 | 90 | 73.7° / 60.1° | 9.1h | 4d | 0.12" | 29 |
| October 2025 | 88 | 70.1° / 56.1° | 8h | 4d | 1.09" | 26 |
| November 2025 | 79 | 63.7° / 52.3° | 6.6h | 7d | 3" | 15 |
| December 2025 | 67 | 56.4° / 47.4° | 4.6h | 13d | 4.87" | 6 |
| January 2026 | 79 | 61° / 47.8° | 6.7h | 2d | 4" | 22 |
| February 2026 | 77 | 63.2° / 49.6° | 6.3h | 4d | 4.67" | 15 |
| March 2026 | 94 | 74.1° / 53.6° | 9.5h | 1d | 0.05" | 29 |
| April 2026 | 86 | 65.6° / 52.1° | 9.5h | 5d | 3.93" | 22 |
| May 2026 | 90 | 66.8° / 53.2° | 11.2h | 6d | 0.64" | 26 |
| June 2026 | 92 | 69.3° / 55.3° | 12h | 2d | 0.02" | 29 |
| July 2026 | 90 | 69.7° / 56.7° | 11.3h | 5d | 0" | 30 |
| August 2026 | 89 | 69.6° / 57.3° | 10.4h | 12d | 0" | 31 |
| September 2026 | 91 | 71.9° / 57.8° | 9.6h | 4d | 0.08" | 29 |
| October 2026 | 91 | 72.3° / 55.4° | 8.3h | 2d | 0.18" | 30 |
Climate Trends
Average Temperature by Month
About the Bernal Heights climate charts
The temperature chart compares average monthly highs and lows at Bernal Heights, showing both the seasonal cycle and the typical day-to-night range. The comfort chart summarizes how often the combined weather pattern is favorable rather than judging temperature alone.
Precipitation shows the total recorded or modeled rainfall for each month at Bernal Heights. Sunshine compares average bright-sky hours with the daylight available, while fog shows the average number of morning fog or low-cloud hours per day. Switch between the chart tabs to compare the same months across each measure.
Hourly Temperature, Fog, Wind, Cloud Cover, and Solar Radiation Patterns
Average local hour by month from 2014-09-30 to 2026-04-30
- Temperature: At Bernal Heights, the warmest typical hour is 2 PM in September (73°F). The coldest is 6 AM in January (46°F).
- Fog: Fog or low cloud covers Bernal Heights in 34% of 6 AM hours in July, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by noon. April mornings are the least foggy (10%).
- Wind: From February through October, wind at Bernal Heights typically builds after 2 PM. In June it peaks around 5 PM, averaging 14 mph with 28% of those hours windy, while mornings average 6 mph.
- Cloud Cover: October middays are the clearest at Bernal Heights (23% average cloud cover), and December middays are the cloudiest (37%).
- Solar Radiation: The strongest typical sun at Bernal Heights comes at 1 PM in June, averaging 923 W/m².
How to read the hourly heatmaps for Bernal Heights
This heatmap shows how average temperature at Bernal Heights changes by hour and month. Read left to right for the seasons and top to bottom for the time of day. Warmer colors mark the usual afternoon peaks, and cooler colors show overnight and winter lows.
This heatmap shows when fog or low cloud is most likely at Bernal Heights. Darker cells mark the months and hours when fog has been most common. They help separate overnight or morning fog from cloud that tends to linger into the afternoon.
This heatmap shows the typical hourly wind pattern at Bernal Heights through the year. It makes recurring afternoon wind, calmer overnight periods, and seasonal changes easier to compare than a single daily wind value.
This heatmap shows average cloud cover at Bernal Heights for every month and hour. Use it to see whether cloudiness is mainly an overnight and morning pattern or commonly persists during the part of the day you plan to visit.
This heatmap shows the average solar radiation reaching Bernal Heights by month and hour. Brighter cells indicate the strongest typical sun, while muted cells can reflect nighttime, shorter winter days, cloud cover, smoke, or terrain shading.
Each cell combines one month with one local hour. Hover over or focus on a cell for its value and sample coverage. The red marker shows the current month and hour.
How recent months compared at Bernal Heights
- October 2026 recap: October 2026 at Bernal Heights averaged a high of 72°F, 3°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 70°F. It brought 0.18 in. of rain, compared with a normal of 1.10 in.
- Rain year: The 2025-26 rain year (Oct. 1 to Sep. 30) brought 22.4 in. of rain to Bernal Heights, 93% of the 24.1 in. normal.
Location Details
Bernal Heights weather questions
Everything you need to know about weather and visiting Bernal Heights
What is the weather like at Bernal Heights today?
It's 54°F at Bernal Heights right now, with a comfort score of 78 (great). Monday's forecast high at Bernal Heights is 56°F, 7°F below the mid November normal of 63°F. The best window today is 8 AM to 11 AM, at about 52°F with a 8 mph wind (comfort 52).
What is the best month to visit Bernal Heights?
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Bernal Heights are September, August, and October. The best hours are usually 11 AM to 2 PM in September, noon to 3 PM in August, and noon to 3 PM in October. The warm season lasts about 3 months, from Jul 8 to Oct 6, when the average high is 70°F or warmer. Highs peak around Sep 8 at about 72°F.
What are the warmest and coldest months at Bernal Heights?
September is the warmest month at Bernal Heights, with an average high of 72°F. January is the coldest, with an average low of 44°F.
When does the fog burn off at Bernal Heights?
Fog or low cloud covers Bernal Heights in 34% of 6 AM hours in July, the foggiest month. It usually thins to a third of that by noon. April mornings are the least foggy (10%).
When is it windiest at Bernal Heights?
From February through October, wind at Bernal Heights typically builds after 2 PM. In June it peaks around 5 PM, averaging 14 mph with 28% of those hours windy, while mornings average 6 mph.
How much rain does Bernal Heights get?
December is the wettest month (5.0 in.), out of about 24.1 in. a year. The rainy season runs from Nov 6 to Apr 7, when a day has at least a 20% chance of measurable rain. That stretch brings 84% of the year's rain. The 2025-26 rain year (Oct. 1 to Sep. 30) brought 22.4 in. of rain to Bernal Heights, 93% of the 24.1 in. normal.
How does Bernal Heights weather compare with Noe Valley?
Noe Valley, 1 mile away, runs about 5°F cooler than Bernal Heights on summer afternoons. It also has far more summer morning fog, 48% of morning hours compared with 24%.
Is Bernal Heights sunnier than Twin Peaks?
Often, yes. San Francisco Recreation and Parks notes that Bernal Hill's windswept slopes are still sunny when Twin Peaks is shrouded in afternoon fog. Expect a stiff breeze on top, though.
What kind of place is Bernal Heights?
Bernal Heights wraps around Bernal Hill, a largely treeless, grassy summit south of the Mission that Recreation and Parks manages as Bernal Heights Park. Bernal Heights Boulevard loops around the hilltop, part of it closed to cars, and a fenced microwave station sits on the peak. The neighborhood's streets fall away on every side, with Cortland Avenue's shops on the south slope and Precita Park at the north foot. Its hill stands alone, well east of Twin Peaks, and its stable rock spared most homes here in the 1906 earthquake.
What is Bernal Heights weather like in November?
November at Bernal Heights averages a high of 63°F and a low of 48°F, with 2.6 in. of rain over about 7 rainy days. About 11% of morning hours are foggy. Afternoon wind averages 6 mph.
More about Bernal Heights weather
Guides that explain the weather here and nearby
- San Francisco Weather in February: Rain and Early Spring
- What Is a Fogbow? The Bay Area's Rainbow in the Fog
- When San Francisco's Summer Fog Burns Off: The Thermal Low Effect
- Why the Bay Area Has So Much Wind
- Why Some Bay Area Neighborhoods Are Foggier Than Others
- San Francisco Weather by Neighborhood: Sunniest to Foggiest
Data sources and methods
- Monthly temperatures and precipitation: NOAA 1991-2020 normals.
- Fog, cloud, wind, sun, and comfort by hour and month: NOAA's HRRR hourly analysis from September 2014 to April 2026.
- Daily records and recent months: NOAA URMA and HRRR analyses, plus NOAA Stage IV precipitation.
- Nearby comparisons and regional rankings use the same hourly HRRR summaries for every destination in the region.
- Alerts: National Weather Service. Tides and ocean temperature: NOAA CO-OPS, where shown.
- All statements on this page are computed from these datasets, apart from the “What shapes the weather” guide, which cites its sources inline.
- San Francisco Recreation and Parks, Bernal Heights Park (accessed 2026-10-27)
- SF Recreation and Parks, Significant Natural Resource Areas Management Plan, section 6.21 Bernal Hill (final draft, February 2006) (accessed 2026-10-27)
- National Weather Service, Climate of San Francisco (NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS WR-126, Jan Null, 1995) (accessed 2026-10-27)
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