Potrero Hill Weather
Town • San Francisco Bay Area
Standing apart from the city's central ridges, Potrero Hill rises between the Mission's flats on the west and Dogpatch and the bay shore on the east. Mission Bay and SoMa lie below its north face, and US 101 and I-280 wrap its base. Its residential grid climbs to McKinley Square at 20th and Vermont Streets. The Potrero Hill Recreation Center sits on the eastern slope, and Caltrain's 22nd Street station is tucked at its southeast foot. As a freestanding hill rather than a valley, it has open views, and open exposure, in every direction.
Plan your week
10-Day Forecast
Hour by hour
Hourly Forecast
Current Conditions
Comfort Breakdown
Potrero Hill weather today and through the year
It's 54°F at Potrero Hill right now (feels like 51°F), with 5 mph wind and a comfort score of 78. Monday's forecast high at Potrero Hill 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 53°F with a 8 mph wind (comfort 55).
September is the warmest month at Potrero Hill, 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 24.0 in. a year. By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Potrero Hill 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.
Potrero Hill sits about as far east as San Francisco goes before the bay. Twin Peaks, the Mission, and several miles of city lie between it and the ocean. The Weather Service describes summer temperatures in the city climbing as you move southeast away from the coast, and Potrero is near the warm end of that line. Morning overcast typically breaks here early. Summer fog that does spill past Twin Peaks has often thinned by the time it crosses the Mission.
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 Potrero Hill 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 53°F with a 8 mph wind (comfort 55).
Best day this week
Of the next 7 days, Friday looks best for Potrero Hill, with a 60°F high and midday comfort near 79. Today looks weakest (42).
Rain
Next good chance of rain: today (73%, about 0.69 in.).
Live weather map
Weather around Potrero Hill right now
Overcast and 54° at Potrero Hill right now.
About the live weather map for Potrero Hill
The map centers on Potrero Hill 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.
Potrero Hill vs nearby places
Typical summer conditions compared with Potrero Hill, 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 Potrero Hill |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mission District | 0.8 mi | same | 24% | 11 mph | same 3 km weather-model cell, so our hourly data cannot tell them apart |
| SoMa | 1.4 mi | same | 24% | 11 mph | same 3 km weather-model cell, so our hourly data cannot tell them apart |
| Bernal Heights | 1.4 mi | same | 24% | 12 mph | a very similar climate |
| Moss Beach | 17.1 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 | 20.4 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 | 22.7 mi | +15°F | 10% | 7 mph | about 15°F warmer on summer afternoons and less summer morning fog (10% vs 24% of morning hours) |
Places with a climate like Potrero Hill's
- China Camp State Park (18 mi away): nearly the same temperatures every month
- Larkspur (14 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
- Muir Woods National Monument (13 mi away): similar temperatures through the year
Climate Dashboard
Current conditions vs. NOAA normals and recent destination baseline
What the Potrero Hill climate comparisons mean
These cards compare recent conditions at Potrero Hill 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 Potrero Hill 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.
Potrero Hill weather by month
September is the warmest month at Potrero Hill, 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 24.0 in. a year. Morning fog peaks in July, when fog or low cloud covers 31% of the hours from 6 to 10 AM. June has the clearest middays, with clouds covering about 22% of the sky from 11 AM to 3 PM.
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Potrero Hill 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 | 4.6 in | 9 | 14% | 36% | 5 mph | 9.8 h | 57 |
| 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% | 31% | 8 mph | 11.9 h | 64 |
| Apr | 64°F | 49°F | 1.6 in | 5 | 9% | 26% | 10 mph | 13.2 h | 70 |
| May | 66°F | 51°F | 0.8 in | 4 | 12% | 30% | 12 mph | 14.2 h | 71 |
| Jun | 70°F | 53°F | 0.2 in | 2 | 18% | 22% | 12 mph | 14.8 h | 80 |
| Jul | 70°F | 55°F | 0.0 in | 0 | 31% | 26% | 11 mph | 14.5 h | 82 |
| Aug | 72°F | 56°F | 0.1 in | 1 | 25% | 25% | 11 mph | 13.6 h | 86 |
| Sep | 72°F | 55°F | 0.1 in | 1 | 17% | 24% | 10 mph | 12.3 h | 90 |
| Oct | 70°F | 53°F | 1.1 in | 4 | 13% | 22% | 7 mph | 11.1 h | 84 |
| Nov | 63°F | 48°F | 2.6 in | 7 | 10% | 25% | 6 mph | 10.0 h | 68 |
| Dec | 57°F | 45°F | 5.0 in | 9 | 19% | 36% | 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 Potrero Hill's weather different
When the fog burns off
noonwhen July fog usually thins (36% foggy at 6 AM)
Fog or low cloud covers Potrero Hill in 36% 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 (9%).
When the wind picks up
2 PMwhen afternoon wind builds, February–October
From February through October, wind at Potrero Hill typically builds after 2 PM. In June it peaks around 5 PM, averaging 14 mph with 28% of those hours windy, while mornings average 5 mph.
Model resolution
3 placesshare one 3 km NOAA HRRR grid cell
Potrero Hill shares one 3 km grid cell in NOAA's HRRR model with Mission District and SoMa. The hourly fog, wind, cloud, and temperature patterns on this site are the same for all of them. 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 Potrero Hill 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 Potrero Hill
- Warm seasonJun 29 – Oct 7 · highs 70°F+
The warm season lasts about 3.3 months, from Jun 29 to Oct 7, when the average high is 70°F or warmer. Highs peak around Sep 8 at about 72°F.
- Cool seasonNov 29 – Feb 28 · highs 61°F or lower
The cool season runs from Nov 29 to Feb 28, 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, Potrero Hill 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 94 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
- 94mornings 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 Potrero Hill's weather
What Potrero Hill does not have is shelter from the wind. Wind sweeping east over the Mission flats meets nothing taller until it reaches Potrero's western slope and summit. The blocks around McKinley Square and the top of the hill can be sunny and breezy at the same time. The east slope facing Dogpatch and the bay is sheltered by the hill itself and is usually the calmest, warmest side on a summer afternoon.
Potrero Hill's open position also makes it a good vantage point for the city's weather. On a typical summer evening you can watch the gray bank stall along the Twin Peaks ridge as the skyline and the bay stay sunny.
Tips for visiting Potrero Hill
Take Caltrain to 22nd Street, but expect stairs
The station at 1149 22nd Street is reachable by stairs only, with no elevator or ramp, and parking is on the street.
Catch the view from McKinley Square
The park at 20th and Vermont Streets has an off-leash dog area, a playground, and picnic space on the hill's western brow.
Play under the lights at the Rec Center
Potrero Hill Recreation Center has two lighted tennis courts plus a ball field and dog play area. The grounds are open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Retreat to the east slope when it's windy
The streets facing Dogpatch are sheltered by the hill and usually calmer than the summit on breezy afternoons.
Bring kids to Jackson Playground
At 17th and Arkansas Streets on the hill's north side, it has a sand-floor playground ringed by mosaics made by neighborhood children.
Potrero Hill through the seasons
- Spring (March–May)
- Clear days are frequent, though the summit gets gustier as the ocean breeze strengthens through May.
- Summer (June–August)
- Summer days are usually sunny by midday, with a steady afternoon westerly across the top of the hill. Evenings stay clearer here than in the western half of the city.
- Fall (September–October)
- Warm, still spells with offshore wind give some of the calmest evenings of the year and the best summit views.
- Winter (November–February)
- Winter is the rainy season. Clear days after a storm passes bring the sharpest views of the bay and East Bay hills.
Activities and the weather that matters
- Tennis: The Rec Center's courts are lighted. Mornings are calmest, and afternoon gusts on the hill make for a harder game.
- City-view walks: Clear, calm days in fall and after winter storms give the longest views toward downtown and the bay.
- Dog walking: McKinley Square and the Rec Center both have off-leash dog areas. Pick the morning on windy summer days.
Official sources and current conditions
- SF Recreation and Parks: Potrero Hill Recreation Center
- SF Recreation and Parks: McKinley Square
- Caltrain: 22nd Street station
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° | 6.7h | 2d | 4.58" | 20 |
| December 2024 | 71 | 59.6° / 48.3° | 5.1h | 8d | 5.81" | 12 |
| January 2025 | 83 | 59.7° / 45.7° | 7h | 3d | 0.18" | 21 |
| February 2025 | 75 | 60.6° / 46.8° | 6.6h | 6d | 7.04" | 15 |
| March 2025 | 83 | 61.7° / 48° | 8.3h | 1d | 1.78" | 21 |
| April 2025 | 89 | 63.5° / 49.7° | 9.8h | 0d | 0.38" | 27 |
| May 2025 | 92 | 67.7° / 51.9° | 12.1h | 2d | 0.16" | 30 |
| June 2025 | 88 | 65.9° / 53.1° | 12h | 8d | 0" | 24 |
| July 2025 | 87 | 66.2° / 55.6° | 11.2h | 13d | 0" | 28 |
| August 2025 | 91 | 71.6° / 57.6° | 10.9h | 9d | 0.02" | 30 |
| September 2025 | 90 | 73.7° / 60.1° | 9.3h | 4d | 0.12" | 27 |
| October 2025 | 88 | 70.1° / 56.1° | 8h | 4d | 1.09" | 26 |
| November 2025 | 80 | 63.7° / 52.3° | 6.5h | 6d | 3" | 16 |
| December 2025 | 68 | 56.4° / 47.4° | 4.8h | 12d | 4.87" | 8 |
| January 2026 | 79 | 61° / 47.8° | 6.7h | 2d | 4" | 22 |
| February 2026 | 78 | 63.2° / 49.6° | 6.2h | 4d | 4.67" | 15 |
| March 2026 | 94 | 74.1° / 53.6° | 9.4h | 1d | 0.05" | 28 |
| April 2026 | 86 | 65.6° / 52.1° | 9.4h | 3d | 3.93" | 22 |
| May 2026 | 90 | 66.8° / 53.2° | 11.4h | 8d | 0.64" | 26 |
| June 2026 | 91 | 69.3° / 55.3° | 12h | 6d | 0.02" | 29 |
| July 2026 | 90 | 69.7° / 56.7° | 11.3h | 7d | 0" | 30 |
| August 2026 | 89 | 69.6° / 57.3° | 10.5h | 13d | 0" | 30 |
| September 2026 | 91 | 71.9° / 57.8° | 9.6h | 5d | 0.08" | 29 |
| October 2026 | 91 | 72.3° / 55.4° | 8.3h | 3d | 0.18" | 29 |
Climate Trends
Average Temperature by Month
About the Potrero Hill climate charts
The temperature chart compares average monthly highs and lows at Potrero Hill, 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 Potrero Hill. 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 Potrero Hill, the warmest typical hour is 2 PM in September (73°F). The coldest is 6 AM in February (47°F).
- Fog: Fog or low cloud covers Potrero Hill in 36% 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 (9%).
- Wind: From February through October, wind at Potrero Hill typically builds after 2 PM. In June it peaks around 5 PM, averaging 14 mph with 28% of those hours windy, while mornings average 5 mph.
- Cloud Cover: June middays are the clearest at Potrero Hill (22% average cloud cover), and December middays are the cloudiest (36%).
- Solar Radiation: The strongest typical sun at Potrero Hill comes at 1 PM in June, averaging 934 W/m².
How to read the hourly heatmaps for Potrero Hill
This heatmap shows how average temperature at Potrero Hill 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 Potrero Hill. 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 Potrero Hill 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 Potrero Hill 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 Potrero Hill 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 Potrero Hill
- October 2026 recap: October 2026 at Potrero Hill averaged a high of 72°F, 2°F warmer than the 1991-2020 normal of 70°F. It brought 0.18 in. of rain, compared with a normal of 1.08 in.
- Rain year: The 2025-26 rain year (Oct. 1 to Sep. 30) brought 22.4 in. of rain to Potrero Hill, 93% of the 24.0 in. normal.
Location Details
Potrero Hill weather questions
Everything you need to know about weather and visiting Potrero Hill
What is the weather like at Potrero Hill today?
It's 54°F at Potrero Hill right now, with a comfort score of 78 (great). Monday's forecast high at Potrero Hill 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 53°F with a 8 mph wind (comfort 55).
What is the best month to visit Potrero Hill?
By typical temperature, wind, cloud, humidity, and rain odds, the most comfortable months at Potrero Hill 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 3.3 months, from Jun 29 to Oct 7, 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 Potrero Hill?
September is the warmest month at Potrero Hill, 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 Potrero Hill?
Fog or low cloud covers Potrero Hill in 36% 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 (9%).
When is it windiest at Potrero Hill?
From February through October, wind at Potrero Hill typically builds after 2 PM. In June it peaks around 5 PM, averaging 14 mph with 28% of those hours windy, while mornings average 5 mph.
How much rain does Potrero Hill get?
December is the wettest month (5.0 in.), out of about 24.0 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 Potrero Hill, 93% of the 24.0 in. normal.
What kind of place is Potrero Hill?
Standing apart from the city's central ridges, Potrero Hill rises between the Mission's flats on the west and Dogpatch and the bay shore on the east. Mission Bay and SoMa lie below its north face, and US 101 and I-280 wrap its base. Its residential grid climbs to McKinley Square at 20th and Vermont Streets. The Potrero Hill Recreation Center sits on the eastern slope, and Caltrain's 22nd Street station is tucked at its southeast foot. As a freestanding hill rather than a valley, it has open views, and open exposure, in every direction.
What is Potrero Hill weather like in November?
November at Potrero Hill averages a high of 63°F and a low of 48°F, with 2.6 in. of rain over about 7 rainy days. About 10% of morning hours are foggy. Afternoon wind averages 6 mph.
More about Potrero Hill weather
Guides that explain the weather here and nearby
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.
- Caltrain, 22nd Street station (accessed 2026-10-27)
- San Francisco Recreation and Parks, McKinley Square (accessed 2026-10-27)
- San Francisco Recreation and Parks, Potrero Hill Rec Center (accessed 2026-10-27)
- San Francisco Recreation and Parks, Jackson Playground (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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