San Francisco Weather in July: What to Expect

July in San Francisco is cool, dry and often foggy: the downtown station averages a high of 66.3°F (19.1°C) and a low of 54.4°F (12.4°C), with almost no rain. Fog is most persistent on the west side, while the Mission and the East Bay are sunnier, and inland towns reach the mid-80s.

“The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco” was never written by Mark Twain, but the station record backs the joke. Downtown San Francisco's average July high is lower than June's, and nearly 4 degrees below September's.

What Is July Weather Like in San Francisco?

July weather in San Francisco is summer everywhere but here. Inland valleys average mid-80s afternoons while the city's west side sits under fog, and visitors who packed for California heat end up buying sweatshirts. The useful question is not whether July is cold, but where and when it is cold, and how far you have to go to find sun.

Why Is San Francisco So Cold in July When It's Hot Inland?

San Francisco is cold in July because the inland heat pulls the ocean air in. The hotter the Central Valley gets, the harder it draws cool, moist marine air and fog through the Golden Gate, so the heat inland is what keeps the city cool. July is when that pump runs hardest.

The station numbers show it. July's average high, 66.3°F, is a shade below June's 66.5°F and almost 4 degrees below September's 70.2°F, the warmest month of the year downtown. For the full explanation, see why San Francisco is so cold in summer and the science of Karl the Fog.

Where in San Francisco Is It Sunny in July?

The east side of San Francisco is the sunny side in July. In NOAA's HRRR model analysis from 2014 to 2026, fog still covered the Outer Sunset in about half of all 2 PM hours in July, Golden Gate Park in about a quarter, and downtown almost never. In July 2025, the model put the Outer Sunset at about 7 hours of sun a day against 11 downtown.

The Mission District averages about 69.5°F at 3 PM in July in HRRR analysis, 12 degrees warmer than the Outer Sunset. Plan afternoons in the Mission, SoMa, Potrero Hill or along the bay-side waterfront, and save the coast for a sunny break.

Timing matters as much as place. Downtown, July fog is mostly a morning event: in HRRR analysis it covers downtown in about 35% of 7 AM hours but only about 2% of 2 PM hours, so a gray morning downtown usually turns into a bright afternoon. Along the bay shore, the trade-off is wind: the 2 PM wind at Crissy Field averages about 18 mph in July, and 9 in 10 afternoon hours reach 15 mph or more. Sunny and windy is a normal July afternoon on the waterfront. See San Francisco weather by neighborhood and why some neighborhoods are foggier.

How Much Warmer Is It Across the Bay in July?

It is about 25 to 30 degrees warmer at the extremes. At 3 PM in July, HRRR analysis averages about 57°F in the Outer Sunset, 71°F in Oakland and 86°F in Walnut Creek. San Jose and Napa both average the low to mid 80s.

In practice, a one-hour BART ride or drive is the difference between a fleece and a T-shirt. For more, see whether San Francisco is really 20 degrees colder than inland and the 30-degree coastal-inland gap.

Does It Ever Rain or Get Hot in San Francisco in July?

Rain almost never falls in San Francisco in July. From 1991 to 2020, 63% of Julys had no measurable rain at all, and the wettest July on record had 0.73 inch, nearly all of it on July 8, 1974. Thick fog can still leave drizzle on windshields and sidewalks on the west side.

Heat is rare, too. A typical July has about one day at 80°F or warmer downtown, and only about 1 July in 10 reached 90°F from 1991 to 2020. The record is 99°F on July 3, 1931. Most cold-weather complaints in July come from 60-degree afternoons with wind, not from extremes. See the hottest temperatures on record.

The ocean stays cold, too. The water off San Francisco averages about 55.6°F in July, so swimmers at Ocean Beach need wetsuits, and the surf there has dangerous rip currents. The shallow bay is a different story: at Alameda it averages about 68°F in July, warm enough for a comfortable wade. See Bay Area water temperatures.

What Is the Weather Like for July 4, the Fillmore Jazz Festival and the San Francisco Marathon?

The Fourth of July is reliably dry: the downtown station has recorded no measurable rain on any July 4 since at least 1950, and the day averages a high of 66.6°F. Fog over the bay is the real risk for the evening fireworks. See Fourth of July weather and fireworks fog for where to watch.

The Fillmore Jazz Festival fills Fillmore Street on Fourth of July weekend. It is a daytime street fair in the middle of the city: midday sun is common, but the afternoon sea breeze turns cool by late day, so bring a layer.

The San Francisco Marathon runs on the last weekend of July with very early starts. The marine layer usually keeps runners cool, and the Golden Gate Bridge crossing is often in fog and wind. On summer Sundays, the free Stern Grove Festival plays at 19th Avenue and Sloat Boulevard, on the foggy southwest side of the city; bring a warm layer and a blanket for the afternoon shows.

Is July a Good Time to Visit San Francisco?

July is a good time to visit San Francisco if you plan for cool weather. It is dry, the days are long, with sunset after 8:15 PM all month, and real summer heat is a short trip inland. Days run about 14.7 hours at the start of the month and 14.1 hours at the end. Pack long pants and a warm fleece or light down jacket for the coast and evenings, plus a T-shirt and sunglasses for sunny afternoons in the Mission or across the bay. If you want warmer days in the city itself, September is the better bet; compare months in the best month to visit, or look at the month before in San Francisco weather in June.

For a July day, check the Bay Area fog forecast to see how far the fog reaches before you pick a neighborhood, and compare the Outer Sunset and Mission District forecasts. If you want heat, check Walnut Creek.