01Weather
San Francisco weather in August
Afternoons in August average 23.4 °C (74 °F) and nights cool to 14.7 °C (58 °F). The month brings about 0 mm (0.0 in) of rain spread over roughly 0 days. Compared with July it is 1.1 °C warmer; September is 0.8 °C warmer again.
What the averages hide
| In a typical August | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Warm afternoons (90th percentile) | 28 °C / 82 °F | one day in ten is at least this warm |
| Cool afternoons (10th percentile) | 21 °C / 69 °F | one day in ten stays below this |
| Cold nights (10th percentile) | 13 °C / 55 °F | one night in ten is colder than this |
| Days above 30 °C (86 °F) | 1.7 | per month, average 2016–2025 |
| Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F) | 0.0 | frost mornings per month |
| Chance of rain on any given day | 0 % | at least 1 mm |
| Hottest / coldest August day 2016–2025 | 38.3 °C / 10.6 °C | extremes in the ten-year record |
02Daylight
Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 August | 06:13 | 20:18 | 14.1 h |
| 15 August | 06:25 | 20:02 | 13.6 h |
| 31 August | 06:38 | 19:40 | 13.0 h |
Daylight shrinks by about 66 minutes over the month. Times are local (America/Los_Angeles).
03Crowds
How busy San Francisco is in August
very busy The main sights are very busy in August. What drives it:
- Outside Lands festival
- peak summer travel
- Dreamforce in some years
04Public holidays
Public holidays in August 2027
No public holidays in United States fall in August, so shops and museums keep normal hours all month.
05Events
What's on in San Francisco in August
Every year in August
| Event | When | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Outside Lands | early August, Golden Gate Park | music |
07Packing
What to pack for San Francisco in August
- layers: t-shirt plus a light jacket for evenings
- comfortable walking shoes
08Editor's notes
What the numbers don't tell you
August is foggy, cool and crowded, with Outside Lands in Golden Gate Park on the first weekend drawing 200,000 and the last of the summer families. Mornings clear by early afternoon in most neighbourhoods, with afternoons around 23 °C in the Mission and 16 °C at the coast. Hotel rates are at their summer high. Rain does not fall.
The Nihonmachi Street Fair in Japantown and the Pistahan Filipino festival fill the weekends. Alcatraz sells out a month ahead. The fog is thickest in the first half of August and thins by the final week, when the first warm, clear evenings arrive. Schools return in the second half, so the final week is noticeably calmer. For the warmest, clearest month of the year, see September.
09Compare
San Francisco month by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Sun h | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15 °C | 7 °C | 7 | – | quiet | Good |
| February | 17 °C | 7 °C | 7 | – | quiet | Good |
| March | 17 °C | 8 °C | 8 | – | moderate | Excellent |
| April | 19 °C | 10 °C | 5 | – | moderate | Excellent |
| May | 20 °C | 12 °C | 2 | – | busy | Excellent |
| June | 22 °C | 13 °C | 0 | – | very busy | Good |
| July | 22 °C | 14 °C | 0 | – | very busy | Good |
| August | 23 °C | 15 °C | 0 | – | very busy | Good |
| September | 24 °C | 14 °C | 0 | – | very busy | Good |
| October | 23 °C | 11 °C | 2 | – | busy | Excellent |
| November | 18 °C | 8 °C | 5 | – | moderate | Excellent |
| December | 15 °C | 6 °C | 8 | – | moderate | Good |
Not sure about August? See the best time to visit San Francisco.
10Elsewhere
August in nearby cities
| City | High | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles in August | 26 °C | 0 |
| Las Vegas in August | 40 °C | 1 |
| Vancouver in August | 24 °C | 4 |
| Toronto in August | 27 °C | 6 |
| Cancún in August | 32 °C | – |
| Orlando in August | 33 °C | 12 |
11FAQ
San Francisco in August: your questions
Is August a good time to visit San Francisco?
August is a good month to visit San Francisco. Daytime highs average 23 °C (74 °F), rain falls on about 0 days, and hotel arrivals run above the yearly average, so the main sights are very busy.
What is the weather like in San Francisco in August?
Expect mild days around 23 °C (74 °F) and nights near 15 °C (58 °F). One August in ten brings afternoons above 28 °C, and one in ten stays below 21 °C.
Does it rain a lot in San Francisco in August?
August brings about 0 mm (0.0 in) of rain over roughly 0 days, which is dry by San Francisco standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 0 percent.
What should I wear in San Francisco in August?
Pack layers: t-shirt plus a light jacket for evenings, comfortable walking shoes.
Is San Francisco crowded in August?
The main sights are very busy in August. Main drivers: Outside Lands festival; peak summer travel; Dreamforce in some years.
What time does it get dark in San Francisco in August?
Around the middle of August the sun sets at about 20:02 and rises at 06:25, giving 13.6 hours of daylight.