01Weather
San Francisco weather in October
Afternoons in October average 23.0 °C (73 °F) and nights cool to 11.4 °C (53 °F). The month brings about 27 mm (1.0 in) of rain spread over roughly 2 days. Compared with September it is 1.2 °C cooler; November is 4.7 °C cooler again.
What the averages hide
| In a typical October | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Warm afternoons (90th percentile) | 29 °C / 85 °F | one day in ten is at least this warm |
| Cool afternoons (10th percentile) | 19 °C / 66 °F | one day in ten stays below this |
| Cold nights (10th percentile) | 8 °C / 46 °F | one night in ten is colder than this |
| Days above 30 °C (86 °F) | 2.6 | per month, average 2016–2025 |
| Nights at or below 0 °C (32 °F) | 0.0 | frost mornings per month |
| Days with snow cover | 0.0 | snow depth ≥ 1 cm, per month |
| Chance of rain on any given day | 8 % | at least 1 mm |
| Hottest / coldest October day 2016–2025 | 37.8 °C / 4.4 °C | extremes in the ten-year record |
02Daylight
Sunrise, sunset and the length of the day
| Date | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 October | 07:05 | 18:53 | 11.8 h |
| 15 October | 07:18 | 18:32 | 11.2 h |
| 31 October | 07:34 | 18:12 | 10.6 h |
Daylight shrinks by about 72 minutes over the month. Times are local (America/Los_Angeles), including the clock change on the last Sunday of October.
03Crowds
How busy San Francisco is in October
busy The main sights are busy in October. What drives it:
- Fleet Week
- Hardly Strictly Bluegrass
- Halloween in the Castro
04Public holidays
Public holidays in October 2027
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 11 Oct 2027 | Columbus Day |
On public holidays many shops close and museums run on Sunday hours; check opening times for the day before and after as well.
05Events
What's on in San Francisco in October
Every year in October
| Event | When | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Fleet Week | early October, Blue Angels air show over the bay | festival |
| Hardly Strictly Bluegrass | first weekend of October, Golden Gate Park, free | music |
| Halloween in the Castro | 31 October | festival |
07Packing
What to pack for San Francisco in October
- layers: t-shirt plus a light jacket for evenings
- comfortable walking shoes
- something for heat: 3 days a month pass 30 °C on average
08Editor's notes
What the numbers don't tell you
October stays warm and clear in the first half, around 21 °C, with Fleet Week's Blue Angels over the bay and the free Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in Golden Gate Park on the same early-October weekend, which draws the year's biggest crowds to the Marina and the park. Halloween in the Castro is the city's biggest street party. Rain is still rare, about two days.
The second half cools and the first fog-free sunsets at Ocean Beach are the year's best. Hotel rates ease after Fleet Week. The Litquake literary festival fills bookshops in mid-October. Alcatraz is easier to book. Daylight ends before six by month-end, after the clocks go back in early November. For Thanksgiving and the first rain, see November.
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 October? See the best time to visit San Francisco.
10Elsewhere
October in nearby cities
| City | High | Rain days |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles in October | 25 °C | 0 |
| Las Vegas in October | 28 °C | 0 |
| Vancouver in October | 14 °C | 13 |
| Toronto in October | 16 °C | 10 |
| Cancún in October | 30 °C | – |
| Orlando in October | 29 °C | 3 |
11FAQ
San Francisco in October: your questions
Is October a good time to visit San Francisco?
October is one of the best months to visit San Francisco. Daytime highs average 23 °C (73 °F), rain falls on about 2 days, and hotel arrivals run above the yearly average, so the main sights are busy.
What is the weather like in San Francisco in October?
Expect mild days around 23 °C (73 °F) and nights near 11 °C (53 °F). One October in ten brings afternoons above 29 °C, and one in ten stays below 19 °C.
Does it rain a lot in San Francisco in October?
October brings about 27 mm (1.0 in) of rain over roughly 2 days, which is dry by San Francisco standards. On any given day the chance of at least 1 mm of rain is 8 percent.
What should I wear in San Francisco in October?
Pack layers: t-shirt plus a light jacket for evenings, comfortable walking shoes, something for heat: 3 days a month pass 30 °C on average.
Is San Francisco crowded in October?
The main sights are busy in October. Main drivers: Fleet Week; Hardly Strictly Bluegrass; Halloween in the Castro.
What time does it get dark in San Francisco in October?
Around the middle of October the sun sets at about 18:32 and rises at 07:18, giving 11.2 hours of daylight.