Monthly climate guide
San Francisco weather in January
With highs near 14°C (57°F) and lows around 7°C (44°F), January feels cool in San Francisco. Rainfall averages about 96 mm (wet) and the sky is often cloudy. Daytime highs are about the same as December and about the same as February.
What stands out in January
- Check the hourly forecast before heading to Fisherman's Wharf — showers are likely.
- Just 250 km apart, but San Francisco runs about 9°C warmer than South Lake Tahoe this month.
- January brings mid-winter to San Francisco.
- Rain is above San Francisco's usual level, by about 119%.
January is typically San Francisco's coolest month.
Avg high
14°C
57°F
Avg low
7°C
44°F
Rainfall
96 mm
wet
Humidity
83%
relative
Sky
59%
cloud · often cloudy
San Francisco weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 14°C / 57°F | 7°C / 44°F | 96 mm | 83% | 59% |
| February | 15°C / 59°F | 7°C / 45°F | 90 mm | 80% | 54% |
| March | 16°C / 60°F | 8°C / 47°F | 98 mm | 82% | 61% |
| April | 18°C / 64°F | 9°C / 48°F | 35 mm | 79% | 53% |
| May | 19°C / 66°F | 10°C / 50°F | 15 mm | 77% | 54% |
| June | 22°C / 72°F | 12°C / 53°F | 9 mm | 73% | 45% |
| July | 22°C / 72°F | 12°C / 54°F | 1 mm | 74% | 56% |
| August | 23°C / 74°F | 13°C / 55°F | 1 mm | 75% | 60% |
| September | 24°C / 76°F | 13°C / 56°F | 4 mm | 71% | 46% |
| October | 23°C / 73°F | 12°C / 54°F | 22 mm | 67% | 41% |
| November | 18°C / 64°F | 9°C / 48°F | 59 mm | 75% | 47% |
| December | 14°C / 57°F | 7°C / 44°F | 95 mm | 79% | 53% |
What to pack for January
- A warm sweater or fleece for layering
- A mid-weight jacket
- A compact umbrella or packable rain jacket
- Water-resistant shoes
Is January a good time to visit San Francisco?
Our San Francisco guide recommends: September to November, when fog is less frequent and temperatures are at their warmest — summer here can be surprisingly cool and foggy.
Bring layers even in summer — Mark Twain's famous (if apocryphal) line about a cold San Francisco summer is closer to true than visitors expect.
Best time to visit San Francisco →Other United States cities in January
Cite or embed this data
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San Francisco weather in January. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/usa/san-francisco/january
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/usa/san-francisco/january">San Francisco weather in January</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/usa/san-francisco" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="San Francisco weather in January"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/usa/san-francisco/january">San Francisco weather in January</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
San Francisco in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit San Francisco?
January is one of the wetter months in San Francisco, with about 96 mm of rain. You can still go: pack a rain jacket and keep plans flexible.
How warm is San Francisco in January?
Average highs are about 14°C (57°F) and average lows about 7°C (44°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in San Francisco in January?
San Francisco typically gets around 96 mm of rain in January — wet.
When is the best time to visit San Francisco?
September to November, when fog is less frequent and temperatures are at their warmest — summer here can be surprisingly cool and foggy.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around San Francisco (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.