San Francisco vs Fresno: which is sunnier?
🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 253 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Fresno is the sunnier overall: about 3,516 hours of sunshine a year to San Francisco's 2,879. Fresno has the higher Sunshine Score in 8 of 12 months, San Francisco in 4.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
At a glance
| San Francisco | Fresno | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,879 | 3,516 |
| Sunniest month | September (87/100) | May (97/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 42/100 | 61/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 74/100 | 40/100 |
| Rain / year | 515 mm | 406 mm |
| Peak midday UV | 9 (very high) | 10 (very high) |
San Francisco vs Fresno month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | Fresno | San Francisco | Fresno | San Francisco | Fresno | |
| January | 33 | 51 | 13° | 15° | 88 | 73 |
| February | 40 | 58 | 14° | 16° | 88 | 67 |
| March | 41 | 81 | 14° | 19° | 74 | 64 |
| April | 52 | 93 | 15° | 23° | 38 | 38 |
| May | 54 | 97 | 15° | 29° | 17 | 17 |
| June | 71 | 60 | 17° | 36° | 6 | 4 |
| July | 72 | 20 | 17° | 40° | 2 | 2 |
| August | 80 | 40 | 18° | 38° | 2 | 1 |
| September | 87 | 80 | 19° | 34° | 4 | 2 |
| October | 84 | 96 | 19° | 27° | 26 | 21 |
| November | 57 | 93 | 16° | 20° | 55 | 38 |
| December | 37 | 43 | 14° | 14° | 115 | 79 |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Fresno · Feb Fresno · Mar Fresno · Apr Fresno · May Fresno · Jun San Francisco · Jul San Francisco · Aug San Francisco · Sep San Francisco · Oct Fresno · Nov Fresno · Dec Fresno.
When to pick which
- November–February: Fresno (average score 61/100 vs 42). Fresno is the warmer, around 16°C daytime highs vs 14°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Fresno (average score 90/100 vs 49). Fresno is the warmer, around 24°C daytime highs vs 15°C.
- June–August: San Francisco (average score 74/100 vs 40). Fresno is the warmer, around 38°C daytime highs vs 17°C.
- September–October: too close to call — San Francisco averages 86/100, Fresno 88/100. Fresno is the warmer, around 31°C daytime highs vs 19°C.
Full month-by-month guides: San Francisco weather by month · Fresno weather by month · Best time to visit United States.
More comparisons: San Francisco vs Sacramento · San Francisco vs Santa Rosa · San Francisco vs Monterey · Fresno vs Reno · Fresno vs San Luis Obispo · Fresno vs Monterey · all head-to-heads