San Francisco vs Monterey: which is sunnier?
🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 124 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Monterey is the sunnier overall: about 3,366 hours of sunshine a year to San Francisco's 2,879. Monterey has the higher Sunshine Score in 10 of 12 months; the other 2 are within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
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At a glance
| San Francisco | Monterey | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,879 | 3,366 |
| Sunniest month | September (87/100) | August (99/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 42/100 | 48/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 74/100 | 91/100 |
| Rain / year | 515 mm | 480 mm |
| Warmest sea | 17°C / 63°F | 15°C / 59°F |
| Peak midday UV | 9 (very high) | 10 (very high) |
San Francisco vs Monterey month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | Monterey | San Francisco | Monterey | San Francisco | Monterey | San Francisco | Monterey | |
| January | 33 | 42 | 13° | 14° | 88 | 86 | 13° | 14° |
| February | 40 | 42 | 14° | 14° | 88 | 86 | 14° | 14° |
| March | 41 | 50 | 14° | 15° | 74 | 70 | 14° | 14° |
| April | 52 | 54 | 15° | 15° | 38 | 36 | 14° | 14° |
| May | 54 | 72 | 15° | 17° | 17 | 14 | 14° | 13° |
| June | 71 | 82 | 17° | 18° | 6 | 4 | 15° | 13° |
| July | 72 | 91 | 17° | 19° | 2 | 1 | 17° | 15° |
| August | 80 | 99 | 18° | 20° | 2 | 1 | 17° | 14° |
| September | 87 | 98 | 19° | 20° | 4 | 5 | 17° | 15° |
| October | 84 | 87 | 19° | 19° | 26 | 23 | 16° | 15° |
| November | 57 | 68 | 16° | 17° | 55 | 48 | 13° | 13° |
| December | 37 | 40 | 14° | 14° | 115 | 106 | 13° | 13° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Monterey · Feb even · Mar Monterey · Apr even · May Monterey · Jun Monterey · Jul Monterey · Aug Monterey · Sep Monterey · Oct Monterey · Nov Monterey · Dec Monterey.
When to pick which
- November–February: Monterey (average score 48/100 vs 42). Daytime highs are similar (14°C vs 15°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Monterey (average score 59/100 vs 49). Daytime highs are similar (15°C vs 16°C).
- June–August: Monterey (average score 91/100 vs 74). Monterey is the warmer, around 19°C daytime highs vs 17°C.
- September–October: Monterey (average score 93/100 vs 86). Daytime highs are similar (19°C vs 20°C).
Sea temperature
San Francisco's sea gets warmer: 17°C / 63°F at its peak vs 15°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): San Francisco never, Monterey never. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: San Francisco weather by month · Monterey weather by month · Best time to visit United States.
More comparisons: San Francisco vs Sacramento · San Francisco vs Fresno · San Francisco vs Santa Rosa · Monterey vs Fresno · Monterey vs Santa Rosa · Monterey vs San Luis Obispo · all head-to-heads