San Francisco vs Santa Rosa: which is sunnier?
🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 106 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Santa Rosa is the sunnier overall: about 3,311 hours of sunshine a year to San Francisco's 2,879. Santa Rosa has the higher Sunshine Score in 9 of 12 months, San Francisco in 3.
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 | Santa Rosa | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 2,879 | 3,311 |
| Sunniest month | September (87/100) | July (99/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 42/100 | 39/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 74/100 | 98/100 |
| Rain / year | 515 mm | 931 mm |
| Warmest sea | 17°C / 63°F | 16°C / 61°F |
| Peak midday UV | 9 (very high) | 10 (very high) |
San Francisco vs Santa Rosa month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco | Santa Rosa | San Francisco | Santa Rosa | San Francisco | Santa Rosa | San Francisco | Santa Rosa | |
| January | 33 | 30 | 13° | 13° | 88 | 164 | 13° | 13° |
| February | 40 | 36 | 14° | 14° | 88 | 160 | 14° | 13° |
| March | 41 | 44 | 14° | 15° | 74 | 131 | 14° | 13° |
| April | 52 | 58 | 15° | 16° | 38 | 64 | 14° | 13° |
| May | 54 | 86 | 15° | 19° | 17 | 30 | 14° | 12° |
| June | 71 | 97 | 17° | 22° | 6 | 9 | 15° | 13° |
| July | 72 | 99 | 17° | 24° | 2 | 1 | 17° | 15° |
| August | 80 | 99 | 18° | 25° | 2 | 1 | 17° | 14° |
| September | 87 | 98 | 19° | 24° | 4 | 5 | 17° | 16° |
| October | 84 | 90 | 19° | 21° | 26 | 49 | 16° | 15° |
| November | 57 | 60 | 16° | 17° | 55 | 101 | 13° | 12° |
| December | 37 | 30 | 14° | 13° | 115 | 216 | 13° | 12° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan San Francisco · Feb San Francisco · Mar Santa Rosa · Apr Santa Rosa · May Santa Rosa · Jun Santa Rosa · Jul Santa Rosa · Aug Santa Rosa · Sep Santa Rosa · Oct Santa Rosa · Nov Santa Rosa · Dec San Francisco.
When to pick which
- November–February: San Francisco (average score 42/100 vs 39). Daytime highs are similar (14°C vs 14°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Santa Rosa (average score 63/100 vs 49). Santa Rosa is the warmer, around 17°C daytime highs vs 15°C.
- June–August: Santa Rosa (average score 98/100 vs 74). Santa Rosa is the warmer, around 24°C daytime highs vs 17°C.
- September–October: Santa Rosa (average score 94/100 vs 86). Santa Rosa is the warmer, around 23°C daytime highs vs 19°C.
Sea temperature
San Francisco's sea gets warmer: 17°C / 63°F at its peak vs 16°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): San Francisco never, Santa Rosa never. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: San Francisco weather by month · Santa Rosa weather by month · Best time to visit United States.
More comparisons: San Francisco vs Sacramento · San Francisco vs Fresno · San Francisco vs Monterey · Santa Rosa vs Sacramento · Santa Rosa vs Reno · Santa Rosa vs Monterey · all head-to-heads