San Luis Obispo vs Monterey: which is sunnier?
🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 185 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
San Luis Obispo is the sunnier overall: about 3,588 hours of sunshine a year to Monterey's 3,366. San Luis Obispo 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 Luis Obispo | Monterey | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 3,588 | 3,366 |
| Sunniest month | June (99/100) | August (99/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 65/100 | 48/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 99/100 | 91/100 |
| Rain / year | 401 mm | 480 mm |
| Warmest sea | 17°C / 63°F | 15°C / 59°F |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 10 (very high) |
San Luis Obispo vs Monterey month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Luis Obispo | Monterey | San Luis Obispo | Monterey | San Luis Obispo | Monterey | San Luis Obispo | Monterey | |
| January | 57 | 42 | 16° | 14° | 79 | 86 | 15° | 14° |
| February | 58 | 42 | 16° | 14° | 69 | 86 | 15° | 14° |
| March | 66 | 50 | 17° | 15° | 62 | 70 | 15° | 14° |
| April | 79 | 54 | 18° | 15° | 29 | 36 | 14° | 14° |
| May | 97 | 72 | 20° | 17° | 14 | 14 | 15° | 13° |
| June | 99 | 82 | 23° | 18° | 6 | 4 | 15° | 13° |
| July | 99 | 91 | 24° | 19° | 4 | 1 | 17° | 15° |
| August | 99 | 99 | 25° | 20° | 3 | 1 | 16° | 14° |
| September | 99 | 98 | 25° | 20° | 6 | 5 | 16° | 15° |
| October | 96 | 87 | 22° | 19° | 22 | 23 | 17° | 15° |
| November | 86 | 68 | 19° | 17° | 34 | 48 | 13° | 13° |
| December | 58 | 40 | 16° | 14° | 73 | 106 | 13° | 13° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan San Luis Obispo · Feb San Luis Obispo · Mar San Luis Obispo · Apr San Luis Obispo · May San Luis Obispo · Jun San Luis Obispo · Jul San Luis Obispo · Aug even · Sep even · Oct San Luis Obispo · Nov San Luis Obispo · Dec San Luis Obispo.
When to pick which
- November–February: San Luis Obispo (average score 65/100 vs 48). San Luis Obispo is the warmer, around 17°C daytime highs vs 15°C. See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: San Luis Obispo (average score 81/100 vs 59). San Luis Obispo is the warmer, around 18°C daytime highs vs 16°C.
- June–August: San Luis Obispo (average score 99/100 vs 91). San Luis Obispo is the warmer, around 24°C daytime highs vs 19°C.
- September–October: San Luis Obispo (average score 98/100 vs 93). San Luis Obispo is the warmer, around 24°C daytime highs vs 20°C.
Sea temperature
San Luis Obispo's sea gets warmer: 17°C / 63°F at its peak vs 15°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): San Luis Obispo never, Monterey never. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: San Luis Obispo weather by month · Monterey weather by month · Best time to visit United States.
More comparisons: San Luis Obispo vs Fresno · San Luis Obispo vs Santa Barbara · Monterey vs San Francisco · Monterey vs Fresno · Monterey vs Santa Rosa · all head-to-heads