October is one of the warmer months of the year in San Francisco, with average highs near 22°C and lows around 11.6°C (mean 16.8°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 33 mm of rainfall and 70% relative humidity across the period.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in San Francisco. Across 45 years of records, the warmest October in San Francisco was 2020 — when the month averaged 19.8°C — while the coldest was 1981 at 14.9°C. Typical October days reach 22°C with nights near 11.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
October is one of the drier months in San Francisco, averaging 33 mm of rainfall. The wettest October on record was 2021 with 180 mm, while the driest was 2020 at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in San Francisco during October averages 70%. The most humid October was 2016 at 79%, and the least humid was 2019 at 55%.
October receives about 3.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in San Francisco. The sunniest October was 2019 at 4.6 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1988 at 2.9.
Average wind speed in San Francisco during October is 1.9 m/s. The windiest Octobers were 1984 and 2021 at 2.3 m/s, while the calmest was 1987 at 1.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 16.3°C | 16.9°C | 16.2°C | 17.2°C | 17.8°C | +1.5°C |
| Avg High | 21.6°C | 22.3°C | 21.3°C | 22.4°C | 23.0°C | +1.4°C |
| Avg Low | 11.0°C | 11.4°C | 11.1°C | 12.1°C | 12.5°C | +1.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 38 mm | 25 mm | 38 mm | 29 mm | 40 mm | +2 mm |
October temperatures in San Francisco have risen by about 1.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
October has ranged from a record low of 5.3°C (1991) to a record high of 35.7°C (2024).
Rainfall in October is one of the drier months, averaging 33 mm, with a wettest year of 180 mm.
A good time to visit San Francisco
October is a good time to visit San Francisco, with days averaging 22°C and nights around 11.6°C (mean 16.8°C, warmer than San Francisco's yearly average) and moderate rainfall. September and August are marginally more temperate, but October still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 21.7°C | 17.0°C | 12.3°C | 29.1°C | 10.2°C | 42 mm | 78% | 2 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2024 | 24.3°C | 18.8°C | 13.4°C | 35.7°C | 8.6°C | 6 mm | 65% | 2 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2023 | 23.5°C | 18.0°C | 12.5°C | 32.2°C | 6.7°C | 12 mm | 71% | 1.8 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2022 | 21.8°C | 16.7°C | 11.6°C | 29.2°C | 8.6°C | 1 mm | 73% | 1.9 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2021 🌧️ | 20.5°C | 16.2°C | 11.8°C | 30.1°C | 9.2°C | 180 mm | 74% | 2.3 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2020 🔥 | 25.9°C | 19.8°C | 13.6°C | 32.8°C | 10.1°C | 0 mm | 58% | 1.8 m/s | 4 |
| 2019 | 23.1°C | 17.1°C | 11.2°C | 29.9°C | 6.1°C | 1 mm | 55% | 2 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2018 | 23.2°C | 17.7°C | 12.3°C | 27.1°C | 10.3°C | 10 mm | 70% | 1.8 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2017 | 23.7°C | 17.7°C | 11.8°C | 29.7°C | 8.8°C | 7 mm | 59% | 1.9 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2016 | 20.3°C | 16.1°C | 12.0°C | 29.2°C | 10.1°C | 101 mm | 79% | 2.1 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2015 | 24.3°C | 19.2°C | 14.1°C | 30.9°C | 11.6°C | 6 mm | 73% | 1.7 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2014 | 24.0°C | 18.8°C | 13.7°C | 32.1°C | 10.9°C | 20 mm | 70% | 1.7 m/s | 4 |
| 2013 | 21.3°C | 15.7°C | 10.2°C | 27.1°C | 8.5°C | 6 mm | 62% | 1.8 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2012 | 21.6°C | 16.8°C | 12.0°C | 34.3°C | 9.1°C | 33 mm | 74% | 1.9 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2011 | 22.0°C | 16.9°C | 11.9°C | 28.9°C | 8.5°C | 39 mm | 75% | 1.6 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2010 | 20.3°C | 15.9°C | 11.5°C | 30.6°C | 5.8°C | 64 mm | 76% | 1.9 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2009 | 20.1°C | 15.5°C | 10.9°C | 25.4°C | 7.8°C | 102 mm | 75% | 2.2 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2008 | 22.5°C | 17.0°C | 11.4°C | 28.6°C | 8.4°C | 25 mm | 64% | 2 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2007 | 20.0°C | 15.2°C | 10.5°C | 26.6°C | 8.6°C | 58 mm | 76% | 1.9 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2006 | 21.2°C | 16.1°C | 11.1°C | 26.7°C | 8.9°C | 8 mm | 67% | 1.8 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2005 | 21.0°C | 15.8°C | 10.7°C | 26.7°C | 8.6°C | 12 mm | 74% | 1.9 m/s | 4 |
| 2004 | 20.5°C | 15.7°C | 10.9°C | 31.7°C | 6.7°C | 81 mm | 74% | 2 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2003 | 23.3°C | 17.6°C | 11.8°C | 30.6°C | 7.5°C | 2 mm | 66% | 1.9 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2002 | 22.0°C | 16.5°C | 10.9°C | 31.0°C | 6.7°C | 1 mm | 67% | 1.8 m/s | 3.8 |
| 2001 | 21.9°C | 17.1°C | 12.2°C | 30.6°C | 9.8°C | 16 mm | 70% | 1.7 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2000 | 20.1°C | 15.3°C | 10.6°C | 28.5°C | 7.4°C | 75 mm | 77% | 2.1 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1999 | 23.0°C | 17.2°C | 11.4°C | 29.5°C | 8.4°C | 13 mm | 67% | 1.8 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1998 | 20.9°C | 15.7°C | 10.5°C | 26.6°C | 7.6°C | 22 mm | 69% | 2.1 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1997 | 21.8°C | 16.5°C | 11.2°C | 28.6°C | 8.2°C | 25 mm | 71% | 2.2 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1996 | 21.2°C | 16.0°C | 10.8°C | 33.4°C | 6.8°C | 29 mm | 69% | 2.2 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1995 | 22.8°C | 17.1°C | 11.5°C | 30.1°C | 9.2°C | 3 mm | 63% | 1.8 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1994 | 21.7°C | 16.2°C | 10.6°C | 28.9°C | 7.0°C | 15 mm | 69% | 2 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1993 | 22.2°C | 17.1°C | 12.0°C | 27.6°C | 9.7°C | 27 mm | 72% | 1.6 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1992 | 23.1°C | 17.9°C | 12.7°C | 30.7°C | 10.3°C | 56 mm | 73% | 1.7 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1991 | 23.4°C | 17.8°C | 12.2°C | 30.7°C | 5.3°C | 50 mm | 63% | 2.1 m/s | 3.6 |
| 1990 | 23.3°C | 17.2°C | 11.1°C | 31.9°C | 8.6°C | 8 mm | 62% | 2 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1989 | 21.1°C | 15.7°C | 10.4°C | 27.4°C | 6.0°C | 50 mm | 74% | 2 m/s | 4 |
| 1988 | 22.2°C | 16.7°C | 11.2°C | 30.8°C | 9.1°C | 8 mm | 73% | 1.7 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1987 | 23.7°C | 18.3°C | 12.8°C | 34.3°C | 10.1°C | 27 mm | 67% | 1.5 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1986 | 22.0°C | 16.4°C | 10.8°C | 26.3°C | 8.8°C | 7 mm | 70% | 1.8 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1985 | 21.8°C | 16.0°C | 10.3°C | 32.6°C | 7.3°C | 26 mm | 67% | 2.1 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1984 | 19.9°C | 15.0°C | 10.2°C | 24.8°C | 6.1°C | 55 mm | 76% | 2.3 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1983 | 22.6°C | 17.6°C | 12.7°C | 28.6°C | 10.0°C | 21 mm | 72% | 1.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 20.8°C | 15.8°C | 10.9°C | 25.8°C | 7.5°C | 80 mm | 71% | 2 m/s | — |
| 1981 ❄️ | 20.0°C | 14.9°C | 9.8°C | 27.1°C | 6.8°C | 66 mm | 75% | 2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded October data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in October is around 22°C with lows near 11.6°C (mean 16.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
October averages 33 mm of rainfall in San Francisco, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 180 mm in 2021.
The hottest October reached 35.7°C in 2024. The coldest dipped to 5.3°C in 1991.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average October temperatures have risen by about 1.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 21°C to 22.4°C and overnight lows from 10.8°C to 12.3°C over the same span.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in San Francisco and one of the drier months, so plan for around 22°C daytime highs and 11.6°C at night.
Not quite — October is the 9th coolest month in San Francisco, averaging 16.8°C.
For October in San Francisco, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 22°C and lows of 11.6°C.
Relative humidity in October averages 70% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in October is 1.9 m/s. The windiest October on record averaged 2.3 m/s (1984).
The wettest October on record was 2021 with 180 mm. On average, October sees 33 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in San Francisco behaves each October, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for October specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
