San Diego in Summer
In summer (June, July and August), San Diego sees average daytime highs around 72°F and overnight lows near 64°F, with 0.1 in of rain over about 1 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 67°F in early June to 75°F by late August. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 80% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels humid.
Summer is San Diego's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see San Diego's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 72°F
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 64°F
- Rainfall
- 0.1 in
- 1 wet days
- Avg wind
- 7 mph
- Travel score
- 8.9
- best season of the year
- Months
- Jun · Jul · Aug
Temperature in San Diego in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 67°F in early June to 75°F by late August.
A typical summer day in San Diego reaches about 72°F and drops to 64°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is August, the coolest June.
San Diego weather by month
How the three summer months (June, July and August) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 62° / 52° | 2.0 | 5.5 | 10.1 | 6.1 |
| Feb | 62° / 53° | 2.5 | 6.2 | 10.8 | 5.9 |
| Mar | 63° / 54° | 1.5 | 5.2 | 11.8 | 6.3 |
| Apr | 64° / 56° | 0.6 | 2.9 | 12.8 | 7.2 |
| May | 66° / 58° | 0.3 | 1.6 | 13.7 | 7.7 |
| Jun | 69° / 61° | 0.0 | 0.2 | 14.1 | 8.4 |
| Jul | 72° / 64° | 0.1 | 0.3 | 13.9 | 9.0 |
| Aug | 74° / 66° | 0.0 | 0.1 | 13.2 | 9.4 |
| Sep | 74° / 65° | 0.1 | 0.6 | 12.2 | 9.2 |
| Oct | 71° / 62° | 0.5 | 2 | 11.2 | 8.4 |
| Nov | 67° / 57° | 0.7 | 2.9 | 10.3 | 7.6 |
| Dec | 62° / 53° | 1.6 | 4.9 | 9.9 | 6.4 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 80% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
San Diego gets around 0.1 in of rain over 1 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels humid — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 7 mph across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 14 hours in early June to 12 h 42 min by late August. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 7.6 kWh/m².
Is summer a good time to visit San Diego?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is one of the better times to visit San Diego for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for San Diego in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, San Diego sees daytime highs around 72°F and nights near 64°F. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes.
Sea temperature near San Diego in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 68°F across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea offshore is warmest in August at about 70°F and coldest in February near 59°F.
It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 13 to Sep 28 — about 2.6 months when the water holds above 68°F.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°F) | 60 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 63 | 65 | 68 | 70 | 69 | 67 | 64 | 61 |
| Comfort | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Cool | Cool | Cool |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60 | Cool |
| Feb | 59 | Cool |
| Mar | 60 | Cool |
| Apr | 61 | Cool |
| May | 63 | Cool |
| Jun | 65 | Cool |
| Jul | 68 | Refreshing |
| Aug | 70 | Refreshing |
| Sep | 69 | Refreshing |
| Oct | 67 | Cool |
| Nov | 64 | Cool |
| Dec | 61 | Cool |
UV index in San Diego in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in San Diego peaks around June 23 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 17 at about 3 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 11 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 4 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 4 | 3 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4 | Moderate |
| Feb | 5 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | High |
| Apr | 8 | Very high |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 10 | Extreme |
| Sep | 8 | Very high |
| Oct | 6 | High |
| Nov | 4 | Moderate |
| Dec | 3 | Moderate |
Air quality in San Diego in Summer
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where summer falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in San Diego is worst in September — around 26 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.4× the cleanest month (May, 8 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 15 | 26 | 14 | 12 | 16 |
| Level | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 12 | Good |
| Feb | 12 | Moderate |
| Mar | 12 | Moderate |
| Apr | 11 | Good |
| May | 8 | Good |
| Jun | 11 | Good |
| Jul | 11 | Good |
| Aug | 15 | Moderate |
| Sep | 26 | Moderate |
| Oct | 14 | Moderate |
| Nov | 12 | Moderate |
| Dec | 16 | Moderate |
Where is San Diego?
San Diego sits at 32.7°N, 117.2°W, 66 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Coronado, 2.5 mi away.
Topography around San Diego
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of San Diego.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around San Diego has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 322 ft around an average of 79 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,112 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 6,450 ft.
The land around San Diego is covered by artificial surfaces (62%) and water (23%) within 2 miles, artificial surfaces (43%) and water (40%) within 10 miles, and water (35%) and shrubs (22%) within 50 miles.
United States travel facts
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 100% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $90,027
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 98%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 5.8
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 12.7
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for San Diego (32.7157°, -117.1647°, elevation 66 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.