San Juan Capistrano in Fall
In fall (September, October and November), San Juan Capistrano sees average daytime highs around 71°F and overnight lows near 61°F, with 1.5 in of rain over about 5 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the 3rd-wettest season.
Over the season highs ease from about 75°F in early September to 65°F by late November. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 72% of the time across fall, and the air most often feels comfortable.
Fall is San Juan Capistrano's 2nd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see San Juan Capistrano's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 71°F
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 61°F
- Rainfall
- 1.5 in
- 5 wet days
- Avg wind
- 5 mph
- Travel score
- 8.5
- 2nd-best season
- Months
- Sep · Oct · Nov
Temperature in San Juan Capistrano in Fall
Over the season highs ease from about 75°F in early September to 65°F by late November.
A typical fall day in San Juan Capistrano reaches about 71°F and drops to 61°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is September, the coolest November.
San Juan Capistrano weather by month
How the three fall months (September, October and November) 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° / 51° | 2.6 | 5.5 | 10 | 6.2 |
| Feb | 62° / 52° | 3.1 | 6.3 | 10.8 | 5.9 |
| Mar | 63° / 53° | 1.8 | 5.7 | 11.7 | 6.3 |
| Apr | 64° / 55° | 0.8 | 2.9 | 12.8 | 7.2 |
| May | 66° / 58° | 0.3 | 1.7 | 13.7 | 7.7 |
| Jun | 69° / 61° | 0.1 | 0.4 | 14.2 | 8.5 |
| Jul | 73° / 64° | 0.1 | 0.4 | 14 | 9.2 |
| Aug | 75° / 66° | 0.0 | 0.2 | 13.2 | 9.6 |
| Sep | 74° / 65° | 0.1 | 0.6 | 12.2 | 9.3 |
| Oct | 71° / 61° | 0.6 | 2 | 11.2 | 8.5 |
| Nov | 67° / 56° | 0.8 | 2.8 | 10.3 | 7.7 |
| Dec | 62° / 51° | 1.9 | 4.8 | 9.8 | 6.4 |
Cloud cover in Fall
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 72% of the time across fall.
Chance of precipitation in Fall
San Juan Capistrano gets around 1.5 in of rain over 5 wet days across fall. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Fall
Most of fall feels comfortable — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Fall
Winds average 5 mph across fall.
Sunrise & sunset in Fall
Daylight runs from about 12 h 42 min in early September to 10 hours by late November. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Fall
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across fall, about 4.8 kWh/m².
Is fall a good time to visit San Juan Capistrano?
Our two travel scores rate fall for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
fall is one of the better times to visit San Juan Capistrano for general sightseeing.
What to pack for San Juan Capistrano in Fall
From fall's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In fall, San Juan Capistrano sees daytime highs around 71°F and nights near 61°F. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes. About 5 days see rain.
Sea temperature near San Juan Capistrano in Fall
The nearest coast averages about 67°F across fall — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 9 mi away) is warmest in August at about 70°F and coldest in January near 59°F.
It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 6 to Oct 6 — about 3.1 months when the water holds above 68°F.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°F) | 59 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 63 | 66 | 69 | 70 | 70 | 67 | 64 | 61 |
| Comfort | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Cool | Cool | Cool |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59 | Cool |
| Feb | 59 | Cool |
| Mar | 60 | Cool |
| Apr | 61 | Cool |
| May | 63 | Cool |
| Jun | 66 | Cool |
| Jul | 69 | Refreshing |
| Aug | 70 | Refreshing |
| Sep | 70 | Refreshing |
| Oct | 67 | Cool |
| Nov | 64 | Cool |
| Dec | 61 | Cool |
UV index in San Juan Capistrano in Fall
Clear-sky midday UV across fall averages around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in San Juan Capistrano peaks around June 23 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 16 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 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4 | Moderate |
| Feb | 5 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | Moderate |
| Apr | 8 | Very high |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 10 | Extreme |
| Aug | 10 | Extreme |
| Sep | 8 | Very high |
| Oct | 6 | High |
| Nov | 3 | Moderate |
| Dec | 3 | Moderate |
Air quality in San Juan Capistrano in Fall
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where fall falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in San Juan Capistrano is worst in September — around 49 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 4.0× the cleanest month (May, 12 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) | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 19 | 32 | 49 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 18 | Moderate |
| Feb | 19 | Moderate |
| Mar | 19 | Moderate |
| Apr | 17 | Moderate |
| May | 12 | Moderate |
| Jun | 17 | Moderate |
| Jul | 19 | Moderate |
| Aug | 32 | Moderate |
| Sep | 49 | Poor |
| Oct | 21 | Moderate |
| Nov | 21 | Moderate |
| Dec | 18 | Moderate |
Where is San Juan Capistrano?
San Juan Capistrano sits at 33.5°N, 117.7°W, 121 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Laguna Niguel, 3.1 mi away.
Topography around San Juan Capistrano
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of San Juan Capistrano.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around San Juan Capistrano has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 823 ft around an average of 285 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,959 ft; within 50 miles, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 8,806 ft.
The land around San Juan Capistrano is covered by artificial surfaces (41%), trees (27%) and grassland (25%) within 2 miles, water (31%), trees (22%) and artificial surfaces (21%) within 10 miles, and water (35%) and artificial surfaces (25%) 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 Juan Capistrano (33.5017°, -117.6625°, elevation 121 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.