San Francisco weather in January
San Francisco in January averages 11°C (51°F) and 99 mm of rain.
Of the twelve months in San Francisco, January is the coldest and the third wettest.
- Average temp
- 11°C (51°F)
7–14°C · 45–57°F
- Rainfall
- 99 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- —
- Wind
- 11 km/h
What is San Francisco like in January?
Daytime
Days are cool.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for San Francisco in January?
A light rain jacket
About 99 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 7°C (45°F).
January compared with December and February
January in San Francisco is about the same temperature as December and about as wet as it, which averages 11°C (51°F).
January in San Francisco is 1.2°C cooler than February and about as wet as it, which averages 12°C (53°F).
Daylight in San Francisco in January
On 15 January the sun is up for 9 hours 50 minutes in San Francisco, rising about 07:23 and setting about 17:14 local time.
January ends 41 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 4 hours 56 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in San Francisco
Dates are a starting point for January.
Travel guides for San Francisco
What to read before you book.
San Francisco weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How January compares with the rest of the year
January is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 11°C / 51°F | 99 mm |
| February | 12°C / 53°F | 100 mm |
| March | 13°C / 55°F | 69 mm |
| April | 14°C / 57°F | 35 mm |
| May | 15°C / 60°F | 13 mm |
| June | 17°C / 62°F | 4 mm |
| July | 18°C / 64°F | 0 mm |
| August | 18°C / 65°F | 1 mm |
| September | 18°C / 65°F | 2 mm |
| October | 17°C / 63°F | 19 mm |
| November | 13°C / 56°F | 50 mm |
| December | 11°C / 51°F | 106 mm |
Similar weather in January
Other destinations whose January averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
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FAQs about San Francisco in January
January climate averages for San Francisco, 1991–2020.
San Francisco averages 11°C (51°F) in January, ranging from about 7°C (45°F) at night to 14°C (57°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 99 mm falls across January, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
No. January averages 11°C (51°F) against 12°C (53°F) in February — 1.2°C cooler.
January is about as warm as December, and about as wet.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is May to October; January sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what January is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 9 hours 50 minutes of daylight in mid-January, against 14 hours 46 minutes in June and 9 hours 34 minutes in December.
On 15 January, sunrise is about 07:23 and sunset about 17:14 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 41 minutes longer than it starts.
