Central California Coast Weather
Jul 29th, 2011, 05:09 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,067
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Central California Coast Weather
I'm researching a last minute possible trip to the Central California coast for mid August (from San Francisco down to about San Luis Obisbo). I was just checking weather averages and it says in most of that area the average high for August is around 68 degrees. Is that right? Really?
Jul 29th, 2011, 05:26 PM
#2
Assuming you're driving along the coast and not 101....
I would have guessed low 70s, but 68 doesn't surprise me. But, just because the 'average high' is 68, you could still have crazy-hot temps (90s, even 100) if conditions are right. SLO will be warmer than the coast.
I would have guessed low 70s, but 68 doesn't surprise me. But, just because the 'average high' is 68, you could still have crazy-hot temps (90s, even 100) if conditions are right. SLO will be warmer than the coast.
Jul 29th, 2011, 06:41 PM
#3
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 22,984
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Along the coast you could have fog. For example, today the sun finally came out around 1 p.m. east of Twin Peaks, but the ocean side of the city was still covered by a high fog (which look like low clouds).
Jul 29th, 2011, 06:53 PM
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,067
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks for the replies. How frequently is it foggy in the summer. I guess I just had a vision of sunny warm California and am pretty shocked to think it could be cold and cloudy/foggy.
Jul 29th, 2011, 08:15 PM
#8
Summer is really a cool season along most of the CA coast - or sometimes downright cold. And the hotter it gets inland, generally, the colder/foggier it is on the coast. Caused by inversions in the central valley.
To give you and idea--tomorrow is forecast to be over 100F in much of the central Valley and 67F eighty miles away in SF (and a bit cooler in Carmel).
If you want warm/sunny on the coast -- visit in Sept/Oct.
To give you and idea--tomorrow is forecast to be over 100F in much of the central Valley and 67F eighty miles away in SF (and a bit cooler in Carmel).
If you want warm/sunny on the coast -- visit in Sept/Oct.
Jul 30th, 2011, 08:23 AM
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,067
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well thanks for the info, even if it wasn't what I wanted. And yes, I think 68 is cold for summer.
I know in lots of places fog is something that occurs for only a few hours a day (e.g in the morning). Is this the case here? I realize no one can predict the weather, and the weather websites say the average high is 73 - so that and sunny most of the day would be fine. I don't have the option of going in Sept/Oct, it's mid August or not till March. If I have a decent chance of 70s and sunny most days that's great but I just don't want to go and find it's in the low 60s and foggy/rainy all day and then find out 'well what did you expect that's the norm here". I have to make up my mind in the next day or so.
I know in lots of places fog is something that occurs for only a few hours a day (e.g in the morning). Is this the case here? I realize no one can predict the weather, and the weather websites say the average high is 73 - so that and sunny most of the day would be fine. I don't have the option of going in Sept/Oct, it's mid August or not till March. If I have a decent chance of 70s and sunny most days that's great but I just don't want to go and find it's in the low 60s and foggy/rainy all day and then find out 'well what did you expect that's the norm here". I have to make up my mind in the next day or so.
Jul 30th, 2011, 09:06 AM
#11
"I just don't want to go and find it's in the low 60s and foggy/rainy all day "
rain won't be an issue at all - you can count on that. It will be VERY sunny and generally <red>HOT</red> most everywhere, except right on the coast. 25 miles inland and it can be 30-40 degrees warmer. But along the ocean you can't be sure -- there is even the occasional heat wave. But cool w/ morning/late afternoon fog is more likely than warm.
rain won't be an issue at all - you can count on that. It will be VERY sunny and generally <red>HOT</red> most everywhere, except right on the coast. 25 miles inland and it can be 30-40 degrees warmer. But along the ocean you can't be sure -- there is even the occasional heat wave. But cool w/ morning/late afternoon fog is more likely than warm.
Jul 30th, 2011, 09:59 AM
#12
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 5,760
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mid-August would be better than March.....but of course nobody can predict the weather for you. So far it's been a mild summer in California so probability would suggest a heat wave in August or September. But if 70 degree days with clouds all morning will ruin your vacation, then cancel. The Central Coast is not for you.
Jul 30th, 2011, 10:25 AM
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 7,067
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks. OK, I realize I'm sounding like a whiny child here, but I'm desperately trying to salvage a vacation I'd been planning for six months that looks to have a very good chance of going down the tubes due to the debt ceiling crisis - we had planned a week in the national parks of Utah/Az and are now trying to figure out what to do instead for the week that can be accomplished without changing flights - so that means by car starting and ending in Vegas. The central coast is about an 8 hr drive each way and is probably worth it I'm just getting freaked out about not being able to see that gorgeous coast I'd be driving all that way to see. And it's not like a city where there is plenty to do in bad weather (we will have two days in San Francisco). We were hoping for some great views and some hiking.
I guess it's funny what memory does for you - I've been to the area twice (years ago) - once in May and once in July and my photos say it was drop dead gorgeous both times. I hadn't realized maybe that was the exception. And I do know that inland is much warmer (my son just moved to SF but lives in Lafayette cause they didn't want to be in foggy SF all the time - but I thought that was just the SF peninsula) .But we were thinking most of the week would be coast for this trip. Of course I don't mind a little fog in the morning, just wasn't planning on entire days of it. I can deal with the temps.
So - can you suggest things we might be able to do that don't depend on sunshine in the area. If I go ahead with this plan I was thinking of one night in Monterey, one in San Simeon, and one in San Luis Obisbo. (First three nights will be Lafayette with my son and to see SF, then one in Napa Valley, then the coast).
I guess it's funny what memory does for you - I've been to the area twice (years ago) - once in May and once in July and my photos say it was drop dead gorgeous both times. I hadn't realized maybe that was the exception. And I do know that inland is much warmer (my son just moved to SF but lives in Lafayette cause they didn't want to be in foggy SF all the time - but I thought that was just the SF peninsula) .But we were thinking most of the week would be coast for this trip. Of course I don't mind a little fog in the morning, just wasn't planning on entire days of it. I can deal with the temps.
So - can you suggest things we might be able to do that don't depend on sunshine in the area. If I go ahead with this plan I was thinking of one night in Monterey, one in San Simeon, and one in San Luis Obisbo. (First three nights will be Lafayette with my son and to see SF, then one in Napa Valley, then the coast).
Jul 30th, 2011, 12:55 PM
#17
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 22,984
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is more the type of fog you will see, although taken farther up the coast:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57624512998387
An alternative is to explore the eastern side of the Sierra.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57624516613985 to 057.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57624512998387
An alternative is to explore the eastern side of the Sierra.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/...57624516613985 to 057.
Jul 30th, 2011, 02:19 PM
#19
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 16,434
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We visited Carmel in mid Sept in 09 - usually the best time to be there. The weather forecast a day ahead said it would be prefect weather and abnormally hot. We got there and fog hugged the coast. It was beautiful 50-100 yards inland - but we could not see anything along the coast. Parts of Hwy 1 (not in Big Sur - which is inland) were actually clear, but the fog was at the edge of the road. We were there for 2 days & had the same foggy weather the both days. Weather people said that they were "surprised" by the fog condition.
We were there last year at about the same time of year. We were visiting Pt Lobos (too foggy the previous trip in '09) and the weather was great when we arrived at opening time. By noon - it was socked-in with fog.
isabel. We visited Yosemite, Sequoia, Grand Canyon, Zion, and Death Valley National Parks during the last dept crisis in April (which didn't happen). There was some incorrect information posted by people on Fodors back then. While there, I asked about 2 US rangers, several hotel check-in people, and waiters at park restaurants about what would happen if the Gov "shut down". They all said the same thing - the park would close entirely and all people within the park would be forced to leave. The people who operate the hotels/stores/restaurants were concessionaires to the US Gov and the US Government is the "boss" - and when the boss says to close - they do that. Calif people would then go on unemployment - but Arizona people would not (don't know why). I asked one of the check-in people why the US Gov would close the parks, but his response is not printable here.
Stu Dudley
We were there last year at about the same time of year. We were visiting Pt Lobos (too foggy the previous trip in '09) and the weather was great when we arrived at opening time. By noon - it was socked-in with fog.
isabel. We visited Yosemite, Sequoia, Grand Canyon, Zion, and Death Valley National Parks during the last dept crisis in April (which didn't happen). There was some incorrect information posted by people on Fodors back then. While there, I asked about 2 US rangers, several hotel check-in people, and waiters at park restaurants about what would happen if the Gov "shut down". They all said the same thing - the park would close entirely and all people within the park would be forced to leave. The people who operate the hotels/stores/restaurants were concessionaires to the US Gov and the US Government is the "boss" - and when the boss says to close - they do that. Calif people would then go on unemployment - but Arizona people would not (don't know why). I asked one of the check-in people why the US Gov would close the parks, but his response is not printable here.
Stu Dudley
Jul 30th, 2011, 05:42 PM
#20
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 22,984
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Stu,
When the gov't shut down under Clinton, we were kicked out of our campsite in Yosemite, but those staying in the Awahnee did not have to leave because it is run by a private concession. However, this ruled applied only to those already in the hotel. New guests could not come into the park.
When the gov't shut down under Clinton, we were kicked out of our campsite in Yosemite, but those staying in the Awahnee did not have to leave because it is run by a private concession. However, this ruled applied only to those already in the hotel. New guests could not come into the park.
