Hi The weather.com people say that at the end of March, the weather will be between 45 and 65 degrees F. I know that San Francisco gets chilly. I am not really a leather coat person. I have a short wool jacket, not very thick. What does everyone wear????Thanks

I am glad you asked that, I am going to be in SF 3rd week of March and was wondering the same thing. I would think perhaps a rain coat with a hood?

Bring a jacket you can tie around your waist or throw in a bag. Certain neighborhoods can be freezing and you drive 15 minutes and find warm weather. Layer layer layer!!!

Layering is the best strategy; a coat or jacket that can take being a bit wet is nice, but not essential. You'll see lots of people wearing some version of a lined rain jacket, often with a hood, but I wouldn't run out and buy one just for a vacation. On the water, it would be great to have something to wear that cuts the wind, but a sweater under a jacket would also do the trick. I would wear my black raincoat with the removable wool liner if I were going to SF in March; however, I recall one late March weekend when it got so "hot" downtown that we got down to t-shirts. Have fun!

The jacket for me is the one they are selling in Chinatown or Fisherman's Warf for $10 because no matter how many times I've been, for some reason I never bring the right kind!

I know I'm not the only one because you would not believe the number of fleece jackets and sweatshirts my east bay sister has with the SF logo!!!!

Thanks guys, layers it is then for me. Travelling from chilly northern Canada so I have plenty of fleece already. Can't wait!!!

The truth is, we dress pretty much the same year round here. Oh, we might put the linen away for winter, but I've put on a cashmere sweater in August, I assure you.

March will likely be sunny and warm during the day, always chilly at night. If you take any day trips outside SF you can expect higher temps than in the city itself, especially if you go somewhere inland like the Napa Valley.

Wherever you go, it might still rain, so definitely bring a raincoat or umbrella or whatever your choice is for rain.

As Kika said -- LAYERS!

Perfect example: yesterday it was about 70 degrees in most of the Bay Area with today looking to be the same. Last week it was cold and they expect this weekend to be cold again (all relative--50 degrees is cold for me.....)

A wool coat will be perfect for night and a sweatshirt will fine during the day. Unless it's raining, then go for something water resistent. It could be really nice in March or it could be raining. Last March the Bay Area had an amazing heat wave, 90 degrees, but that was rare.

Layers is the right answer. Depending on where you go in the city and/or outside of it, the temps can vary immensely. On those 70 degree days I dragged out my linen while folks in the city were sporting cashmere and polar fleece. I was in the East Bay.

Bring a travel umbrella or buy one here if you need it. It can rain buckets here in March.

I think the short light wool jacket would work. You can wear it at night as well when it really can get very cold here.

Too bad you are not a leather jacket kind of person because that is the type of jacket that is perfect for SF and it is the advice I give to every friend who comes to visit for the first time in sumer. A polar fleece works during the day, and a lightweight wool jacket will work at night. When we say layer, we mean it--strip off layers if it gets warm, to put on when it cools down such as when the fog rolls in or as it becomes dark.

SAB, my first thought was actually a leather coat and I changed my mind thinking that it would be too heavy and bulky to carry around with me if it gets too warm. I may have to re-think this!

Make sure one of your layers is windproof especially if you're planning on walking on the bridge or along Embarcadero and visiting the piers.

A leather jacket is great for night time and dreary days; if it is sunny , like today, a polar fleece that you can stuff in a bag like Kika suggested works well.

Thank you all of you. I think I need to do some shopping for this trip. I have bought some good walking shoes today. I am a sneakers girl, but I don't want to look like a dork in the city..I am going for the cool, but comfortable look...LOL..

I'm from Chicago and cold acclimated, and yet froze in SF the last time. Bring the leather jacket or coat. Last time I layered like crazy and was still chilled to the bone when walking those hills in the wind, because I wore the light weight and needed heavy. Leather is much better than the wool for cutting out that wind. Style is perfect too, as someone said.-

JJ5, let me explain your mistake. We, San Franciscans, don't layer like crazy, we are either crazy or layered, not both. Next time keep this in mind

don't forget scarf and gloves! they would have been welcome in July even.

I used to live in San Fran. I remember that we pick-nicked at the Golden Gate Park in July. I froze my butt off! It can be very windy and the cold breeze from the bay can chill you to the bone any time of year! A standard "windbreaker" jacket was a must have in our closet during the summer months. In spring, i would suggest layers with a light sweater under a waterproof type sport jacket. Be prepared to tie the sweater and jacket around waste, weather and location of city permitted.