San Fransisco weather. What to pack?
 

Looks like the weather for the next week in SF on weather.com is cold and rainy with highs in the upper 50's. As far as weather goes, can we count on this forecast? We don't want to overpack and it looks like we can leave our shorts at home and will need to plan on wearing pants, long-sleeve shirts, and jackets. With having to pay a luggage fee and only wanting to take one bag, we don't want to get out there and have the wrong attire. Input on weather and attire is appreciated.

No shorts! You can always tell the tourists in San Francisco because they are shivering on the streets :-)

SF is tricky because temps change literally block to block. Best plan in 'layering' so you can strip down or pile on depending on how the day turns out, and time of day. It could easily be cold, warm, sunny, and rainy all in the same day.

Yes I think generally speaking counting on the high 50's is a reasonable expectation.

You wont need shorts or bathing suits for sure.

Will need something warm such as a polyfleece type jacket and a windbreaker, especially if going near the coast. If it's windy it will feel colder than what the thermometer says.

What weather forecast can you ever count on? It's always a crapshoot whether they'll get it right, but for sure there won't be any shorts weather at this time of year. The advice above is solid - dress in layers and prepare for possible rain and breezy conditions.

What suze said; bring small, fold up umbrellas too. Scarf, gloves and hat won't be a mistake.

Definitely layers. It's been cold and rainy. Remember Northern California is pretty casual, so leave out the fancy clothes and make sure you have the necessary layers for comfort.

If you don't bring the right clothes, just head on down to Fisherman's Wharf where you'll find racks & racks of fleece vests and jackets along hte sidewalks with "San Francisco" on them. You would not be the 1st tourist who arrived underdressed!

While nice for the economy, I find it costly to buy fleece items at FW, especially when you know you will more than likely need them. 2 jackets will cost more than paying for a second bag.

Could always just fly me there and you will get nice weather. The last 4 times I have been there, its been 80s. Of course, it wasnt March.

I always wear the bulky and heavy clothing on the plane.

And no, do not go shopping for clothing on FW!!

Or you could have me go with you and you can be 100% sure it will be cold and rainy. :o)

You're absolutely right DebitNM & mlgb. Sorry I was trying to make a joke. It always cracks me up seeing those racks of jackets on the sidewalk.

Jeans, polyfleece, and a rain jacket (not just a windbreaker) are what most visitors are wearing today at the Wharf and what most of us locals were wearing this past weekend. If the sun comes out, it will feel warm in the sun and cool in the shade, it will also be warmer in some parts of the City than others, generally warmer near the Bay, i.e. Mission, downtown; cooler by the ocean. It will be cool at night and will feel colder because of the damp.

Layers!! No matter what time of year, I've never been warm in San Francisco.... :)

Wasn't it Mark Twain who said something along the lines of, "The coldest winter I ever had was the summer I spent in San Francisco?"

Enjoy your visit, japw!

The first "winter coat" I ever owned was purchased for a summer visit to San Francisco.

And THAT is the reason that I settled in Southern California.

tenthumbs, that quote was attributed to Twain but wasn't him who said it...

Whomever it was, it was certainly accurate! Although I have heard of lovely, warm, sunny days in the City, I have yet to experience it myself!

layers! One of every kind to use in combo.

I've been freezing in summer and needed summer clothes in my March trip two years ago.

I making these numbers up, but a guide once said that SF had 103 out of the total possible 124 microclimes. Again, made up numbers because I don't remember the accurate ones, but the point is made.

I usually take "summer" clothes for the Napa part of the trip but have never worn them in SF in summer. But the temps got up close to 80 degrees two years ago this month and Delores Park looked like a beach. Everyone was out enjoying the sunshine in shorts and swimsuits. I had fleeced lined shoes that were way too hot, even without socks. Had to buy some new shoes while I was there.

For my first corporate meeting there, the gift for the conference were windbreakers because they knew most of us would be freezing - in July.

Take a little bit of everything and layer up as needed.

You can never count on the weather forecast.

San Francisco is not California, we don't wear shorts.

Dress in layers that can be peeled off and piled back on. Even different sides of the streets (sun or shade) have their own weather :)

Enjoy San Francisco!

Thanks everyone. Fly out on Thursday and can't wait!!!! Unfortunately, I'll be in meetings all day Sat.through Mon. but plan to see as much as possible on Thur. and Fri.and in the evening on the other days.