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Denver vs San Francisco weather: climate comparison
San Francisco is the warmer of the two, averaging 57°F (14°C) over the year against 49°F (10°C) in Denver. San Francisco is wetter, with 20.3 in (515 mm) of precipitation a year to Denver's 18.7 in (474 mm). Below: every month side by side, from 30 years of ERA5 data (1996–2025).
- Mean temperature
- 9.6°C Denver
14.0°C San Francisco - Annual precipitation
- 474.1 mm Denver
514.5 mm San Francisco - Rainy days a year
- 81 Denver
56 San Francisco - Sunshine per day
- 10.5 h Denver
10.5 h San Francisco
Month by month
| Month | Denver | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| January | 4.9°C | 13.6°C |
| February | 6.0°C | 14.4°C |
| March | 11.2°C | 15.5°C |
| April | 15.2°C | 16.6°C |
| May | 20.4°C | 18.3°C |
| June | 27.3°C | 20.2°C |
| July | 30.6°C | 20.5°C |
| August | 29.3°C | 21.2°C |
| September | 25.5°C | 22.0°C |
| October | 17.9°C | 20.5°C |
| November | 10.8°C | 16.4°C |
| December | 5.4°C | 13.5°C |
Year at a glance
| Measure | Denver | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual temperature | 9.6°C | 14.0°C |
| Warmest month (avg high) | Jul · 31°C | Sep · 22°C |
| Coldest month (avg low) | Jan · -9°C | Jan · 7°C |
| Annual range (warmest high − coldest low) | 40°C | 15°C |
| Annual precipitation | 474.1 mm | 514.5 mm |
| Rainy days per year | 81 | 56 |
| Wettest / driest month | May / Dec | Dec / Jul |
| Average sunshine per day | 10.5 h | 10.5 h |
In short: San Francisco is the warmest overall (14.0°C mean); San Francisco gets the most precipitation (514.5 mm a year); Denver is the sunniest (10.5 h a day on average); San Francisco has the smallest swing between its warmest and coldest months.
Record high 1996–2025: Denver 38.7°C (2025-06-21), San Francisco 38.5°C (2017-09-02). Record low: Denver -36.5°C (2024-01-16), San Francisco -2.3°C (1998-12-21).
Source: Open-Meteo Historical Weather API (CC BY 4.0). Values are ERA5 reanalysis model data on a ~9–25 km grid, not readings from a weather station, so a single town’s thermometer can differ by a few degrees and local showers can be missed. Monthly means of daily ERA5 values, 1996–2025, for the grid cells nearest Denver (39.75, -105.02) and San Francisco (37.79, -122.41).
Which months differ most?
The gap in average highs is widest in July, when Denver runs 18°F / 10°C warmer, and narrowest in April (2°F / 1°C apart). The biggest rainfall difference is in December: San Francisco gets 3.3 in (85 mm) more on average.
Add a third or fourth city, or swap in any other place, in the full comparison tool. For one city in depth, see the Denver climate and San Francisco climate pages.
Compare Denver or San Francisco with another city
Questions people ask
Is Denver warmer than San Francisco?
San Francisco is warmer on average: its mean annual temperature is 57°F (14°C) against 49°F (10°C) in Denver (ERA5, 1996–2025).
Which gets more rain, Denver or San Francisco?
San Francisco, with about 20.3 in (515 mm) of precipitation a year and 56 days with at least 1 mm, compared with 18.7 in (474 mm) and 81 days in Denver.
Which is sunnier, Denver or San Francisco?
Denver averages more sunshine: 10.5 h a day against 10.5 h. Sunshine duration is modelled from cloud cover.
How reliable is this comparison?
Both cities use the same 30-year reanalysis, so differences are consistent. Absolute values describe a grid cell several kilometres wide and can differ by a degree or two from the airport station.