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Phoenix vs San Francisco weather: climate comparison
Phoenix is the warmer of the two, averaging 73°F (23°C) over the year against 57°F (14°C) in San Francisco. San Francisco is wetter, with 20.3 in (515 mm) of precipitation a year to Phoenix's 9.6 in (243 mm). Below: every month side by side, from 30 years of ERA5 data (1996–2025).
- Mean temperature
- 23.0°C Phoenix
14.0°C San Francisco - Annual precipitation
- 243.4 mm Phoenix
514.5 mm San Francisco - Rainy days a year
- 30 Phoenix
56 San Francisco - Sunshine per day
- 11.1 h Phoenix
10.5 h San Francisco
Month by month
| Month | Phoenix | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| January | 18.9°C | 13.6°C |
| February | 20.8°C | 14.4°C |
| March | 25.0°C | 15.5°C |
| April | 29.5°C | 16.6°C |
| May | 34.6°C | 18.3°C |
| June | 40.1°C | 20.2°C |
| July | 40.9°C | 20.5°C |
| August | 40.0°C | 21.2°C |
| September | 37.2°C | 22.0°C |
| October | 31.1°C | 20.5°C |
| November | 24.3°C | 16.4°C |
| December | 18.4°C | 13.5°C |
Year at a glance
| Measure | Phoenix | San Francisco |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual temperature | 23.0°C | 14.0°C |
| Warmest month (avg high) | Jul · 41°C | Sep · 22°C |
| Coldest month (avg low) | Jan · 5°C | Jan · 7°C |
| Annual range (warmest high − coldest low) | 36°C | 15°C |
| Annual precipitation | 243.4 mm | 514.5 mm |
| Rainy days per year | 30 | 56 |
| Wettest / driest month | Feb / Jun | Dec / Jul |
| Average sunshine per day | 11.1 h | 10.5 h |
In short: Phoenix is the warmest overall (23.0°C mean); San Francisco gets the most precipitation (514.5 mm a year); Phoenix is the sunniest (11.1 h a day on average); San Francisco has the smallest swing between its warmest and coldest months.
Record high 1996–2025: Phoenix 47.7°C (2016-06-19), San Francisco 38.5°C (2017-09-02). Record low: Phoenix -3.5°C (2007-01-14), 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 Phoenix (33.43, -112.03) and San Francisco (37.79, -122.41).
Which months differ most?
The gap in average highs is widest in July, when Phoenix runs 37°F / 20°C warmer, and narrowest in December (9°F / 5°C apart). The biggest rainfall difference is in December: San Francisco gets 3.1 in (79 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 Phoenix climate and San Francisco climate pages.
Compare Phoenix or San Francisco with another city
Questions people ask
Is Phoenix warmer than San Francisco?
Phoenix is warmer on average: its mean annual temperature is 73°F (23°C) against 57°F (14°C) in San Francisco (ERA5, 1996–2025).
Which gets more rain, Phoenix 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 9.6 in (243 mm) and 30 days in Phoenix.
Which is sunnier, Phoenix or San Francisco?
Phoenix averages more sunshine: 11.1 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.