WeatherArchive / Compare cities / San Diego vs Washington, D.C.
San Diego vs Washington, D.C. weather: climate comparison
San Diego is the warmer of the two, averaging 63°F (17°C) over the year against 57°F (14°C) in Washington, D.C.. Washington, D.C. is wetter, with 45.5 in (1157 mm) of precipitation a year to San Diego's 11.7 in (298 mm). Below: every month side by side, from 30 years of ERA5 data (1996–2025).
- Mean temperature
- 17.0°C San Diego
14.0°C Washington, D.C. - Annual precipitation
- 298.4 mm San Diego
1156.6 mm Washington, D.C. - Rainy days a year
- 38 San Diego
120 Washington, D.C. - Sunshine per day
- 10.9 h San Diego
8.9 h Washington, D.C.
Month by month
| Month | San Diego | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|
| January | 17.5°C | 5.9°C |
| February | 17.3°C | 8.1°C |
| March | 17.8°C | 12.8°C |
| April | 19.1°C | 18.8°C |
| May | 20.2°C | 23.5°C |
| June | 21.9°C | 28.6°C |
| July | 24.3°C | 30.9°C |
| August | 25.3°C | 29.6°C |
| September | 25.0°C | 25.9°C |
| October | 23.1°C | 19.7°C |
| November | 20.4°C | 13.4°C |
| December | 17.5°C | 8.2°C |
Year at a glance
| Measure | San Diego | Washington, D.C. |
|---|---|---|
| Mean annual temperature | 17.0°C | 14.0°C |
| Warmest month (avg high) | Aug · 25°C | Jul · 31°C |
| Coldest month (avg low) | Jan · 9°C | Jan · -2°C |
| Annual range (warmest high − coldest low) | 17°C | 33°C |
| Annual precipitation | 298.4 mm | 1156.6 mm |
| Rainy days per year | 38 | 120 |
| Wettest / driest month | Feb / Jun | Jul / Nov |
| Average sunshine per day | 10.9 h | 8.9 h |
In short: San Diego is the warmest overall (17.0°C mean); Washington, D.C. gets the most precipitation (1156.6 mm a year); San Diego is the sunniest (10.9 h a day on average); San Diego has the smallest swing between its warmest and coldest months.
Record high 1996–2025: San Diego 36.6°C (2020-09-30), Washington, D.C. 41.1°C (2012-07-07). Record low: San Diego 1.8°C (2007-01-15), Washington, D.C. -23.3°C (1996-02-05).
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 San Diego (32.72, -117.14) and Washington, D.C. (38.91, -77.07).
Which months differ most?
The gap in average highs is widest in January, when San Diego runs 21°F / 12°C warmer, and narrowest in April (1°F / 0°C apart). The biggest rainfall difference is in July: Washington, D.C. gets 4.7 in (118 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 San Diego climate and Washington, D.C. climate pages.
Compare San Diego or Washington, D.C. with another city
Questions people ask
Is San Diego warmer than Washington, D.C.?
San Diego is warmer on average: its mean annual temperature is 63°F (17°C) against 57°F (14°C) in Washington, D.C. (ERA5, 1996–2025).
Which gets more rain, San Diego or Washington, D.C.?
Washington, D.C., with about 45.5 in (1157 mm) of precipitation a year and 120 days with at least 1 mm, compared with 11.7 in (298 mm) and 38 days in San Diego.
Which is sunnier, San Diego or Washington, D.C.?
San Diego averages more sunshine: 10.9 h a day against 8.9 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.