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The Daily Insight

How many inches of rain does San Diego get a year

Author

Emily Carr

Updated on May 03, 2026

Precipitation. San Diego has on average 146 sunny days and 117 partly cloudy days a year. The average annual precipitation is less than 12 inches (30 cm), resulting in a borderline arid climate.

What is the rainiest month in San Diego California?

The driest month in San Diego is July with 0.03 inches of precipitation, and with 2.28 inches January is the wettest month.

How much rainfall did San Diego receive in 1985?

LocationWater YearNormal Rainfall (inches)Lindbergh Field198410.41Lindbergh Field198510.41Lindbergh Field198610.41Lindbergh Field198710.41

Why does it never rain in San Diego?

Because San Diego and most of Southern California is a desert climate, the air is dry. A lot of this has to do with where we sit on the equator and how our side of the planet is exposed to the sun more then other places. The winds that often blow through are very dry, coming from Mexico.

Does San Diego get bad weather?

San Diego has on average 146 sunny days and 117 partly cloudy days a year. … While hurricanes are very rare, San Diego receives more tropical storms and remnants of tropical storms than anywhere else in California.

Does San Diego get June gloom?

June gloom is very real, and you’ll soon realize that if you visit San Diego in June. On average, you can expect the sky to be clear on nine days of the month, with no more than 30 percent cloud cover. On the other days, cloud cover is much heavier, often blocking out the sunlight entirely.

Does San Diego get rain?

Does it rain in San Diego? Yes, annual rainfall averages 11″ to 12″ inches. The wettest month is usually January. In San Diego the driest month is normally July.

Does it rain more in Los Angeles or San Diego?

San Diego, California gets 11.7 inches of rain, on average, per year. Los Angeles, California gets 15.5 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38.1 inches of rain per year. San Diego averages 0 inches of snow per year.

Where does San Diego get its water?

An adequate and reliable water supply is vital for all of us. Historically, the City of San Diego’s water needs have greatly outpaced the local supply from rain. The City purchases approximately 85% to 90% of its water, which is imported from Northern California and the Colorado River.

Is San Diego a desert?

Rainfall in San Diego is scarce, given that it amounts to just 260 millimeters (10 inches) per year, so it is at a semi-desert level.

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How much rainfall does San Diego receive in November?

The average sliding 31-day rainfall during November in San Diego is increasing, starting the month at 0.6 inches, when it rarely exceeds 1.6 inches, and ending the month at 1.2 inches, when it rarely exceeds 2.8 inches.

What is the average annual rainfall in California?

The average annual precipitation for California is 21.44 inches.

Is San Diego weather perfect?

San Diego is America’s most “pleasant” place! … San Diego ranked No. 1 with 261 “pleasant” days, defined as having an average temperature between 55 to 75 degrees, minimum temperature above 45 degrees and no significant rain or snow.

Is San Diego expensive to live?

Nicknamed America’s Finest City, San Diego is among the country’s most popular and expensive cities to live in. Yet, despite its higher cost of living, it’s still cheaper than other California hotspots like San Francisco.

Is San Diego a fun place to live?

San Diego is ranked #1 most fun place to live in the U.S. SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. … According to The 30 Most Fun Places to Live in the U.S. report, the Southern California beach city of San Diego is ranked #1 for its restaurants, sunny weather and amazing beaches.

Why does it rain so little in California?

A semi-permanent ridge of high pressure during the summer months keeps it dry, with the exception of the occasional tropical-moisture fueled thunderstorm. Dry conditions are considered normal from April to September in Mediterranean climate zones. That’s as much as six months without rain—without worry!

Does San Diego have drought?

It Wasn’t Easy. Sustainability measures that the city and county have taken over decades are paying off. But residents still might have to do more.

What city has weather like San Diego?

Although the weather patterns will be recognizably like San Diego, Santa Barbara gets significantly more rainfall, and has significantly colder nights. Any further up the coast than that and you’ll see a marked shift in climate, such as the area around Pismo Beach, which has much cooler summers than San Diego.

Does San Diego get Santa Ana winds?

Santa Ana winds occur between September and May and are thus synonymous with fire season in San Diego. They flow in a southwestern curve over the mountains into San Diego, bringing along dry, warm air.

Why are there no clouds in California?

A new study recently published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters suggests that summer clouds over Southern California have dwindled as both increasing temperatures and heat-radiated from urban sprawl have driven clouds away. … Without cloud cover, the ground can dry out more fully under the baking sun.

How bad is June gloom?

The negative effects of a long June Gloom on the coastal California tourism industry is often reported in the local news media. The phenomenon can be especially disorienting to visitors from inland areas who, coming from the summer heat, would not expect cool temperatures and clouds and fog at the beach.

Is 2021 going to be a drought year in California?

California farmers who struggled to make it through record-breaking drought and heat in 2021 are bracing for another bad year, this time without any additional water from the state. The state said it won’t give any water from the State Water Project to farmers unless drought conditions improve.

How hard is San Diego water?

Water Hardness Typically, drinking water in San Diego averages about 16 grains per gallon (gr/gal) or 276 parts per million (ppm), and depending upon water demand and area of the City you live can range from 16 to 18 gr/gal or 272 to 284 ppm.

Why is the water brown in San Diego?

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — Red tide returned to San Diego over the weekend. During the day, the algae bloom can cause the ocean to appear with a red or brown tint, but at night, when agitated, it can create a blue bioluminescence. “That term, red tide, can be conflated with harmful algae.

Is San Diego worth moving to?

Whether you’re looking for great food, beautiful beaches, fun places to drink, amazing activities, great job opportunities, or a diverse local population, San Diego is where you can find it. If you are looking for a less tense environment during or after COVID-19, you simply can’t go wrong with moving to San Diego.

What city has better weather than San Diego?

Los Angeles has % more rainy days than San Diego. – Los Angeles has % Sunny Days than San Diego.

Is San Diego more expensive than Miami?

San Diego is 30.1% more expensive than Miami. San Diego housing costs are 95.6% more expensive than Miami housing costs. Health related expenses are 9.9% less in San Diego.

Does San Diego get snow?

San Diego County mountains saw measurable snow for the first time in months thanks to Tuesday’s big storm. A camera positioned on the roof of Laguna Mountain Lodge offered low-elevation dwellers a glimpse of the steady snowfall. The lodge, which sits at about 6,000 feet, and Sunrise Highway were both blanketed white.

What's San Diego known for?

San Diego is renowned for its idyllic climate, 70 miles of pristine beaches and a dazzling array of world-class family attractions. Popular attractions include the world-famous San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, SeaWorld San Diego and LEGOLAND California.

Why is it called San Diego?

*SAN DIEGO Named after San Diego Bay, which had been rechristened by Vizcaino in 1602, in honor of the Franciscan, San Diego de Alcala de Henares, whose name was borne by his flagship.

Do people swim in San Diego in November?

We’ve all gone to the beach on a hot day only to dip our toes in and find the water still a little too cold and want to dip in and swim. Well, you’ll be happy to learn that the average temperature of the seawater of November weather in San Diego is the mid-sixties. … The water is perfect; come on in!