San Diego vs Los Angeles: Weather & Climate Compared
The annual temperatures are close. Los Angeles has more sunshine, while San Diego records more rainy days, so those differences are more useful than naming one warmer city.
San Diego vs Los Angeles weather right now
At this moment, Los Angeles is the warmer of the two by 1°F (1°C).
Where San Diego and Los Angeles actually differ
Los Angeles takes the temperature crown. Averaged over all twelve months it runs 65°F (18°C), about 1.8°F (1.0°C) above San Diego's 63°F (17°C).
For the full seasonal context behind this comparison, see the San Diego monthly climate guide and Los Angeles monthly climate guide.
The tie-breakers
The tie-breakers: sunshine, daylight and rain
| Month | San Diego sun | Los Angeles sun | San Diego daylight | Los Angeles daylight | San Diego wet-day chance | Los Angeles wet-day chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8.6 h | 8.3 h | 10.2 h | 10.1 h | 20% | 19% |
| February | 9.3 h | 9.0 h | 11.0 h | 10.9 h | 18% | 18% |
| March | 10.2 h | 10.2 h | 11.9 h | 11.9 h | 25% | 26% |
| April | 10.9 h | 11.1 h | 12.9 h | 13.0 h | 11% | 8% |
| May | 11.0 h | 11.4 h | 13.8 h | 13.9 h | 10% | 9% |
| June | 11.9 h | 12.3 h | 14.3 h | 14.4 h | 2% | 2% |
| July | 12.4 h | 13.1 h | 14.1 h | 14.2 h | 1% | 2% |
| August | 11.7 h | 12.2 h | 13.3 h | 13.4 h | 2% | 3% |
| September | 10.7 h | 11.0 h | 12.3 h | 12.3 h | 4% | 4% |
| October | 9.9 h | 10.1 h | 11.3 h | 11.3 h | 7% | 7% |
| November | 9.4 h | 9.3 h | 10.4 h | 10.3 h | 12% | 8% |
| December | 8.3 h | 8.2 h | 10.0 h | 9.9 h | 17% | 15% |
San Diego vs Los Angeles month by month
| Month | San Diego high / low | Los Angeles high / low | San Diego rain days | Los Angeles rain days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 64° / 48° | 66° / 46° | 6 | 6 |
| February | 65° / 48° | 69° / 47° | 5 | 5 |
| March | 65° / 51° | 70° / 49° | 8 | 8 |
| April | 68° / 54° | 76° / 53° | 3 | 2 |
| May | 68° / 57° | 76° / 55° | 3 | 3 |
| June | 72° / 61° | 83° / 60° | 0 | 1 |
| July | 76° / 65° | 88° / 64° | 0 | 1 |
| August | 78° / 66° | 90° / 65° | 0 | 1 |
| September | 78° / 65° | 88° / 64° | 1 | 1 |
| October | 76° / 60° | 83° / 59° | 2 | 2 |
| November | 70° / 53° | 75° / 52° | 4 | 2 |
| December | 64° / 48° | 67° / 47° | 5 | 5 |
When the small temperature gap changes
There is no seasonal flip here: Los Angeles holds the temperature lead in all twelve months of the year. The gap is widest in July, when Los Angeles's afternoons run about 12°F (7°C) ahead, and narrowest in January, when the two nearly meet.
Best months for sightseeing
Counting months with average highs between 64°F and 82°F (18–28°C) and fewer than 12 wet days:
- San Diego: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December (11 months)
- Los Angeles: January, February, March, April, May, November, December (7 months)
Both cities are at their most comfortable in February, March, April, May, November, December, the easiest window for a trip that takes in both.
Seasons compared
| Months | San Diego high / low | Los Angeles high / low | San Diego rain days | Los Angeles rain days | San Diego sun | Los Angeles sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December - February | 64° / 48° | 67° / 47° | 16 | 16 | 8.7 h | 8.5 h |
| March - May | 67° / 54° | 74° / 52° | 14 | 13 | 10.7 h | 10.9 h |
| June - August | 75° / 64° | 87° / 63° | 1 | 2 | 12.0 h | 12.5 h |
| September - November | 75° / 59° | 82° / 58° | 7 | 6 | 10.0 h | 10.1 h |
Dataset extremes, distance and time difference
- San Diego 2015–2024 extremes: highest daily value 98° in September, lowest 35° in February. These are reanalysis values, not all-time station records.
- Los Angeles 2015–2024 extremes: highest daily value 114° in September, lowest 32° in January. These are reanalysis values, not all-time station records.
- Distance: San Diego and Los Angeles are about 111 miles (179 km) apart as the crow flies.
- Time difference: the two cities share the same local time right now.