Honestly, if you’re looking at the 10 day forecast in san francisco and seeing nothing but sun icons, you’re only getting half the story. The city's weather is a moody masterpiece. It’s January 16, 2026, and while the rest of the country is digging out of snow, we’re sitting here with a "chilly" 53°F night and northeast winds humming at 4 mph.
But don't let that calm fool you.
San Francisco doesn't have weather; it has moods. You can be shivering in a windbreaker in the Richmond District while someone three miles away in the Mission is considering an iced latte in their shirt sleeves. That’s just the tax you pay for living in a city surrounded by water on three sides.
The 10 Day Forecast in San Francisco Breakdown
Right now, we are in a bit of a "false spring" stretch, though the experts at the National Weather Service are watching a ridge of high pressure that's starting to narrow.
Here is what the next week and a half actually looks like on the ground:
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Today, Friday, January 16, is basically a carbon copy of yesterday. We’re looking at a high of 63°F and a low of 52°F. It’s sunny, it’s crisp, and that 7 mph breeze from the northeast makes the air feel thinner than it actually is.
Tomorrow, Saturday, things get a bit more "classic SF." The clouds are moving in. We’ll stay at that 63°F high, but the humidity is climbing to 60%. There’s a tiny 10% chance of rain, which in this city usually means a light mist that ruins your hair but doesn't actually wet the pavement.
The Sunday Shift
By Sunday, January 18, we get some "mostly sunny" breaks, but the temperature is holding steady. Most people think California is always 75 degrees. It’s not. Especially not in January. We’re looking at 63°F/51°F. If you’re heading to Land's End, that 6 mph wind will feel much sharper against the salt spray.
The Mid-Week Cool Down
Monday and Tuesday (January 19-20) see us dipping into the low 60s and high 50s.
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- Monday: Sunny, 61°F high, 49°F low.
- Tuesday: Mostly sunny, 60°F high, 49°F low.
The real change happens on Wednesday, January 21. The high drops to 57°F. That’s the threshold where locals start breaking out the heavy Patagonia puffers. Humidity jumps to 74%, making that 57 degrees feel like a damp blanket.
Why the Forecast Usually Lies to You
The biggest mistake people make with the 10 day forecast in san francisco is ignoring the microclimates. The "official" temperature is often taken near the airport or downtown, but the city is a patchwork of 46 square miles of chaos.
Twin Peaks acts like a giant stone wall. It traps the damp Pacific air on the west side (the Sunset and Richmond neighborhoods), leaving them foggy and cool. Meanwhile, the east side (the Mission and Potrero Hill) stays shielded and significantly warmer.
"I know which shops, bars, and restaurants in my neighborhood actually have heat, and which ones feel like walking into a beer cooler," one local recently shared on Reddit.
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It’s a real thing. If you’re visiting, you need to prepare for a 10-degree swing just by crossing a few blocks.
The "Big Rain" Potential
Looking toward the end of next week, Friday, January 23, and Saturday, January 24, the chance of precipitation starts creeping up to 15-20%. We’re seeing a "light rain" forecast for Saturday with a high of 58°F.
Historically, January is one of our wettest months. We usually see about 3.6 to 4 inches of rain across the month. This current 10-day stretch is actually being quite kind to us, staying mostly dry while the Polar Jetstream stays slightly north.
Survival Tips for the Next 10 Days
If you’re planning your life around this forecast, here’s the reality check:
- The Three-Layer Rule: You need a base shirt, a sweater or fleece, and a wind-resistant outer shell. Do not—I repeat, do not—bring a single heavy coat and think you’re set. You’ll be sweating by noon and freezing by 5:00 PM.
- Watch the Waves: The NWS has already issued warnings for "sneaker waves" and rip currents at Pacific coast beaches like Ocean Beach. The water looks beautiful when it's sunny, but it's deadly right now.
- Sunset is the Trigger: Once the sun drops behind the Pacific (around 5:15 PM these days), the temperature doesn't just fall; it plunges. That 52°F low on the forecast happens fast.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check the specific neighborhood forecast if you’re moving between the Embarcadero and the Golden Gate Bridge. If you see "Offshore Flow" mentioned in the technical discussion, expect warmer, clearer days. If you see "Onshore Flow," grab your umbrella and a scarf—the dampness is coming for you. Keep an eye on the Friday, Jan 23rd transition; that's when our dry spell likely breaks.