Best bet for sunshine?

[dibs0901]

We're planning to visit California next year at the end of May, early June, starting in San Fran, then LA and stay at DLR. We were planning on ending the trip in San Diego, mainly to spend time on the beach but I keep hearing about the May Grey June Gloom and I'm wondering whether we might be better to go somewhere else if we want nice beach weather?

Do you think San Diego will be warm enough for the beach? Is somewhere like Santa Barbara or Santa Monica a better bet or does the same weather apply there too? We're from England so high 70's would be plenty warm enough for us!!

Thanks for your help.

 

[pjhorton21]

You're coming during peak marine layer season. It is likely you will see little or no sun along the coast during this period (mid May to mid-June). I think San Diego has a little better chance of seeing some sun than farther north (Santa Monica, Santa Barbara). In any case, the weather will be cool at the coast - highs in the 60's to low 70's. Also, the water temp is still fairly cold. July-September are the best "beach weather" months. Be warned that you can still get sunburned through the marine layer, so be careful!

 

[Valencia Joe]

Of the three places you mentioned, either San Diego or the beaches around Santa Monica may be better. Santa Barbara will probably be too cool at that time of year. May is one of those months that can be overcast and drizzly, or HOT. No one can predict the weather. What time of the month are you planning to come? You have a better chance of warmer weather as you get closer to the end of the month than the beginning. Either way around it, focus on San Diego or Santa Monica.

 

[pittypat]

We were there about month ago in Huntington Beach. I believe the warmest day we had was 70 degrees and the water was still quite cold. Mornings were very overcast, but usually the sun came out by early to mid afternoon (though one day not until around 4). The sunny afternoons were absolutely beautiful, but still cool to be hanging around on the beach.

 

[dibs0901]

Thanks very much for all your replies.

I really don't know what to do, we were very keen to go to San Diego but would be so disappointed if it wasn't sunny!

Unfortunately it looks as though we're stuck with late May/early June cos we don't want to take our son out of school in Sept at the beginning of the school year and July/August are just way too expensive flight wise.

 

[debbiepump]

I just got back from 3 weeks in San Diego-arrived 6/18 and just got home. June gloom? In the early morning until about 9:30 it's got a 'marine air' going on. Not a biggie to me, but then I'm from Seattle. I still had my tank top, shorts and flip flops on in the early morning. It does get quite warm during the day there-we were also at OB and PB and while I thought the water was chilly, lots of folks out there enjoying the sun and sand. If you need any more info, email me, did about everything you can think of touristy down there (including going to Mexico)-dpump@aol.com

Debbie

 

[ScooterL]

May gray/June gloom in San Diego is quite unpredictable - we can have a week of overcast days where it doesn't clear at all along the coast, and then all of a sudden have 4-5 days where it's sunny all day on the coast. This year we actually had very little June Gloom - some the first 10 days of the month, but the rest of the month it was either clear all day or cleared up by 10:00!

Even if it *is* sunny it's not going to be THAT warm - probably only 68-72 along the coast. And the water will be COLD - 65 if you're lucky, but more likely in the low 60s.

It's just not a great time of year for the beach - at least not reliably. It CAN be very nice, but it's just luck of the draw.