What to Wear in San Francisco in July
SF in July: 22°C / 72°F afternoons, 13°C / 55°F mornings, 0 rain days — but Pacific wind makes 22°C / 72°F feel 16°C / 61°F.
- Pack identically to SF May or June — the season doesn't change
- Trench coat or lightweight parka as the outer
- Cashmere cardigan worn almost every day
- Merino long-sleeve + one short-sleeve tee for rare warm Mission days
- Jeans primary, midi skirt for a rare dinner reservation
- Beanie + silk scarf live in the bag year-round
- Treat 'California in July' as warm-weather — SF is the continental US exception
- Pack only shorts and sandals — you won't wear them more than one afternoon
- Skip the windbreaker — 20mph Pacific gusts flatten anything lighter
July in San Francisco is 'Fogust' — the month when the marine layer peaks and tourists in shorts shivering on Fisherman's Wharf becomes a local meme. NOAA climate data show daily highs of just 22°C (72°F) and lows of 13°C (55°F), with zero rain days but near-constant fog in western neighborhoods through morning and often late afternoon. The Pacific wind makes even 22°C / 72°F feel 16°C / 61°F. A classic local scene: Mission burrito lunch at 26°C / 79°F, 30 minutes later Ocean Beach feels 14°C / 57°F with 20mph wind. Pack exactly what you'd pack for SF May and June — the season doesn't change much here. A trench, a cashmere cardigan, a merino base, jeans, sneakers. The absurdity of 'July in California' as a cold-weather packing list is exactly why tourists get caught out. Locals find it funny.
Mission burrito lunch at 26°C / 79°F, 30 minutes later Ocean Beach feels 14°C / 57°F with 20mph wind. Locals find the absurdity funny.
The capsule
01Trench coat or lightweight parkaStill the outer. SF July is not materially warmer than SF May. A classic trench reads right citywide; a lightweight parka (Arc'teryx, Patagonia) handles wind better for Presidio hikes.
02Cashmere cardigan (the workhorse)You will wear this almost every day. Cream, charcoal, or navy. Layered under the trench, alone in the Mission, over a tee at Dolores Park.
03Merino long-sleeve + one short-sleeve teeBase-layer rotation. Long-sleeve for most days; short-sleeve for the rare Mission afternoon that tips above 24°C / 75°F.
04Straight-leg jeans (primary) + one skirt optionJeans dominate. A midi skirt with tights handles a warm afternoon or a dinner reservation — but you'll wear jeans most days.
05Optional slip dress with layeringFor the occasional warm day, and only with a cardigan and trench stashed in your bag for the inevitable fog roll-in.
06Supportive sneakers (Hoka, NB, Samba)Same as May/June. SF hills don't care what month it is.
07Leather backpack or crossbodySame as June. Backpacks are more acceptable here than most American cities.
- Beanie + silk scarf — Fog-morning beanie; wind-afternoon silk scarf. Both live in your bag year-round in SF; July is no exception.
Day to night
Long-sleeve merino · jeans · cashmere cardigan · trench · Hokas · backpack. Coffee at Four Barrel, Presidio walk.
Short-sleeve tee · jeans · cardigan · ankle boots · small bag. Dinner at Rich Table, drinks at ABV.
What to avoid
- Packing 'California in July' as uniformly warm — SF is the continental US exception
- Sandals as primary footwear
- Shorts for full days — fine for a rare Mission afternoon, pants for everything else
- Lightweight athletic wear as a layer — doesn't block wind
- Paying boutique prices for last-minute fleeces — Uniqlo Union Square is the local emergency supply
Frequently asked questions
Per NOAA climate data: average daily high is 22°C (72°F), low is 13°C (55°F). Zero rain days but near-constant fog in western neighborhoods (Sunset, Richmond, Ocean Beach) through morning and often late afternoon. Locals call this 'Fogust' (and it extends into August). Eastern neighborhoods (Mission, Potrero) get some afternoon sun but still cool to fog by evening.
No — July is actually one of the coldest 'summer' months in SF due to peak marine-layer fog. Average afternoon high of 22°C (72°F) is cool by US summer standards, and the wind chill plus fog often makes it feel 13-16°C / 55-61°F. Pack as if for spring, not summer.
Essentially the same as May or June: trench coat, cashmere cardigan, merino tees (long-sleeve primary, one short-sleeve), dark jeans, midi skirt option, supportive sneakers, ankle boots, beanie or cap, silk scarf, compact bag. Skip shorts (except one pair for a rare warm Mission afternoon), sandals (except one pair for indoor Mission dinners), and anything you'd wear to a Miami beach.
Yes, more than in May. Peak fog means the temperature swing between a sunny Mission moment and a foggy Outer Sunset afternoon is as much as -12--9°C / 10-15°F. Three layers (base/mid/outer) is the only system that works.
'Fogust' is the local nickname for late-July and August in SF — peak marine layer, densest fog, coldest 'summer' feel. The name plays on fog + August, but July functions similarly. Locals use the term to warn tourists away from unrealistic California summer expectations.
Sources
- NOAA — 1991–2020 climate normals, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) station
