The months of May and June are typically the cloudiest months of the year in coastal southern California, having only 59% and 58% sunny days, respectively, on average in San Diego. The number of days in May and June that are “gloomy” vary from year to year.
Why is there June Gloom in San Diego?
Moisture in the cold air forms clouds or fog. In Southern California, the marine layer becomes most noticeable in May and June (forming “gray” and “gloom”) as temperatures rise on land much more quickly than they do in the water, Tardy said.
What causes May gray and June Gloom in San Diego?
May Gray and June Gloom are caused by differences in ocean water temperatures and air temperatures. When the water temperature is cold, this causes the air temperature just above the ocean surface to be cooler.
Why Does June Gloom happen in LA?
This coastal or Catalina eddy acts like a tiny low-pressure system that lifts the air and condenses water vapor into low clouds that can produce night and morning drizzle over the ocean and nearby coastal areas.
How long does marine layer last in San Diego?
Marine layer clouds form in all months of the year but are a dominant feature of Southern California’s climate from May through August. During the colder months, the Pacific High weakens reducing the strength and frequency of inversion layers over Southern California.
Is San Diego always overcast?
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.
How Long Does June Gloom last in California?
June Gloom usually clears up between mid-morning and early afternoon, depending on the strength of the marine layer, and gives way to sunny skies. May and June together are usually the cloudiest months in coastal California.
How Long Does June Gloom last?
But it can start as early as May (known as “May Gray”) and last for months, leading to “No Sky July.” If it continues into August, you may see a rash of social media rants about the annoyances of #fogust.
Is San Diego Nice in May?
San Diego is definitely warm in May – warm, not hot. For many, the temperature is ideal because it is cool enough to do vigorous exercise outdoors while being warm enough to do nothing at all outdoors.
Why are there no clouds in California?
But in Southern California, clouds are trapped by the marine boundary layer, a kilometer-thick layer of wet air over the ocean that resists cloud formation. “As you force clouds to rise in altitude, they can’t rise indefinitely as they get squeezed out by the marine boundary layer,” he says.
What is the fog in San Diego called?
Tourists arriving in San Diego this month hoping for a vacation on the beach may be sorely disappointed. That’s because of an ugly blend of heavy clouds and cool weather that locals call “June Gloom.”
Does it ever rain in San Diego?
San Diego, California gets 12 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38 inches of rain per year. San Diego averages 0 inches of snow per year.
Is June hot in San Diego?
Daily high temperatures increase by 4°F, from 69°F to 73°F, rarely falling below 66°F or exceeding 79°F. Daily low temperatures increase by 3°F, from 62°F to 65°F, rarely falling below 58°F or exceeding 68°F.
Is there a difference between fog and marine layer?
A Marine Layer Is Not (Quite) the Same Thing as Fog
But it’s not actually fog, it’s more the Tupperware that holds the fog. Fog happens everywhere, but marine layers are special because they only occur where there are large bodies of water, and they can keep fog around longer, trapping it.
What time does the marine layer burn off San Diego?
around noon
When there is a morning marine layer, it typically “burns off’ as the day time temps rise and humidity falls, usually around noon. It is most common in late spring and is often referred to by locals as “May Gray” or June Gloom”.
Is June a good time to visit San Diego?
June-August
This is everyone’s favorite time to visit San Diego thanks to warm weather (average highs hover in the mid- to high 70s) and plenty of festivals.
What is the rainiest month in San Diego?
The month with the most rain in San Diego is February, with an average rainfall of 2.3 inches. The rainless period of the year lasts for 6.1 months, from April 22 to October 25. The month with the least rain in San Diego is June, with an average rainfall of 0.0 inches.
What is the best month to visit San Diego?
The best month to visit is September, after Labor Day crowds have left and kids are back in school. Hotel rates tend to fall, San Diego beaches are less crowded, and the weather is still fantastic.
Is San Diego gloomy?
Usually you think of clear blue sunny skies when you think of San Diego, but there’s a certain phenomenon that occurs this time of year when the clouds take over. Every morning you wake up to a dark gloomy marine layer over the ocean and beach towns. Every afternoon you wait and wait for it to break.
Why is it so cold on the West coast?
The typical winter pattern on the West Coast is a westerly flow from the Pacific Ocean, which brings in storms on a regular basis, but also keeps the region mild because of the mild ocean temperatures (50s) in the Eastern Pacific.
Why is it so foggy in California?
The lush kelp forests along the California coast exist because of upwelling. And the water from the deep ocean is really cold, which makes fog form over the areas of upwelling. The fog rolls in from the ocean onto land in the morning as the rising sun heats up the land.