will it ever snow in san francisco ? why? when?

Answer 1

While I was in Marseilles last year it snowed for the first time in 80 years. Was fun to see 75 year-olds acting like kids.

Even for SF it is just a matter of when not whether.

Pun intended. ;-)

Answer 2

It has, several times in fact.

Snow falls yearly in the mountains near San Francisco (Mt. Tam, Mt. Diablo), but it rarely gets down to the populated areas. And it's not "snow" as a Midwesterner might understand it. It's usually a single dusting of flurries that lasts for a day or so at most before it melts. Officially, the National Weather Service has recorded the following snow days:

1882 Dec 31 3.5"
1884 Feb 7 1.5"
1887 Feb 5 3.7"
1896 Mar 3 1.0"
1932 Dec 11 0.8"
1952 Jan 15 0.3"
1962 Jan 21 0.3"
1976 Feb 5 1.0"
2006 Mar 10 1.2"

San Franciscans have a difficult time telling the difference between small hail and snow, though, so locals also reported snow during the winter storm of 1995. But the NWS ultimately ruled that episode to be hail.

The 19th century NWS reports are equally suspect because of the limited expertise and lack of technologically enhanced measuring tools at the time.

Answer 3

It has snowed in San Francisco in the past, but this has been rare. And it's not likely to snow next year, because we're anticipating a small El Nino, meaning that we'll actually have a somewhat warm winter. So nobody knows when it'll snow next in San Francisco.

Answer 4

Chances are it is very unlikely to snow because of its location in respect to the Pacific Ocean. San Francisco is located directly on the Pacific Coast where the California Current flows past it, keeping San Francisco much warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer than other locations on the same latitude, therefore the chances of snowfall is very unlikely. All of the breezes from the ocean and in addition, you have mountains to protect San Francisco from the cold winds from Canada. The chance of snowfall might be a freak occurence but unlikely, but anything can happen.

Answer 5

It has snowed several times in San Francisco
Last time was Feb 5th 1976...1 measurable inch of snow fell on the city

Answer 6

It's snowed here twice since I moved to the area in 1974. They were about 22 years apart. If that keeps up the next time will be 2020.

Answer 7

that article is pretty misleading - "It was enough to blanket some San Francisco neighborhoods, giving people a chance to build snowmen and toss snowballs." What it really boiled down to was a few flurries here and there, with a light dusting on Mt. Davidson. I was living there then and remember it well.

Answer 8

I actually had to look this up... evidentially, it does snow there; and the last time was recently!

Here's the article:

Mar 10, 2006 11:28 pm US/Pacific

Rare Snow Covers Bay Area
(CBS 5) Cold temperatures and another wet storm combined to bring an unusual dusting of snow to the Bay Area late Friday. It was enough to blanket some San Francisco neighborhoods, giving people a chance to build snowmen and toss snowballs.

Hail, freezing rain, and snow fell on highways and roads across the Bay Area, leading to slippery roadways and several spinouts.

Traffic
Weather
Latest Watches And Warnings
Send Us Weather Photos
View Images

Bay Area residents who didn't wake up to snow in their neighborhoods this morning may get their chance on Saturday, as the National Weather Service reports that snow may fall as low as sea level overnight.

Snowy peaks framed the Bay Area at daybreak today, and scattered snow showers continued throughout the day, including on state Highway 17, where motorists were slipping and sliding on the slushy roadway.

Weather conditions forced the California Highway Patrol to shut down Interstate 280 between Edgewood Rd. and Hwy 92 around 9:30 p.m.

Snow sticking to the roadway prompted the CHP to issue a traffic alert for Highway 17 and shut down the road's northbound lanes shortly after 1 p.m. The lanes have since reopened.

State Highway 29 over Mt. St. Helena "was shut down for a time" around 5 p.m., also because of snow on the road, according to CHP Officer Tracy Winston.

Winston said Caltrans crews will remain on Highway 29 overnight to clear the snow if needed.

A dispatcher with the East Diablo Fire Protection District said she saw snow on Mt. Diablo on her way to work this morning, and that it was snowing this evening at the Rossmoor retirement community near Walnut Creek.

In San Francisco, a woman answering the phone at the Safeway store in Diamond Heights and a man at Yet Wah restaurant next door reported seeing a brief snow flurry around 7:30 p.m.

In addition, the region has been hit with hail, bursts of heavy rain, and thunderstorms.

A San Mateo County fire dispatcher said the weather had caused a noticeable increase in traffic collisions today.

A fire dispatcher in San Francisco said a Muni bus had gotten stuck on a hill in the area of San Jose and Geneva avenues due to icy road conditions.

A snow advisory is in effect for the Bay Area until 4 p.m. Saturday, meaning that motorists should drive with caution and expect snow on roadways and limited visibility, according to the National Weather Service.

In addition, weather officials say a high surf warning is in effect until noon Saturday, signifying dangerous swimming conditions and deadly rip currents.

Answer 9

I was there with my family in February for almost three weeks. I can assure you it was just wonderful there for being winter in the US. Absolutely no snow and sunny days although a little cool.

Answer 10

since i lived and born here i never see snowy in SF..i'm 21