Climate In South San Francisco

[azskyman]

My son and his family are on the move once again. This time to the area south of San Francisco near SFO International Airport.

It's easy to find climate and temperature and rainfall data, but are there any S2k members that live in that general vicinity, and if so, I'd appreciate any comments about the weather there, and especially the winds and clouds that frequent the bay area.

He's moving from L.A..

[Aslkahuna]

South SFO tends to be a bit warmer in the Summer than downtown but it's still breezy and cool with morning low clouds except when there's offshore flow then it gets hotter than downtown (record high for the airport is 106F). Depending upon where they live with respect to the mountains on the Peninsula will determine how windy it gets and one definitely wants to avoid being down wind from the Twin Peaks or San Bruno hills because there is a strong funneling downslope wind effect there in the Summer.

Steve

[azskyman]

Thanks for the info, Steve. Every little bit helps. Looks like they will temporarily call Burlingame their home while they look around for a permanent home.

Back in the Midwest where he grew up, he could have bought a town for what the homes sell for in that area.

After spending $26k for a brand new 1600 sf home on a 1/2 acre when he was born, he won't even be able to find a doghouse for that near SFO.

I'll check the elevation of Burlingame which is literally just SW of the SFO airport.

[Aslkahuna]

The Peninsula towns generally lie just west of the Freeway along the Bayshore with the housing extending up into the Peninsula Hills (and closer to the Fault) towards the Junipero Serra Freeway which runs along the San Andreas Rift Valley. Places to avoid-Atherton and Los Altos Hills-he can't afford the housing there. Heck, in some parst of the Bay Area, $26k won't even get you into an apartment.

Steve

[Ptarmigan]

The Peninsula towns generally lie just west of the Freeway along the Bayshore with the housing extending up into the Peninsula Hills (and closer to the Fault) towards the Junipero Serra Freeway which runs along the San Andreas Rift Valley. Places to avoid-Atherton and Los Altos Hills-he can't afford the housing there. Heck, in some parst of the Bay Area, $26k won't even get you into an apartment.

Steve

That area is very expensive. A median price in San Francisco is $750,000! In Houston, that gets you a mansion.

[azskyman]

He knows all the about expense. I can't begin to comprehend it. And I couldn't believe it when he just sold his place in L.A. in just five days.

We've booked a flight out to see the him, his family, and the area in the early fall, so we'll get a firsthand feel of the weather there.

He's been living in the south bay area of L.A., and we've become familiar with the marine layer's behavior (fog many mornings and fog rolling in late afternoon or evening). It may not be all that different in San Francisco other than somewhat cooler overall and about twice the rainfall in the winter.

I was more interested in learning about the average winds that occur around the SFO airport area. Anyone have a link to wind data there?

[Aslkahuna]

The climo summary for SFO should have the mean wind speeds-direction is almost always NW except during a Winter storm. BTW tell him not to panic on the approach into SFO if he flies in because usually the aircraft come in over the Bay into which the runway extends and all you see as you get lower is water until the last second before touchdown (however, not to worry because I think in the entire history of the airport-which is in San Mateo County and not SFO County BTW, only a couple of aircraft have landed short in the Bay).

Steve

[vbhoutex]

The climo summary for SFO should have the mean wind speeds-direction is almost always NW except during a Winter storm. BTW tell him not to panic on the approach into SFO if he flies in because usually the aircraft come in over the Bay into which the runway extends and all you see as you get lower is water until the last second before touchdown (however, not to worry because I think in the entire history of the airport-which is in San Mateo County and not SFO County BTW, only a couple of aircraft have landed short in the Bay).

Steve

OH yeh!!! I freaked the first time I landed on that runway!!!! I knew for sure we were hitting the bay!!! Fortunately, of course, that was not the case.

[azskyman]

Good to know. I remember a landing on Wake Island like that. Even worse, when we took off, they actually towed us backward a few yards so that the tail was beyond the runway limit when we began our acceleration. Obviously we made it.

Thanks for the info on the prevailing wind, Steve.

[Aslkahuna]

Honolulu is a bit scary since the aircraft have to make a hard right turn as soon as they are high enough so as to not snag a wingtip because of anti noise rules-don't want to bother the Turistas in those hotels along Waikiki. For your standard 747, that turn is made before the end of the runway is cleared.

Steve