why beaches are cloudy (San Jose, San Francisco: to live in, vs., beach)

[ggcd951]

i just find out that I went to pacific beaches like capitola, san gregorio, half moon 4-5 times past few months it is always cloudy there. why is it? is it like that all the time? is there a real time sites that gives a current weahter???

[sonarrat]

If you went there 5 times and it was sunny once, you got lucky. There is almost always fog at the coast. This article explains the phenomenon of warm wind blowing over cold water causing fog:

San Francisco fog - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The key word if you want a warm day at the beach is "off-shore flow." That means warm air coming in from the Central Valley. If the winds are coming off the Pacific, you get fog.

[tstieber]

Yes, this is a phenomenon that is very typical across the entire west coast, but in our are, particularly during the summer months of July and August. In September, October, and occasionally into November, there are much nicer days where the air is drier and warmer at the coast.

Keep in mind that some areas are cloudier than others. South-facing beaches, like Pillar Point, Stinson Beach, and Santa Cruz tend to clear earlier and be sunnier and warmer than west-facing beaches like Half Moon Bay or Pacifica. In recent days, I've seen the satellite image showing sunny vs. cloudy afternoons in those areas. The best thing is to find a current satellite image online and see what parts of the coast are foggy.

Also, as a general rule of thumb, if it's a very hot day in San Jose, then it's probably a nice sunny day at the beach. If it's just a mild sunny day in San Jose, then it's probably cloudy at the beach. This year, the western half of the country has also been cooler than normal, so there has been less clearing than usual along the beaches.

[DMenscha]

Originally Posted by guyencd000

is there a real time sites that gives a current weahter???

Maverick's Surf Report and HD Surf Cam | SURFLINE.COM

Half Moon Bay

http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/index.aspx?page=649

Santa Cruz

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Go to the beach between September and May and chances are, if there is not a storm system coming through, there will be sun at the beach and it will be surprisingly warm. Even in January or February.

[ggcd951]

thanks guys, i was taken by surprise. used to live in seattle where it tends to be gloomy in winter but i used to manage to get sunshine at the beach during summertime, i was expecting better weather at the beaches. i guess i will try during the specified time of year you guys mentioned then. thanks,

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by tstieber

Also, as a general rule of thumb, if it's a very hot day in San Jose, then it's probably a nice sunny day at the beach.

If it's a very hot day in SJ, and it's a nice day at the beach, find some other way to get to Santa Cruz other than Hwy 17. If you want to get there, and back, without feeling increasing urge to kill.

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by bigdumbgod

If it's a very hot day in SJ, and it's a nice day at the beach, find some other way to get to Santa Cruz other than Hwy 17. If you want to get there, and back, without feeling increasing urge to kill.

I disagree, if it's going to be a hot day in SJ, take Hwy 17.. in the morning. DON'T try to take the Hecker Pass and 1.

[bigdumbgod]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

I disagree, if it's going to be a hot day in SJ, take Hwy 17.. in the morning. DON'T try to take the Hecker Pass and 1.

Thing is, everybody else has the same idea, so 17 gets jammed due to sheer volume, and inevitable wrecks caused by people who don't know how to negotiate that road.

[Guru_Swami]

The trick is to go early in the morning. Yes, you have to wake your butt up early on a weekend, but hey, it's worth it to miss the traffic and hit the beach before the crowd arrives. I've only lived out here for 18 months and figured this out pretty quickly! Plus, the dog gets to run amuck on the beach and enjoy herself before the crowds hit. =)