Moving from Vancouver to San Francisco
A climate comparison of two homes: British Columbia to California. The dates below come from the nearest official weather station to each place.
Climate Match
Your growing season runs 119 days longer, 237 days becomes 356 days.
Vancouver, BC to San Francisco, CA
The full comparison
| Measure | From | To | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frost-free season | 237 days | 356 days | 119 days longer |
| Last spring frost | March 18 | January 7 | 70 days earlier |
| Coldest month | 4C in December | 10C in January | 6C warmer |
| Warmest month | 18C in July | 18C in September | 0C hotter |
Moving from Vancouver to San Francisco reshapes the home year. The coldest month is 6C warmer. Summers get 0C hotter. Your growing season is 119 days longer. Plan on a new rhythm for the house and garden.
What changes about the house
- Coldest month: it is warmer at the destination, though unusual cold can still occur.
- Cooling: hotter peaks make air conditioning or shading more important. Check attic insulation and window sealing so the house does not trap heat.
- Garden: the frost-free season is longer or the last spring frost is earlier. Check both dates when planning crops and succession sowings.
Season by season
Spring starts earlier
Your last spring frost moves from March 18 to January 7, 70 days earlier. Start planting and outdoor prep sooner.
Summers run hotter
The warmest month goes from 18C in July to 18C in September. Air conditioning, shading, and cooling-load planning matter more.
Winter measure suggests milder
Winter coldest month goes from 4C in December to 10C in January. This measure points to a milder season, though unusual cold and ice can still occur.
Tools for both places
Moving from Vancouver to San Francisco, answered
What is the biggest climate change from Vancouver to San Francisco?
Your growing season runs 119 days longer, 237 days becomes 356 days. That is the largest shift in the 30-year climate record.
How are these numbers computed?
From official 30-year climate normals at the nearest station to each place: Vancouver Intl Airport near Vancouver and Oakland Intl Ap 72493 near San Francisco. They are planning averages, not forecasts; local microclimates can run a week or two off the station record.
Does the comparison work in reverse?
Yes. Open the comparison tool and swap the two places; the deltas reverse direction but the match score stays the same.
Method and sources
Temperatures and frost dates are from the 30-year climate normals at Vancouver Intl Airport (near Vancouver, BC) and Oakland Intl Ap 72493 (near San Francisco, CA). Canadian data is from Environment and Climate Change Canada; United States data is from NOAA NCEI. These are planning averages, not forecasts. See themethodology page for the full calculation.