People in San Francisco, CA are especially likely to experience increased risks from drought, precipitation, and flood.

Drought and precipitation risk in San Francisco, CA is high. Heat risk is relatively low. About 7% of buildings in San Francisco, CA are at risk of flooding, and the risk level for these buildings is significant. About 15% of buildings in San Francisco, CA are at risk of wildfire, and the risk level for these buildings is relatively low.

Fire and flood risk can vary significantly for individual properties within a city. Check your address for detailed heat, precipitation, fire, flood, and drought risk through 2050.

The San Francisco Bay watershed, which contains San Francisco, CA, has experienced 723 weeks (60% of weeks) since 2000 with some of its area in drought of any level, and 215 weeks (18% of weeks) since 2000 with some of its area in Extreme or Exceptional drought. Source: National Drought Monitor.

Climate change is increasing the risk of drought. Water stress (the ratio of water demand to supply) depends on how water utilities source water and their plans to adapt to climate change. Property owners can also take steps to reduce their risks from drought.

A downpour for San Francisco, CA is a two-day rainfall total over 0.8 inches. Around 1990, about 57.99999999999999% of precipitation fell during these downpours. In 2050, this is projected to be about 61.0%. The annual precipitation in San Francisco, CA is projected to increase from about 22.6" to about 23.2".

Extreme precipitation in any form can pose significant risks. Climate change is increasing the potential for extreme rainfall or snowfall because warmer air can hold more water vapor. See more information on storm risk. Property owners can take steps to reduce their risks from extreme precipitation.

Of 354 census tracts in San Francisco, CA, there are 36 where more than half of buildings have significant risk from high tide flooding, surface (pluvial) flooding, and riverine (fluvial) flooding. Property owners can check a specific address for flood risk including FEMA flood zone, then take steps to reduce their vulnerability to flooding damage.

Climate change is increasing inland and coastal flooding risk due to sea level rise and increasing chances of extreme precipitation. See more information on flooding risk.

Of 354 census tracts in San Francisco, CA, there are 53 where more than a quarter of buildings have significant fire risk, and 33 where more than half of buildings have significant fire risk. Property owners can take steps to mitigate their risks from wildfires.

Fire risk depends on proximity to vegation: densely developed urban areas have a much lower risk of burning than areas adjacent to wildland. Climate change increases risks from wildfire by creating hotter, drier conditions for fires to spread. ClimateCheck ratings of fire risk are based on projected weather conditions and U.S. Forest Service models simulating fire behavior.

In a typical year around 1990, people in San Francisco, CA experienced about 7 days above 79.5ºF in a year. By 2050, people in San Francisco are projected to experience an average of about 18 days per year over 79.5ºF.

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heat waves, even in places with cooler average temperatures. See more information on heat risk. Everyone can take steps to reduce their risks from extreme heat.