San Diego - Hottest Decades
Ranked here are the hottest decades on record for San Diego, California. The lists include decades when San Diego had the highest average temperatures, and the most hot days. These extremes are for temperatures observed at San Diego's International Airport and cover eight decades, from the 1940s to the 2010s.
That is when San Diego had weather measurements that are consistent and complete enough to compare decades. Each decade comprises a standard 10-year range. For instance, the 1990s includes measurements from Jan 1, 1990 to Dec 31, 1999. Links to the data behind these lists are in the References section on this page.
Hottest High Temperatures
| High °F | Decade | High °C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest | 71.5 | 2010s, 1980s | 22.0 |
| Runner-up | 70.8 | 1940s | 21.6 |
Warmest Low Temperatures
| Low °F | Decade | Low °C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Highest | 59.1 | 2010s | 15.0 |
| Runner-up | 58.8 | 1980s | 14.9 |
Most Warm Days
| Days | Decade | |
|---|---|---|
| Highest | 216 | 1980s |
| Runner-up | 209 | 2010s, 1940s |
Most Hot Days
| Days | Decade | |
|---|---|---|
| Highest | 5 | 2010s, 1970s |
| Runner-up | 4 | 1980s |
How Much Hotter are 2010s?
Compared with averages for the previous 50 years (1960 to 2009), the 2010s in San Diego had:
- 15 more days each year with temperatures of 70 °F and higher
- 1.1 °F higher daily maximum temperatures (0.6 °C)
- 1.5 °F higher daily minimum temperatures (0.8 °C)
References
Current Results. 2020. San Diego CA Temperature Averages by Decade
Jay Lawrimore, Ron Ray, Scott Applequist, Bryant Korzeniewski, Matthew Menne. 2016. Global Summary of the Year, Version 1.0. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information.