☀️ THE PRODUCTION CLIMATE & LIGHTING CALENDAR (2026)

San Diego offers 3,000+ hours of annual sunshine. Use this data to schedule your “Golden Hour” and manage your lighting budget.

📅 Monthly Light & Temperature Averages

Month

Sunrise (Avg)

Sunset (Avg)

Daylight

% Sunshine

High / Low (°F)

Production Notes

Jan

6:50 AM

5:05 PM

10.2 hrs

74%

66° / 49°

Deep blue skies; crisp visibility.

Feb

6:35 AM

5:30 PM

10.9 hrs

73%

65° / 51°

Peak rain month (still only ~2″).

Mar

6:55 AM*

6:55 PM*

12.0 hrs

71%

66° / 54°

DST Starts. Fast-changing light.

Apr

6:20 AM

7:20 PM

13.0 hrs

72%

68° / 56°

Windy; great for “hair in wind” shots.

May

5:50 AM

7:45 PM

13.9 hrs

56%

69° / 60°

“May Gray” – Natural softbox.

Jun

5:40 AM

8:00 PM

14.3 hrs

57%

71° / 62°

“June Gloom” – Heavy marine layer.

Jul

5:55 AM

8:00 PM

14.1 hrs

70%

74° / 66°

Morning fog, afternoon “pop.”

Aug

6:15 AM

7:35 PM

13.3 hrs

72%

76° / 67°

Hottest month; best water clarity.

Sep

6:35 AM

6:50 PM

12.4 hrs

65%

76° / 66°

Santa Ana Winds – Ultra-clear air.

Oct

6:55 AM

6:10 PM

11.3 hrs

70%

74° / 61°

Best “Golden Hour” saturation.

Nov

6:20 AM*

4:50 PM*

10.5 hrs

73%

70° / 54°

DST Ends. Short, punchy days.

Dec

6:45 AM

4:50 PM

10.0 hrs

75%

65° / 49°

Low sun angle; long shadows all day.

🌫️ THE “MARINE LAYER” PHENOMENON

Directors must account for the coastal “softbox” effect during late spring and early summer.

  • May Gray & June Gloom: From May 1st through early July, a thick layer of stratus clouds typically covers the coast from midnight until roughly 1:00 PM.
  • The Look: High-key, shadowless, flat lighting.
  • The Workaround: * Go Inland: Drive 10 miles East (to Mission Trails or Ramona), and you’ll be in full sun by 8:00 AM.
    • Shoot High-Contrast: If you need hard shadows, schedule your “Hero” shots for after 2:00 PM.
    • The “Fogust” Fallback: Occasionally, this pattern returns in August. Always check the “Catalina Eddy” forecast 48 hours before a coastal shoot.

🌬️ SANTA ANA CONDITIONS (Sept–Nov)

  • The Visuals: Extremely low humidity and winds from the East push all haze out to sea. This results in “HD Skies”—deep, saturated blues and visibility that allows you to see the Coronado Islands from 20 miles away.
  • The Risk: High fire danger may lead to permit restrictions for pyrotechnics or beach bonfires in mountain/canyon areas.

🌡️ WATER TEMPERATURES (For Surf/Swim Shoots)

  • Peak Warmth: August/September ($70^\circ\text{F}$ to $74^\circ\text{F}$). Talent can stay in the water for 2+ hours without a wetsuit.
  • Winter Lows: January/February ($56^\circ\text{F}$ to $59^\circ\text{F}$). Full 4/3mm wetsuits are required for talent comfort and safety.

💡 Pro-Tip for Creative Directors:

“If your brand aesthetic requires hard, desert-style shadows and ‘Summer’ vibes, book your shoot for September or October. You get the warmest air, the clearest skies, and the longest-lasting afternoon warmth, long after the rest of the country has turned gray.”