When Does the Fog Clear at the Golden Gate Bridge?
Skies are clear at the Golden Gate. Fog may roll back in around 1 PM.
Today, hour by hour
Typical Clearing Pattern by Season
Today's live estimate above reflects the forecast; here is the longer-run rhythm of when fog tends to clear at the Golden Gate. You're currently in Summer.
| Season | Morning | Midday | Evening | Typically clears by |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SummerJune – August | Foggy / overcast | Often burns off 11 AM – 1 PM | Fog returns 4 – 7 PM | Late morning |
| FallSeptember – October | Often clear, light fog possible | Clear | Mostly clear | Early morning (or no fog) |
| WinterNovember – February | Clear or radiation fog after calm nights | Usually clear | Clear unless a storm is in | Late morning |
| SpringMarch – May | Increasingly foggy toward late spring | Burns off late morning | Fog building back in by late spring | Late morning |
Peak "June Gloom": thick overnight marine layer that usually lifts for a midday window, then rolls back through the Gate by evening.
Why the Fog Burns Off
Golden Gate fog is a marine layer — a shallow deck of cool, moist ocean air capped by warmer air above. As the sun heats the land through the morning, that warming mixes out and lifts the layer, and the bridge re-emerges. When inland valleys heat up in the afternoon, the pressure difference pulls the fog back in through the Gate, which is why summer evenings often fog over again.
For the seasonal science and month-by-month detail, see the fog season guide and our profile of Karl the Fog.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time does the fog usually clear at the Golden Gate Bridge?
In summer the marine layer typically burns off between late morning and early afternoon (often 11 AM–1 PM), though it can linger all day during deep “June Gloom.” In fall and winter the bridge is frequently clear by early morning or never fogs in. Check the live estimate above for today specifically.
Does the fog come back in the afternoon?
Yes — in summer the fog often clears for a midday window and then pushes back in through the Golden Gate in the late afternoon or evening, usually between 4 PM and 7 PM.
Is the Golden Gate Bridge foggy all day in summer?
Sometimes. During the foggiest summer stretches the marine layer can stay thick all day. More often there is a midday clear window. The live forecast on this page tells you which to expect today.
How accurate is today’s clearing time?
It is a forecast estimate computed from Open-Meteo visibility and cloud data at the bridge’s coordinates, updated every 15 minutes. Fog is famously local and fast-moving, so always confirm with a live webcam before you go.