Alcatraz is a small rocky island in the middle of San Francisco Bay, exposed directly to the opening to the Pacific Ocean that is spanned by the Golden Gate Bridge. For this reason its weather is influenced both by the Bay and by the ocean and its banks of fog.
It may sound illogical, but summer is actually the foggiest part of the year on San Francisco Bay. We almost never get rain during the summer, but we can get wild swings in temperature.
In many years September and October are our warmest months, as the fog recedes and the long days still give us plenty of sunshine.
During the winter we have less fog on Alcatraz, but we'll get one, two or even three days of rain at a time as Pacific storms cross the area.
A winter visit to Alcatraz allows you to buy tickets without ordering several days in advance, as opposed to the summer, when some days or parts of days can sell out.
Want to make sure you get a dry weather day during the winter? Buy your ticket "at the last minute," and you can avoid coming on a rainy day, or at least know in advance that you need to wear a good raincoat.
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