Snow in San Diego? 5 times it happened, fueling Christmas ‘what if’ dreams

by Debbie L. Sklar • Times of San Diego

View of a man throwing snow or seafoam from the ground at Mission Beach, possibly 1932. Quite a bit of snow or seafoam is on the beach, apparently from a freak snowstorm. (Photo courtesy of San Diego History Center)

Dreaming of a white Christmas? What are the odds?

Even in Southern California, winter still finds ways to surprise us. On a handful of rare occasions, San Diego — known for its sunshine and mild weather — has actually been dusted with snow.

Historical weather records show that only five true snowfall events have ever been documented in the city’s recorded history.

These fleeting moments briefly transformed the region into a winter landscape. While San Diego is known for its steady, predictable weather, these remarkable storms stand out as exceptions.

However, flurries have appeared in nearby inland neighborhoods on other rare occasions.

Here are the five times snow made an appearance:

People playing in the snow or seafoam at Mission Beach, possibly 1932. Check out the snow or seafoam is on the beach. The group is playing by a lamppost while one woman sits on the sea wall at right. (Photo courtesy of San Diego Historical Center)

A man driving a horse-drawn cart through the snow near Lake Cuyamaca. Two men and a young man are standing on a bank above the carriage. The driver might be Ed Fletcher. (Photo courtesy of San Diego History Center)

Feb. 7, 1882 – The first recorded snow in the city. Flakes fell downtown and near the harbor, temporarily covering streets and surprising residents in a sparsely populated coastal town.
January 1912 – Light snow or flurries were reported in city neighborhoods. Accounts vary on the exact date, but observers noted that snow was visible on rooftops and trees.
Jan. 3, 1932 – Snow fell in La Mesa, University Heights, Mission Beach, and some city hilltops. The event was brief but widely covered in local newspapers.
Jan. 11, 1949 – The most famous snowfall in San Diego history. A strong cold front brought snow across the county, reaching parts of the city. Children played in neighborhoods with a rare dusting, making this the benchmark low-elevation snow event.
Dec. 21–22, 1967 – The last measurable snowfall in the city. Certain neighborhoods reported up to an inch after a rare cold system passed through Southern California. This is the most recent instance of snow accumulating in San Diego proper.

Snow dusts the streets in Alpine in 1949. (Photo courtesy of San Diego History Center)

Other Rare Flurries or Unofficial Snow Events

While the five events above are widely recognized as the official “snow in the city” record, other flurries have occasionally been reported, mostly in inland or northern suburbs:

February 1962 – Light snow flurries in inland neighborhoods, not verified in central San Diego.
2008 & 2013 – Flurries observed in areas like Poway, Rancho Bernardo, and Carmel Mountain. These events were brief, minor, and did not occur downtown.

View of automobiles heading up Highway 80 (later Interstate 8) east of Alpine with snow on the highway. Check out the cars! (Photo courtesy of San Diego History Center)

An unidentified woman plays in the snow near Alpine, probably in the 1800s. (Photo courtesy of San Diego History Center)

Though rare, these snow events are part of San Diego’s unique weather history — a reminder that even in a city famous for sunshine, winter can occasionally deliver a surprise. For residents, each flurry, no matter how brief, becomes a story worth retelling.

Sources:
National Weather Service San Diego Forecast Office archives
San Diego History Center archival accounts
Local newspaper archives
Weather.gov historical data for San Diego County

Sources:

Recent Posts