ERA5 almanac comparison — 8 years of real data
Big Sur vs Gulf Shores: weather in August
Big Sur edges out Gulf Shores for sun in August: 38% clear historically versus 14% (8-year ERA5 average, a 24-point gap). Gulf Shores also sees measurably more rain than Big Sur this month (62% vs 0% of days). Both are viable — Big Sur is the safer bet.
What you are reading: 8-year historical averages, not a forecast.
Either destination can still surprise you this specific August. For this
week’s actual forecast, each destination links to its live page below.
Big Sur
CA
- Clear days, August
- 38%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 71°F
- Early August (1st–15th)
- 39%
- Late August (16th–end)
- 38%
- Rain frequency
- 0% of days
Gulf Shores
AL
- Clear days, August
- 14%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 87°F
- Early August (1st–15th)
- 12%
- Late August (16th–end)
- 16%
- Rain frequency
- 62% of days
Compare Big Sur vs Gulf Shores in another month
All percentages are historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 8 full years (2018–2025). “Clear” means avg high ≥ 72 °F, precipitation < 1 mm, and a non-precipitation weather code. This is history, not a forecast. The live 7-day outlook for any destination is on its own page and may differ from the long-run average. Data from Open-Meteo.