Her Cape Guide to SDCC: #96- Preparing for SDCC Weather

Her Cape 100 Things to Know About SDCC continues with #96: Weather. How do you prepare for the fickle July weather in San Diego?

Contrary to popular belief, it isn’t always sunny in San Diego and San Diego Julys can be very fickle. There have been years when it has been blistering hot for San Diego Comic Con, there have been overcast days, and there have even been thunderstorms with rain and lightning during a particularly strong monsoon season. There’s no predicting San Diego weather, so take it from this San Diego native: You need to be prepared for everything.

Inside the Convention Center

The San Diego Convention Center has a powerful air conditioning system. In the mornings, the Exhibit Hall can be chilly but when the afternoon hits and the giant space is packed full of bodies, it gets a lot warmer. If you’re sitting in a hallway waiting for a panel room, you might feel chilled. A light jacket can be very helpful.

Some of the upstairs panel rooms can be downright cold. The Anime rooms are usually frigid.

If you’re prone to drafts, a light jacket or sweatshirt will be very helpful. And remember, you’re going to be worn out and exhausted by Saturday. When you’re tired you feel cold a lot more than you normally would.

SDCC 2016 Hall H Camping, Photo: Sarabeth Pollock

Preparing for Hall H Camping

As you’re getting ready to spend some quality time in the Hall H line, you might see the tents set up on the grass and think that everything will be fine. However, those tents are the starting point for the line. Throughout the day, the Hall H line might extend all the way behind the San Diego Convention Center and the Marriott Marina Hotel, winding all the way to the waterfront park. As you can see in the picture, the line is right beside the water. It might look warm during the day, but at night it’s freezing.

In the daytime, the line will be hot, even if it’s not a hot day. You’ll be in the direct sun. If it’s overcast, you will still get sunburned.

At night, though, it’s a whole other story.

People tend to think that it’s never cold in San Diego. Those of us who live here know that nighttime near the water can be chilly, even on the warmest days. The Convention Center is directly beside the marina, so as soon as the sun starts to go down you’ll have a breeze coming in from the bay and it will be damp. Damp air tends to make you colder, and once you get cold, you won’t stop being cold until well after the sun comes up.

The best way to prepare yourself is to have blankets and heavy jackets ready for your camping experience. Have a blanket to put on the ground because you’ll either be on the cold (and dirty) pavement or the cold, damp (and dirty) grass.

Word to the wise: Buy a cheap $3 fleece blanket or two, and then donate them to a homeless person after you’re done with it instead of throwing it in the trash. There are many people who live on the streets in Downtown San Diego, and they will gladly accept a blanket from you.

More from Bam Smack Pow

There’s nothing worse than starting your day at SDCC chilled and miserable because you froze your butt off overnight. Arrive prepared.

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