Santa Ana, CA Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Santa Ana
Santa Ana runs on a dry-summer rhythm: the warmest months are also the driest. July averages 3 mm (0.1 in) while the wet season peaks in January at 2.8 inches (70 mm). Highs range from 66°F (19°C) to 85°F (29°C).
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: August - highs near 85°F (29°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 66°F (19°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 113°F (45°C) high · 36°F (2°C) low
- Wettest month: January (5 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (13.3 h sun/day)
- Climate type: semi-arid
- Annual swing: 9°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 11°C
- Average humidity: 67%
Temperatures through the year
January is the wettest month at 2.8 inches (70 mm) over 5 days; July is the driest. At its warmest, in August, Santa Ana runs to 85°F (29°C) in the afternoon and back to 64°F (18°C) by dawn. January sits at the other end of the year: 66°F (19°C) by day, 48°F (9°C) at night. July is the brightest month at 13.3 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 10.8 - sunnier than 91% of the 3496 cities in our dataset.
Rain, sun and snow
Between the average August and the average January lie 9°C, a narrower spread than about 77% of the cities we track. Relative humidity averages 67% across the year, drier than about 75% of the cities we track. 8 months average under 20 mm of rain, the longest unbroken stretch running April through November. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 113°F (45°C) and the lowest daily minimum 36°F (2°C).
How Santa Ana compares
- Rain or snow reaches the ground on 34 days a year - fewer wet days than all but 5% of the 3496 cities we track.
- Annual precipitation is 12.7 inches (322 mm) - drier than all but 8% of the 3496 cities we track.
- 59% of the year's precipitation falls in its wettest three months - more seasonal than 91% of the 3496 cities we track.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 66° | 48° | 5 | 2.8 in | 8.4 h/day | 10.1 h | 17% | 67% |
| February | 67° | 48° | 5 | 2.1 in | 9.1 h/day | 10.9 h | 18% | 63% |
| March | 68° | 50° | 7 | 2.0 in | 10.4 h/day | 11.9 h | 24% | 69% |
| April | 73° | 54° | 2 | 0.7 in | 11.4 h/day | 13.0 h | 8% | 66% |
| May | 73° | 56° | 3 | 0.4 in | 12.0 h/day | 13.9 h | 9% | 70% |
| June | 79° | 60° | 0 | 0.2 in | 13.0 h/day | 14.4 h | 1% | 71% |
| July | 83° | 63° | 0 | 0.1 in | 13.3 h/day | 14.2 h | 1% | 72% |
| August | 85° | 64° | 0 | 0.3 in | 12.3 h/day | 13.4 h | 2% | 72% |
| September | 84° | 64° | 1 | 0.4 in | 11.3 h/day | 12.3 h | 5% | 70% |
| October | 80° | 60° | 2 | 0.4 in | 10.2 h/day | 11.3 h | 5% | 64% |
| November | 74° | 53° | 2 | 0.7 in | 9.5 h/day | 10.4 h | 8% | 56% |
| December | 67° | 49° | 5 | 2.6 in | 8.2 h/day | 9.9 h | 15% | 63% |
Santa Ana month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Santa Ana's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 8.4 h
- Daylight
- 10.1 h
February
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 9.1 h
- Daylight
- 10.9 h
March
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 10.4 h
- Daylight
- 11.9 h
April
- Rain
- 2 days
- Sunshine
- 11.4 h
- Daylight
- 13.0 h
May
- Rain
- 3 days
- Sunshine
- 12.0 h
- Daylight
- 13.9 h
June
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 13.0 h
- Daylight
- 14.4 h
July
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 13.3 h
- Daylight
- 14.2 h
August
- Rain
- 0 days
- Sunshine
- 12.3 h
- Daylight
- 13.4 h
September
- Rain
- 1 day
- Sunshine
- 11.3 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
October
- Rain
- 2 days
- Sunshine
- 10.2 h
- Daylight
- 11.3 h
November
- Rain
- 2 days
- Sunshine
- 9.5 h
- Daylight
- 10.4 h
December
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 8.2 h
- Daylight
- 9.9 h
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Santa Ana
Spring (March through May)
Spring in Santa Ana is mild and warm, with daytime highs averaging 71°F (22°C) and nights around 53°F (12°C); rain comes on about 13 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 11.3 hours of sun a day.
Summer (June through August)
Through summer, Santa Ana sits firmly in the heat: 82°F (28°C) by day, 62°F (17°C) after dark, and precipitation is sparse, near 14 mm (0.5 in) for the season. Daylight is generous - around 12.9 hours of sun a day.
Fall (September through November)
Fall is pleasantly warm here - highs near 79°F (26°C), nights near 59°F (15°C), and precipitation is sparse, near 1.5 inches (38 mm) for the season. Daylight is generous - around 10.3 hours of sun a day.
Winter (December through February)
Winter stays on the cool side of mild here - highs near 67°F (19°C), nights near 48°F (9°C), and rain comes on about 15 days over the three months.
Climate questions, answered
How sunny is Santa Ana?
Is Santa Ana hot in summer?
How humid does Santa Ana get?
Is Santa Ana cold in winter?
Best time to visit Santa Ana
The best time to visit Santa Ana is generally January to June, when temperatures sit either side of the peak heat rather than in it. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 71°F (22°C), with rain on about 4 days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in January.
Pack for Santa Ana with light clothing for the warm months. Note the gap between afternoon and night: August pairs 85°F (29°C) with 64°F (18°C).
Santa Ana temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.