Santa Ana, CA Climate & Monthly Averages
Santa Ana has a semi-arid climate. August is the hottest month, averaging 85° by day; January is the coldest at 66°.
Santa Ana's climate runs on sunshine and sparse rain
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).
What the dry climate changes
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.
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).
More climate facts for Santa Ana
- 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%
Heat, cold and scarce precipitation in the dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.
When the dry weather is easiest to use
Avoiding the hardest heat or cold
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.
Prepare for sun and cooler nights
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).
Monthly heat and rainfall 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% |
How daytime heat and cool nights change by month
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Santa Ana's coldest night and 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
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Santa Ana's coolest part of the year: January, December, February.
Heat and cold across the Santa Ana year
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.
How unusual is Santa Ana?
- 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.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.