Santa Barbara, CA Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Santa Barbara
9 months of the year in Santa Barbara land in the band most people call comfortable - highs between 18°C and 27°C with rain on fewer than twelve days. The exceptions sit at either end: August at 85°F (29°C) and January at 65°F (19°C).
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: August - highs near 85°F (29°C)
- Coldest month: January - highs near 65°F (19°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 114°F (46°C) high · 31°F (0°C) low
- Wettest month: January (7 rainy days) · Sunniest: July (13.8 h sun/day)
- Climate type: Mediterranean
- Annual swing: 11°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 10°C
- Average humidity: 59%
Temperatures through the year
Relative humidity averages 59% across the year, drier than about 86% of the cities we track. January bottoms out at 65°F (19°C) in daylight, 48°F (9°C) after dark. August is the warm end of the year, averaging 85°F (29°C) by day and 66°F (19°C) overnight. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 114°F (46°C) and the lowest daily minimum 31°F (0°C). Precipitation concentrates in January - 4.9 inches (125 mm) on 7 days - and thins out by July.
Rain, sun and snow
6 months average under 20 mm of rain, the longest unbroken stretch running May through October. Sunshine averages 11.0 hours a day over the year - sunnier than 95% of the 3496 cities in our dataset, peaking in July at 13.8 hours. Days and nights are about 10°C apart on average - wider than roughly 76% of the cities we track.
How Santa Barbara compares
- Rain or snow reaches the ground on 38 days a year - fewer wet days than all but 6% of the 3496 cities we track.
- 64% of the year's precipitation falls in its wettest three months - more seasonal than 94% 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 | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 65° | 48° | 7 | 4.9 in | 8.2 h/day | 62% |
| February | 66° | 47° | 5 | 3.8 in | 9.4 h/day | 58% |
| March | 68° | 49° | 8 | 4.0 in | 10.3 h/day | 62% |
| April | 72° | 53° | 3 | 1.0 in | 11.8 h/day | 59% |
| May | 72° | 55° | 2 | 0.5 in | 13.0 h/day | 67% |
| June | 79° | 61° | 1 | 0.2 in | 13.2 h/day | 64% |
| July | 83° | 65° | 0 | 0.0 in | 13.8 h/day | 62% |
| August | 85° | 66° | 0 | 0.1 in | 12.8 h/day | 58% |
| September | 83° | 64° | 1 | 0.2 in | 11.6 h/day | 56% |
| October | 80° | 60° | 2 | 0.5 in | 10.6 h/day | 49% |
| November | 72° | 52° | 3 | 1.1 in | 9.4 h/day | 49% |
| December | 66° | 48° | 6 | 3.4 in | 8.3 h/day | 58% |
Santa Barbara month by month
Santa Barbara weather in January
January brings highs around 65°F (19°C), lows near 48°F (9°C), about 7 wet days - typically the coldest month and the wettest month of the year in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara weather in February
February brings highs around 66°F (19°C), lows near 47°F (8°C), about 5 wet days.
Santa Barbara weather in March
March brings highs around 68°F (20°C), lows near 49°F (10°C), about 8 wet days.
Santa Barbara weather in April
April brings highs around 72°F (22°C), lows near 53°F (12°C), about 3 wet days.
Santa Barbara weather in May
May brings highs around 72°F (22°C), lows near 55°F (13°C), about 2 wet days.
Santa Barbara weather in June
June brings highs around 79°F (26°C), lows near 61°F (16°C), about 1 wet days.
Santa Barbara weather in July
July brings highs around 83°F (29°C), lows near 65°F (19°C), about 0 wet days - typically the driest month and the sunniest month of the year in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara weather in August
August brings highs around 85°F (29°C), lows near 66°F (19°C), about 0 wet days - typically the hottest month of the year in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara weather in September
September brings highs around 83°F (28°C), lows near 64°F (18°C), about 1 wet days.
Santa Barbara weather in October
October brings highs around 80°F (27°C), lows near 60°F (15°C), about 2 wet days.
Santa Barbara weather in November
November brings highs around 72°F (22°C), lows near 52°F (11°C), about 3 wet days.
Santa Barbara weather in December
December brings highs around 66°F (19°C), lows near 48°F (9°C), about 6 wet days.
Seasons in Santa Barbara
Spring (March through May)
Through spring, Santa Barbara is pleasantly warm: 71°F (22°C) by day, 53°F (11°C) after dark, and rain comes on about 13 days over the three months. Daylight is generous - around 11.7 hours of sun a day.
Summer (June through August)
Summer brings hot afternoons here - highs near 82°F (28°C), nights near 64°F (18°C), and precipitation is sparse, near 10 mm (0.4 in) for the season. Daylight is generous - around 13.3 hours of sun a day.
Fall (September through November)
Fall in Santa Barbara settles into easy warmth, with daytime highs averaging 78°F (26°C) and nights around 59°F (15°C); precipitation is sparse, near 1.8 inches (45 mm) for the season. Daylight is generous - around 10.5 hours of sun a day.
Winter (December through February)
Through winter, Santa Barbara is crisp but comfortable: 66°F (19°C) by day, 48°F (9°C) after dark, and rain comes on about 18 days over the three months.
Climate questions, answered
How much do temperatures drop at night in Santa Barbara?
How often does it rain in Santa Barbara?
What should I pack for Santa Barbara?
How sunny is Santa Barbara?
Which months are driest in Santa Barbara?
Is Santa Barbara a wet city?
Best time to visit Santa Barbara
The best time to visit Santa Barbara is generally January to June, when the dry season is running but the afternoons are still bearable. Daytime temperatures in that window sit near 70°F (21°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 Barbara with light clothing for the warm months. Note the gap between afternoon and night: August pairs 85°F (29°C) with 66°F (19°C).
Santa Barbara temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ.