2025 Compare Climate & Weather:
Santa Cruz, CA vs Santa Barbara, CA

Highlights

On average, there are 283 sunny days per year in Santa Barbara. Santa Cruz averages 262 sunny days per year. The US average is 205 sunny days.

Santa Barbara, California gets 18.5 inches of rain, on average, per year. Santa Cruz, California gets 32.5 inches of rain, on average, per year. The US average is 38.1 inches of rain per year.

Santa Barbara averages 0 inches of snow per year. Santa Cruz averages 0 inches of snow per year. The US average is 27.8 inches of snow per year.

Weather Highlights

Santa Barbara, California
Summer High: the July high is around 73.1 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 43.1
Rain: averages 18.5 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 0 inches of snow a year

Santa Cruz, California
Summer High: the July high is around 77.4 degrees
Winter Low: the January low is 39.5
Rain: averages 32.5 inches of rain a year
Snow: averages 0 inches of snow a year

BestPlaces Comfort Index

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Santa Barbara is 8.9 (10=best), which means it is more comfortable than most places in California.

The annual BestPlaces Comfort Index for Santa Cruz is 8.5 (10=best), which means it is more comfortable than most places in California.

Today's Weather - Santa Cruz, CA

50°F

Today's Weather - Santa Barbara, CA

54°F

Average Monthly High / Low (°F)

Hot, Freezing, Rainy, Snowy Days: Santa Cruz / Santa Barbara

September is the hottest month for Santa Cruz with an average high temperature of 78.2°, which ranks it as cooler than most places in California. In Santa Cruz, there are 6 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Santa Cruz are August, September and July.

August is the hottest month for Santa Barbara with an average high temperature of 73.7°, which ranks it as one of the coolest places in California. In Santa Barbara, there are 5 comfortable months with high temperatures in the range of 70-85°. The most pleasant months of the year for Santa Barbara are August, September and July.

December has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Santa Cruz with an average of 39.4°. This is warmer than most places in California.

December has the coldest nighttime temperatures for Santa Barbara with an average of 43.0°. This is warmer than most places in California.

In Santa Cruz, there are 14.3 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is cooler than most places in California.

In Santa Barbara, there are 1.4 days annually when the high temperature is over 90°, which is one of the coolest places in California.

In Santa Cruz, there are 12.1 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is about average compared to other places in California.

In Santa Barbara, there are 1.6 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below freezing, which is warmer than most places in California.

In Santa Cruz, there are 0.0 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is about average compared to other places in California.

In Santa Barbara, there are 0.0 days annually when the nighttime low temperature falls below zero°, which is about average compared to other places in California.

February is the wettest month in Santa Cruz with 6.5 inches of rain, and the driest month is July with 0.0 inches. The wettest season is Spring with 59% of yearly precipitation and 1% occurs in Autumn, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 32.5 inches in Santa Cruz means that it is wetter than most places in California.


February is the wettest month in Santa Barbara with 4.3 inches of rain, and the driest month is July with 0.0 inches. The wettest season is Spring with 61% of yearly precipitation and 1% occurs in Autumn, which is the driest season. The annual rainfall of 18.5 inches in Santa Barbara means that it is about average compared to other places in California.

February is the rainiest month in Santa Cruz with 11.2 days of rain, and July is the driest month with only 0.3 rainy days. There are 68.5 rainy days annually in Santa Cruz, which is rainier than most places in California. The rainiest season is Spring when it rains 49% of the time and the driest is Autumn with only a 3% chance of a rainy day.

February is the rainiest month in Santa Barbara with 7.0 days of rain, and July is the driest month with only 0.4 rainy days. There are 37.8 rainy days annually in Santa Barbara, which is less rainy than most places in California. The rainiest season is Spring when it rains 50% of the time and the driest is Autumn with only a 4% chance of a rainy day.

There is rarely any recorded snowfall in Santa Cruz, ranking it as one of the least snowy places in California.

There is rarely any recorded snowfall in Santa Barbara, ranking it as one of the least snowy places in California.

Any measurable snowfall is a rare occurance in Santa Cruz.

Any measurable snowfall is a rare occurance in Santa Barbara.