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Best time to visit · California, United States
April – June and September – November are the best time to visit Santa Barbara on the climate data: May scores 100/100, with highs around 73°F (23°C) and 0.4 in (11 mm) of rain. March and July & August are good shoulder-season months. The toughest months are December – February, mainly because of rain.
Highs run from 63°F to 82°F across the year, and the yearly total is about 15.9 in (404 mm) of rain.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high | 64°F18°C | 63°F17°C | 65°F19°C | 67°F20°C | 73°F23°C | 78°F26°C | 82°F28°C | 82°F28°C | 81°F27°C | 76°F25°C | 69°F21°C | 63°F17°C |
| Avg low | 51°F11°C | 51°F10°C | 52°F11°C | 53°F12°C | 56°F14°C | 62°F16°C | 67°F19°C | 67°F19°C | 65°F18°C | 61°F16°C | 55°F13°C | 51°F11°C |
| Rain | 3.5 in90 mm | 3.1 in78 mm | 2.5 in63 mm | 1.1 in27 mm | 0.4 in11 mm | 0.1 in3 mm | 0.1 in2 mm | 0.0 in1 mm | 0.1 in3 mm | 0.9 in22 mm | 1.3 in32 mm | 2.8 in72 mm |
| Humidity | 69% | 72% | 73% | 70% | 65% | 57% | 55% | 54% | 55% | 59% | 63% | 68% |
| Cloud | 43% | 43% | 42% | 35% | 31% | 27% | 25% | 21% | 23% | 27% | 34% | 43% |
| Comfort | 88 | 89 | 93 | 98 | 100 | 100 | 97 | 96 | 98 | 100 | 99 | 90 |
Source: NASA POWER (public domain), 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km satellite and reanalysis grid, so coasts and valleys can differ from what's shown. Temperatures were adjusted from the grid cell's ~313 m (1,027 ft) to Santa Barbara's ~15 m (49 ft) elevation using the standard lapse rate of 6.5°C per 1,000 m. Precipitation includes snow as melted water; daylight is calculated from latitude. Check a forecast before you go.
The cold peaks here: highs of 63–64°F (17–18°C), and nights reach 51°F (10°C). It's the wettest season, with about 9.4 in (240 mm) of rain, 59% of the year's total. Comfort scores bottom out in December – February; the season averages 89/100.
Temperatures climb through the season, from 65°F highs in March to 73°F by May. About 4.0 in (101 mm) of rain falls across these months, 25% of the year's total. Lows bottom out around 52°F (11°C). Comfort peaks here: April & May rank with the year's best, and the season averages 97/100.
Peak warmth: highs of 78–82°F (26–28°C). It's the driest season, with only about 0.2 in (6 mm) of rain, 1% of the year's total. Lows bottom out around 62°F (16°C). June is among the best-scoring months (season average 98/100).
Temperatures slide from 81°F highs in September to 69°F by November. About 2.2 in (57 mm) of rain falls across these months, 14% of the year's total. Lows bottom out around 55°F (13°C). Comfort peaks here: September – November rank with the year's best, and the season averages 99/100.
By comfort score: 12 Great. Tap a month for its own guide.
April – June and September – November are the best time to visit Santa Barbara on the climate data: May scores 100/100, with highs around 73°F (23°C) and 0.4 in (11 mm) of rain. March and July & August are good shoulder-season months. The toughest months are December – February, mainly because of rain.
January is the wettest month, averaging about 3.5 in (90 mm) of rain. August is the driest, with less than 0.1 in (3 mm). The yearly total is around 15.9 in (404 mm).
February is the coldest, with average lows of 51°F (10°C) and highs of 63°F (17°C). The warmest is August, with average highs of 82°F (28°C).
Not very: summer (June – August) humidity averages 55%, and highs peak around 82°F (28°C), so heat matters more than mugginess.
The wettest three-month stretch is December – February, with about 9.4 in (240 mm) of rain combined. The driest stretch is June – August, with about 0.2 in (6 mm).
Poll the group on April – June and September – November dates, then plan the days, packing and costs together.
