The best times to visit Santa Barbara for ideal weather are

April 16th to November 11th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Santa Barbara Travel Info

Weather in Santa Barbara

Temperature

Average temperatures in Santa Barbara vary somewhat. Considering humidity, temperatures feel nice most of the year, excluding some cold weeks in the winter, with a very low chance of rain or snow throughout the year. The area is more temperate than most — in the 70th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Santa Barbara, the hottest months are September, August, and then July. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally late August to early September where highs are regularly around 78.2°F (25.7°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 58.1°F (14.5°C) at night.

Santa Barbara Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Santa Barbara Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“Feels-Like” Temperatures

The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.

Santa Barbara Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Santa Barbara Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Santa Barbara Temperatures by Month

Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.

Show Fahrenheit

Month Avg. High (°F) Avg. Mean (°F) Avg. Low (°F)
Jan 66.8 52.5 40.2
Feb 65.7 53.7 42.7
Mar 68.4 56.6 46.2
Apr 69.1 57.8 47.5
May 71.5 60.5 50.9
Jun 71 62.2 54.5
Jul 74 65.1 58.1
Aug 74.8 65.3 57.6
Sep 76.3 65.6 56.6
Oct 76 63.2 51.7
Nov 70.4 57.1 45
Dec 64.7 52.4 41

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 19.3 11.4 4.6
Feb 18.7 12.1 5.9
Mar 20.2 13.7 7.9
Apr 20.6 14.3 8.6
May 21.9 15.8 10.5
Jun 21.7 16.8 12.5
Jul 23.3 18.4 14.5
Aug 23.8 18.5 14.2
Sep 24.6 18.7 13.7
Oct 24.4 17.3 10.9
Nov 21.3 13.9 7.2
Dec 18.2 11.3 5

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Santa Barbara are July, August, and then September. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early May. For example, on the week of April 30th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late January with an average of 2 days of significant precipitation the week of January 22nd.

When can you find snow in Santa Barbara? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.

Chance of Precipitation

The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Santa Barbara.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Santa Barbara (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 13% 0 3
Feb 16% 0 2.3
Mar 7% 0 1.5
Apr 6% 0 0.9
May 2% 0 0.2
Jun 2% 0 0.3
Jul 0% 0 0
Aug 0% 0 0
Sep 1% 0 0.1
Oct 4% 0 0.8
Nov 8% 0 1.2
Dec 16% 0 3.3

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 13 0 7.6
Feb 16 0 5.8
Mar 7 0 3.8
Apr 6 0 2.3
May 2 0 0.5
Jun 2 0 0.8
Jul 0 0 0
Aug 0 0 0
Sep 1 0 0.3
Oct 4 0 2
Nov 8 0 3
Dec 16 0 8.4

 

Humidity and Wind

Santa Barbara has some very humid months, with other comfortably humid months. The least humid month is January (56.7% relative humidity), and the most humid month is August (71.8%).

Wind in Santa Barbara is usually calm. The windiest month is May, followed by April and June. May’s average wind speed of around 5.5 knots (6.3 MPH or 10.2 KPH) is considered “a light breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early to mid April where average top sustained speeds reach 13.3 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Santa Barbara.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

Average Wind Speeds

Show Wind Speeds

All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.

Month Avg. Wind Avg. Wind Feel Sustained High Wind High Wind Feel
Jan 3 Barely noticeable 9.5 Gentle breeze
Feb 4 Light breeze 11.1 Significant breeze
Mar 4.6 Light breeze 11.8 Gentle breeze
Apr 5.3 Light breeze 13 Significant breeze
May 5.5 Light breeze 12.7 Gentle breeze
Jun 4.8 Light breeze 10.5 Gentle breeze
Jul 4.7 Light breeze 10.3 Gentle breeze
Aug 4.3 Light breeze 9.6 Gentle breeze
Sep 3.9 Barely noticeable 10 Gentle breeze
Oct 3.7 Barely noticeable 10.1 Gentle breeze
Nov 3.3 Barely noticeable 9.6 Gentle breeze
Dec 3.4 Barely noticeable 10.2 Gentle breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 56.7%
Feb 61.3%
Mar 60.2%
Apr 59.2%
May 61.2%
Jun 70.3%
Jul 71.7%
Aug 71.8%
Sep 69.4%
Oct 61.1%
Nov 57.5%
Dec 59.2%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Santa Barbara?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for the United States; exercise normal security precautions. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Dec 04, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Santa Barbara, CA, US is July, followed by June and August. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Santa Barbara in November. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is somewhat extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 33.6 in November means 33.6% of the tourists vs. July.

 

 

Overall Santa Barbara Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderate. Highs range from 73.5°F (23.1°C) and 66°F (18.9°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is rare with 1 to 2 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have comfortably cool weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see the least precipitation with 0 to 1 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Santa Barbara, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 78.2°F (25.7°C) and 67.9°F (19.9°C), which will feel comfortable given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a normal amount: 0 to 2 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is too cold this time of year in Santa Barbara to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 68.7°F (20.4°C) and 63.9°F (17.7°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 4 to 5 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› the United States › Santa Barbara, CA, US