The best times to visit Santa Cruz for ideal weather are

March 19th to September 16th

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

 

 


Other Santa Cruz Travel Info

Weather in Santa Cruz

Temperature

Average temperatures in Santa Cruz vary little. Considering humidity, temperatures feel very enjoyable all year with a low chance of precipitation most of the year. The area is more temperate than most — in the 87th 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 Cruz, the hottest months are August, September, 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 80.1°F (26.7°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 70.1°F (21.2°C) at night.

Santa Cruz Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Santa Cruz 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 Cruz Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Santa Cruz Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Santa Cruz 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 66.7 61.5 58.1
Feb 66 60.8 57.2
Mar 67.1 61.5 57.5
Apr 69 63.2 58.9
May 71.5 65.7 61.3
Jun 75 69.1 64.7
Jul 78.4 72.6 68.2
Aug 79.7 74 69.9
Sep 78.2 72.7 68.6
Oct 76.4 71 67.1
Nov 71.2 66.3 62.9
Dec 68.4 63.7 60.4

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 19.3 16.4 14.5
Feb 18.9 16 14
Mar 19.5 16.4 14.2
Apr 20.6 17.3 14.9
May 21.9 18.7 16.3
Jun 23.9 20.6 18.2
Jul 25.8 22.6 20.1
Aug 26.5 23.3 21.1
Sep 25.7 22.6 20.3
Oct 24.7 21.7 19.5
Nov 21.8 19.1 17.2
Dec 20.2 17.6 15.8

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Santa Cruz are August, July, and then June. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around early to mid July. For example, on the week of July 9th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in mid to late November with an average of 2 days of significant precipitation the week of November 19th.

When can you find snow in Santa Cruz? Weather stations report a bit of annual snow likely to be deepest around October, especially close to late October. The best time to ski (if at all) in Santa Cruz is often around around October 22nd when fresh powder is deepest. 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 Cruz.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Santa Cruz (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 14% 0 2.4
Feb 15% 0 2.2
Mar 16% 0 2.2
Apr 11% 0 1.8
May 6% 0 0.8
Jun 3% 0 0.5
Jul 2% 0 0.2
Aug 1% 0 0.2
Sep 12% 0 1.6
Oct 17% 0.6 3.6
Nov 25% 0 4.2
Dec 23% 0.4 4

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 14 0 6.1
Feb 15 0 5.6
Mar 16 0 5.6
Apr 11 0 4.6
May 6 0 2
Jun 3 0 1.3
Jul 2 0 0.5
Aug 1 0 0.5
Sep 12 0 4.1
Oct 17 1.5 9.1
Nov 25 0 10.7
Dec 23 1 10.2

 

Humidity and Wind

Santa Cruz has some high humidity months, with other comfortably humid months. The least humid month is August (58.4% relative humidity), and the most humid month is December (63.1%).

Wind in Santa Cruz is usually moderate. The windiest month is July, followed by August and March. July’s average wind speed of around 9.9 knots (11.4 MPH or 18.3 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early to mid July where average top sustained speeds reach 15.8 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

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

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 7.5 Gentle breeze 11.5 Significant breeze
Feb 8.4 Gentle breeze 12.9 Significant breeze
Mar 9.1 Gentle breeze 13.4 Significant breeze
Apr 8.3 Gentle breeze 12.7 Significant breeze
May 8.4 Gentle breeze 12.9 Significant breeze
Jun 8.2 Gentle breeze 12.5 Significant breeze
Jul 9.9 Gentle breeze 14.3 Significant breeze
Aug 9.5 Gentle breeze 13.5 Significant breeze
Sep 7.3 Gentle breeze 11.4 Significant breeze
Oct 7.8 Gentle breeze 12.5 Significant breeze
Nov 8.5 Gentle breeze 12.9 Significant breeze
Dec 8.9 Gentle breeze 13.4 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 62.8%
Feb 60.1%
Mar 59.5%
Apr 59%
May 59.3%
Jun 61%
Jul 58.5%
Aug 58.4%
Sep 62.5%
Oct 62.5%
Nov 62.1%
Dec 63.1%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Santa Cruz?

Our best data indicates this area is generally safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are no travel advisories or warnings for Portugal; 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 Oct 30, 2023.


 

The Busiest and Least Crowded Months

The busiest month for tourism in Santa Cruz, Portugal is January, followed by February and October. 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 Cruz 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 slightly extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 50.4 in November means 50.4% of the tourists vs. January.

 

 

Overall Santa Cruz Travel Experience by Season

Spring (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderate. Highs range from 72.8°F (22.7°C) and 65.4°F (18.6°C) with warmer temperatures in the later months. Rain is rare with 2 to 5 days of significant precipitation per month. Spring is the slowest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for deals.

Summer (June through August)

The middle-year months have very comfortable 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 second busiest season for tourism in Santa Cruz, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly more.

Fall (September through November)

Fall daily highs range from 79.1°F (26.2°C) and 68.8°F (20.4°C), which will feel very nice given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 4 to 8 days per month. Tourism is fairly slow during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be lower priced.

Winter (December through February)

Weather is somewhat cool this time of year in Santa Cruz to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 68.9°F (20.5°C) and 65.1°F (18.4°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 4 to 7 times per month. These times of year are the busiest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› Portugal › Santa Cruz, Portugal