Weather StoryAlmanac, microseasons, and the day's weather story.

Isla Vista, California Weather

Summer heat deepens across the valleys. Day 15 of summer. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Isla Vista weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Isla Vista, CA
Sunday, July 5 at 10:01 AM
68
°
Clear
Feels like
67°
Humidity
68%
Wind
8 mph
Sunrise
10:52 PM
Sunset
1:15 PM
Isla Vista, CA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastIsla Vista, CA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 59 to 71 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 59°H 71°
Isla Vista, CA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    71°60°
  2. Monday
    Jul 6
    Clear
    74°59°+3°
  3. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Clear
    100°61°+26°
  4. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Clear
    102°67°+2°
  5. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Clear
    96°69°-6°
  6. Friday
    Jul 10
    Clear
    90°65°-6°
  7. Saturday
    Jul 11
    Overcast
    88°65°-2°
Isla Vista, CA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
E
100° · backing 109°
Direction
E
100°
Sustained
8
mph
Gust
10
mph
Peak 24h
11
avg 6
Beaufort · 3 · GENTLE BRZ
0
CALM
<1
1
LIGHT AIR
1–3
2
LIGHT BRZ
4–7
3
GENTLE BRZ
8–12
4
MOD BRZ
13–18
5
FRESH BRZ
19–24
6
STRONG BRZ
25–31
7
NEAR GALE
32–38
24h · sust vs gust · mph
avg 6 · pk 11 @ 4:00a
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 156SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Light breeze backing 109° from the e.
Isla Vista, CA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1013.2
+0.5 mb in 3h · steady · 29.92 inHg
Now
1013.2
mb
3h
+0.5
mb
12h
-0.1
mb
24h
-1.3
mb
Regime · CHANGE
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 10121015
9951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1014.71012.31013.2
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Air sits at the threshold — small shifts decide the day.
Isla Vista, CA
Air quality
38
AQI
Good
+1 in 6h

AQI 38 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). PM2.5 at 8.8 µg/m³, PM10 at 12.1 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

OK No precautions needed for the general population; unusually sensitive individuals may consider limiting prolonged outdoor exertion.

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
8.8μg/m³
PM 10Good
12μg/m³
NO₂Good
1μg/m³
OzoneModerate
65μg/m³
UV IndexHigh
6.2

What's driving it

Ozone × UV × Sky

Ozone at AQI 31 now. With UV 8.8 peaking around 1 PM under clear skies, surface ozone likely climbs to AQI 36 around 1 PM.

Present
AQI 31
UV peak
8.8 at 1 PM
Sky at peak
clear
Projected peak
AQI 36

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 8.8 µg/m³, PM10 at 12.1 µg/m³ — typical background levels with no transport signature.

PM2.5/PM10
0.73
Wind
light
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
background
Isla Vista, CA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
12%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow

Visibility
40.2mi
UNLIMITED
49 mi0 mi−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Earth · GOES-19 ABI
Full Disk · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 full disk Visible · GeoColor
True-color daytime, blue/IR sandwich at night
17:01 UTC · Isla Vista, CA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · up to 10848 px
Continental US · GOES-19 ABI
CONUS Sector · Visible · GeoColor
GOES-19 CONUS Visible · GeoColor
Daytime true-color, blue-light/IR sandwich at night
17:01 UTC · Isla Vista, CA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Isla Vista, CA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Isla Vista, CA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Isla Vista, CA
Almanac · Sunday, July 5
If the first of July be rainy weather, 'twill rain more or less for four weeks together.
Civil dawn
5:24 AM
Sunrise
10:52 PM
Daylight
14h 23m
Sunset
1:15 PM
Civil dusk
8:45 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Isla Vista, CA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
71% illuminated
Moonrise
11:16 PM
Moonset
11:18 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Isla Vista, CA
Microseason
Jul 1–5

Summer heat deepens across the valleys

weather
Jan 151% of the yearDec 31

Read this microseason across nine climate regions →

Isla Vista at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 9°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: March 13 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

16-Day Forecast — Isla Vista

  1. Sun73°60°7%
  2. Mon74°59°0%
  3. Tue100°61°0%
  4. Wed102°67°0%
  5. Thu96°69°1%
  6. Fri90°65°4%
  7. Sat88°65°5%
  8. Sun93°66°2%
  9. Mon95°67°8%
  10. Tue91°68°3%
  11. Wed99°74°2%
  12. Thu99°75°0%
  13. Fri107°83°0%
  14. Sat117°84°6%
  15. Sun92°73°6%
  16. Mon99°72°6%

Forecast data from Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0).

Right now in the garden

Peak growing season

As of July 5, the growing season is at its peak — frost is months away. Continue succession-planting beans and summer squash. Start fall brassicas (broccoli, cabbage, kale) from seed indoors for transplanting in late summer.

January 1–5: New year in coastal mist.January 6–10: Hills hold the winter cold.January 11–15: Light lengthens over wet earth.January 16–20: The green pulse quickens.January 21–25: Spring green spreads inland.January 26–31: Winter's grip releases.February 1–5: Fog lifts, flowers open.February 6–10: Blooms erupt across chaparral.February 11–15: Winter blooms at their peak.February 16–20: Rivers recede, flowers spread.February 21–25: Earth warms, flowers rush upslope.February 26–28: Spring advances on cool winds.March 1–5: Grass and trees bud and break.March 6–10: Insects wake and feed.March 11–15: Blossoms crown the hillsides.March 16–20: Monarch chrysalis emergence.March 21–25: Light overtakes dark at equinox.March 26–31: California poppy ablaze.April 1–5: Spring rain feeds the seedlings.April 6–10: Warblers flood the understory.April 11–15: Allen's hummingbirds in courtship dives.April 16–20: Coastal fog settles; sun breaks midday.April 21–25: Oak canopies full and green.April 26–30: Chaparral awakens after spring rains.May 1–5: Coastal wildflowers at their peak.May 6–10: Gray whales complete their migration north.May 11–15: Redwood coast in cool shade.May 16–20: Fog and sun in daily rhythm.May 21–25: Summer approaches; hills turn gold.May 26–31: Dry season begins; tule fog in valleys.June 1–5: Coastal fog thickens at dawn.June 6–10: California poppies fade as heat rises.June 11–15: Summer solstice light stretched thin.June 16–20: Bay laurel fragrance sweetens shade.June 21–25: Longest daylight, driest air.June 26–30: Fog banks mask the turning tide.July 1–5: Summer heat deepens across the valleys.July 6–10: Warm winds drive dryness inland.July 11–15: Pacific high settles in firmly.July 16–20: Young hawks take to the thermals.July 21–25: Peak fire season, peak heat.July 26–31: Chaparral poised for ignition.August 1–5: August begins in scorching stillness.August 6–10: Autumn's first cool breath arrives.August 11–15: Cool winds signal the turning year.August 16–20: Evening cicada chorus.August 21–25: Marine layer descent.August 26–31: Monarch staging begins.September 1–5: Fire season intensity.September 6–10: Dew on drying grasses.September 11–15: Raptor passage begins.September 16–20: Equinox descent.September 21–25: Ceanothus blooms again.September 26–30: Insects retreat below.October 1–5: Creeks begin to whisper.October 6–10: Santa Ana wind season.October 11–15: Wildflower anticipation.October 16–20: Chaparral embers glow.October 21–25: First atmospheric river looms.October 26–31: Rains return at last.November 1–5: Coast live oak leaves turn amber.November 6–10: California lilac blooms in winter light.November 11–15: First rain greens the chaparral.November 16–20: Coastal fog thickens as storms approach.November 21–25: Thanksgiving rains swell the valleys.November 26–30: Autumn's last breath yields to winter.December 1–5: December arrives, storms accelerate.December 6–10: Winter solstice season intensifies.December 11–15: Deep winter: rivers at flood stage.December 16–20: Winter salmon runs peak in northern rivers.December 21–25: Winter solstice: the sun turns.December 26–31: Year's end in wind and rain.🌱February 14 — First skunk-cabbage spathes thaw their way up☀️March 20 — Spring equinox — day and night balance🌸April 5 — Cherry blossoms peak in the parks🐦May 10 — Warbler migration peaks along the coastMay 25 — First fireflies scout the meadows at dusk🌞June 21 — Summer solstice — longest day🦗July 25 — Peak cicada chorus in the afternoons🌊August 18 — Warmest sea-surface temperatures of the year🍂September 22 — Autumn equinox — the slow turn❄️October 25 — First widespread frost in the suburbs🍁November 10 — Peak leaf color across the Hudson Valley🌙December 21 — Winter solstice — longest night

Microseason · July 1–5

Summer heat deepens across the valleys

Inland temperatures exceed 95°F regularly; fire danger reaches moderate to high across most of the region.

Day 186 of 365 · Wedge 37 of 72

The solar year drawn as a wheel of 72 five-day windows. Each wedge is one microseason; the four colored arcs mark winter, spring, summer, and autumn; the small icons sit at notable phenological events. The crimson pointer creeps clockwise as the year turns.

Planting calendar

MonthPlantHarvest
January
February
Marchlettuce, peas, spinach, radishes
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash
Maytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, beans, summer squash
Augusttomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septembertomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
Novemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots
December

A year in weather

The year in Isla Vista tops out in August (~75°F) and dips lowest in December (~56°F), with February wettest at 3.2 inches and August driest at 0.0 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January56°3.19
February57°3.29
March58°2.89
April61°1.26
May66°0.43
June70°0.01
July75°0.01
August75°0.01
September73°0.01
October69°0.42
November61°1.45
December56°2.38

Regional context

In Isla Vista, NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals put January near 56°F and July near 75°F — a 18°F seasonal arc — with about 14.9 inches of precipitation over 54 rainy or snowy days.

Precipitation in Isla Vista peaks in the cool season: February averages 3.2 inches across 8.6 storm-fed days, while August bottoms out at 0.0 inches over just 0.5 rainy days. That groups Isla Vista with places like University of California-Santa Barbara, CA, Goleta, CA and Eastern Goleta Valley, CA on the same cool-season storm track.

Hard freezes are rare in Isla Vista: the coldest month averages 56°F, so Isla Vista's growing window runs most of the year. August is the hottest stretch near 75°F, pushing cool-season crops to the milder shoulder months. Across Isla Vista, elevation and tree cover drive a 4-7°F spread in Isla Vista's overnight lows.

Similar climates: University of California-Santa Barbara, CA, Goleta, CA, Eastern Goleta Valley, CA, Santa Barbara, CA, Mission Canyon, CA.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Isla Vista?
Isla Vista's last spring frost lands near mid-March, and in Isla Vista the first fall frost follows around mid-December.
What is the rainy season in Isla Vista?
Isla Vista sees its heaviest rain in February (around 3.2 inches), part of roughly 15 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Isla Vista?
The warmest stretch in Isla Vista comes in August, around 75°F on average.
What is the coldest month in Isla Vista?
On average December is the chilliest month in Isla Vista, about 56°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Isla Vista?
Isla Vista's last frost (mid-March) cues hardy greens; in Isla Vista, hold heat-lovers two weeks past.
How many rainy days does Isla Vista get?
Isla Vista averages about 54 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is Isla Vista?
Isla Vista sits in the USDA zone set by December lows near 56°F; the USDA ZIP tool gives the band.
What is the 10-day forecast for Isla Vista?
Isla Vista's extended outlook — daily high and low temperatures and precipitation chances for each upcoming day — is in the daily forecast above.
Will it rain this week in Isla Vista?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Isla Vista in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Isla Vista?
Current conditions for Isla Vista and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Isla Vista forecast updated?
The Isla Vista forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Isla Vista?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Isla Vista are in the Almanac section above, along with civil dawn, civil dusk, and day length. Day length is longest near the summer solstice and shortest near the winter solstice.
How accurate is the weather forecast for Isla Vista?
The next few days in Isla Vista's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

Isla Vista's hot-summer Mediterranean climate in California pairs 56°F Januarys with 75°F Julys, 19°F apart across the seasons.

Isla Vista sees close to 15 inches of precipitation annually, falling across some 54 wet days.

The 19°F gap between Isla Vista's summer and winter, at 34.4°N, shapes Isla Vista's frost calendar.

ZIP codes in Isla Vista

  • 93117

Climate normals from the Open-Meteo Climate API. Köppen approximation from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Regions. See methodology for data sources, editorial rules, and corrections. Maintainer: Brian Tighe.