Weather in Santa Barbara, California
Fog and sun in daily rhythm. Day 58 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Overcast—68°55°
- SundayMay 17Foggy—76°52°
- MondayMay 18Overcast—69°55°
- TuesdayMay 19Clear—73°57°
- WednesdayMay 20Overcast—71°58°
- ThursdayMay 21Overcast—70°57°
- FridayMay 22Partly Cloudy—69°55°
- PM 2.5
- 8.0 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 19.0 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 0.6 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 104.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 4.0 Moderate
Flowers blooming in late autumn, a sure sign of a bad winter coming.
- Moonrise
- 12:24 PM
- Moonset
- 2:11 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Fog and sun in daily rhythm
Santa Barbara at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 10°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: March 14 (climatological average for this latitude)
- Microseason: 28 of 72, May 16–20
- Planting window: Direct sow okra, melons, and southern peas. Thin carrot rows.
Right now in the garden
Peak growing season
As of May 16, 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.
Planting calendar
| Month | Plant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|
| January | — | — |
| February | — | — |
| March | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes | — |
| April | lettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | — |
| May | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| June | tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash | lettuce, peas, radishes |
| July | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| August | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| September | — | tomatoes, beans, summer squash |
| October | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | winter squash, tomatoes (last) |
| November | fall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots | — |
| December | — | — |
A year in weather
August brings Santa Barbara's peak warmth at around 69°F mean temperature, while December delivers the year's coolest conditions at roughly 56°F. January sees the heaviest rainfall at 4.4 inches, contrasting sharply with August's bone-dry 0.0 inches.
| Month | Mean temp | Precip | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 57° | 4.4″ | 5 |
| February | 57° | 4.4″ | 5 |
| March | 59° | 3.2″ | 4 |
| April | 61° | 1.0″ | 2 |
| May | 63° | 0.4″ | 1 |
| June | 65° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| July | 68° | 0.0″ | 0 |
| August | 69° | 0.0″ | 0 |
| September | 69° | 0.1″ | 0 |
| October | 66° | 0.8″ | 1 |
| November | 61° | 1.4″ | 2 |
| December | 56° | 3.1″ | 4 |
Regional context
Santa Barbara falls within a hot-summer Mediterranean climate region, sharing similar temperature ranges, seasonal rhythms, and growing conditions with other cities in this climate family.
Similar climates: Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, San Diego, CA, Riverside, CA, Sacramento, CA.
Naturalist notes
By late May, California poppies reach their flowering peak across Santa Barbara's hillsides.
June marks the return of Anna's hummingbirds to their nesting territories after winter dispersal.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in Santa Barbara?
- Santa Barbara's final spring frost usually occurs around mid-March, while the first fall frost returns around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in Santa Barbara?
- January delivers the heaviest rainfall with approximately 4.4 inches on average; the city receives roughly 19 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in Santa Barbara?
- August typically brings the warmest conditions, averaging about 69°F.
- What is the coldest month in Santa Barbara?
- December usually marks the coldest period, averaging about 56°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in Santa Barbara?
- Cool-season crops like peas and lettuce can be planted around the last spring frost in mid-March; warm-season crops such as tomatoes and peppers should wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does Santa Barbara get?
- Santa Barbara experiences about 25 rainy days per year on average.
- What hardiness zone is Santa Barbara?
- Santa Barbara's USDA hardiness zone depends on its lowest average winter temperature; consult the USDA's online lookup tool with the city ZIP code for the current zone designation.
Climate
Santa Barbara, California experiences a hot-summer Mediterranean climate zone. Winter temperatures in January hover near 57°F, while July brings averages of 68°F — creating a modest 12°F seasonal swing.
Throughout the year, Santa Barbara collects about 19 inches of precipitation distributed across roughly 25 rainy days.
Local weather patterns follow the city's latitude at 34.4°N, its proximity to large water bodies, and elevation. These factors determine what plants thrive, when frost threatens, and how daily weather unfolds.