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

Santa Cruz, California Weather

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

Santa Cruz weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

Santa Cruz, CA
Sunday, July 5 at 10:55 AM
62
°
Mostly Clear
Feels like
63°
Humidity
77%
Wind
5 mph
Sunrise
10:54 PM
Sunset
1:31 PM
Santa Cruz, CA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastSanta Cruz, CA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 52 to 69 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 52°H 69°
Santa Cruz, CA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 5
    Foggy
    —
    —
    69°55°—
  2. Monday
    Jul 6
    Overcast
    —
    —
    68°52°-1°
  3. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Clear
    —
    —
    71°52°+3°
  4. Wednesday
    Jul 8
    Clear
    —
    —
    71°55°0°
  5. Thursday
    Jul 9
    Clear
    —
    —
    72°56°+1°
  6. Friday
    Jul 10
    Overcast
    —
    —
    71°56°-1°
  7. Saturday
    Jul 11
    Overcast
    —
    —
    70°58°-1°
Santa Cruz, CA
Next 24 hours · Cool now
48°60°72°6a12p6p12anow 59°high 69°low 52°
Santa Cruz, CA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
SSW
198° · backing 6°
Direction
SSW
198°
Sustained
5
mph
Gust
5
mph
Peak 24h
12
avg 4
Beaufort · 2 · LIGHT 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 4 · pk 12 @ 4:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 146SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
Santa Cruz, CA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1007.1
+0.1 mb in 3h · steady · 29.74 inHg
Now
1007.1
mb
3h
+0.1
mb
12h
-0.7
mb
24h
-0.9
mb
Regime · RAIN
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1006–1008
1000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1007.61005.81006.4
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Damp, unsettled regime — wet weather lingers nearby.
Santa Cruz, CA
Air quality
27
AQI
Good
→-1 in 6h

AQI 27 (Good), driven by PM2.5. AQI flat over the last 6 hours (within ±3 points). PM2.5 at 5.5 µg/m³ (AQI 31) with a 0.65 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

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

PM 2.5DRIVERGood
5.5μg/m³
PM 10Good
8μg/m³
NO₂Good
1μg/m³
OzoneGood
55μg/m³
UV IndexModerate
4.3

What's driving it

PM × Wind × Precip

PM2.5 at 5.5 µg/m³ (AQI 31) with a 0.65 fine-to-coarse ratio and 5 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.65
Wind
light
Recent rain
0h in last 6h
Pattern
stagnant smoke

Trends

Seven days of AQI and PM2.5.

Hourly air-quality data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service, charted across the past and next several days. Dashed lines mark the AQI breakpoints at 50 (Good → Moderate) and 100 (Moderate → Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups).

7-DAY AQI TREND50100SUNMONTUEWEDTHUFRISATSUN7-DAY PM2.5 TREND · μg/m³300
Santa Cruz, CA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
46%
MOSTLY CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
37.5mi
UNLIMITED
47 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
17:55 UTC · Santa Cruz, 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
17:55 UTC · Santa Cruz, CA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
Santa Cruz, CA
Satellite · infrared · animated
Santa Cruz, CA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
Santa Cruz, 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
10:54 PM
Daylight
14h 37m
Sunset
1:31 PM
Civil dusk
9:02 PM
Planting note
Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.
Santa Cruz, CA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
71% illuminated
Moonrise
11:27 PM
Moonset
11:27 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
Santa Cruz, 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 →

Santa Cruz at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 13°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
  • Last frost: March 29 (climatological average for this latitude)
  • Microseason: Jul 1–5
  • Planting window: Harvest early potatoes. Begin drying onions on the surface.

ZIP codes: 95060, 95062, 95064, 95065

16-Day Forecast — Santa Cruz

  1. Sun69°55°0%
  2. Mon68°52°0%
  3. Tue71°52°0%
  4. Wed71°55°0%
  5. Thu72°56°0%
  6. Fri71°56°0%
  7. Sat70°58°1%
  8. Sun68°62°2%
  9. Mon87°64°3%
  10. Tue78°64°4%
  11. Wed76°61°1%
  12. Thu77°63°2%
  13. Fri76°62°0%
  14. Sat73°61°0%
  15. Sun75°61°3%
  16. Mon75°60°3%

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

Live wind & temperature near Santa Cruz

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 coast✨May 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——
March——
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Maylettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Julytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashtomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Septemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotstomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
November——
December——

A year in weather

The year in Santa Cruz tops out in August (~66°F) and dips lowest in January (~51°F), with January wettest at 5.5 inches and July driest at 0.1 inches.

MonthMean tempPrecipRainy days
January51°5.5″15
February52°5.0″13
March53°4.1″13
April56°1.9″9
May60°0.6″5
June62°0.1″3
July65°0.1″9
August66°0.1″10
September66°0.1″6
October63°0.8″7
November56°3.1″11
December51°4.5″14

Regional context

By the nearest station's NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, Santa Cruz sees 51°F Januarys and 65°F Julys, a 14°F range, plus around 25.8 inches of precipitation across 112 days.

Santa Cruz's moisture rides winter storm tracks: January brings 5.5 inches over 14.7 wet days, while July sees only 0.1 inches across 8.5 days in the dry warm season. It is a winter-storm rhythm Santa Cruz shares with places like Pasatiempo, CA, Paradise Park, CA and Twin Lakes, CA.

Freezes are uncommon in Santa Cruz, where the coldest month averages 51°F; cool-season crops grow fall through spring. Summer heat in August (about 66°F) is the binding constraint, not cold. Across Santa Cruz, elevation and tree cover drive a 4-7°F spread in Santa Cruz's overnight lows.

Similar climates: Pasatiempo, CA, Paradise Park, CA, Twin Lakes, CA, Live Oak, CA, Pleasure Point, CA.

Naturalist notes

Coast live oaks begin their spring leaf flush in late April, replacing winter's weathered foliage with fresh green growth.

Western bluebirds start their second nesting cycle in May, taking advantage of the warming temperatures and abundant insect activity.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in Santa Cruz?
Frost typically leaves Santa Cruz by mid-April and returns to Santa Cruz near mid-November.
What is the rainy season in Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz sees its heaviest rain in January (around 5.5 inches), part of roughly 26 inches a year.
What is the warmest month in Santa Cruz?
On average August tops the year in Santa Cruz at about 66°F.
What is the coldest month in Santa Cruz?
The coldest stretch in Santa Cruz falls in January, around 51°F on average.
When can I start a vegetable garden in Santa Cruz?
Around mid-April, start frost-hardy crops in Santa Cruz; tomatoes and basil belong a fortnight later.
How many rainy days does Santa Cruz get?
Santa Cruz records around 112 days of measurable precipitation annually.
What hardiness zone is Santa Cruz?
Because Santa Cruz bottoms near 51°F in January, that winter low sets Santa Cruz's USDA zone — verify by ZIP.
What is the 10-day forecast for Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz'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 Santa Cruz?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for Santa Cruz in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in Santa Cruz?
Current conditions for Santa Cruz and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the Santa Cruz forecast updated?
The Santa Cruz forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in Santa Cruz?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for Santa Cruz 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 Santa Cruz?
The next few days in Santa Cruz's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

In Santa Cruz, California, the hot-summer Mediterranean climate runs from about 51°F in January to 65°F in July, a 14°F seasonal range.

Rain and snow bring Santa Cruz roughly 26 inches a year across approximately 112 measurable-precipitation days.

Santa Cruz's 14°F range, set by its 37.0°N position, drives frost timing and what thrives in Santa Cruz.

All cities in California →

San Jose, CA weather →

ZIP codes in Santa Cruz

  • 95065
  • 95064
  • 95060
  • 95062
  • 95061
  • 95063
  • 95067

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.