Weather in University of California-Santa Barbara, California
Fog and sun in daily rhythm. Day 59 of spring. Read this microseason across nine climate regions →
- TodayMay 16Overcast—70°54°
- SundayMay 17Foggy—76°52°
- MondayMay 18Overcast—79°54°
- TuesdayMay 19Mostly Clear—84°57°
- WednesdayMay 20Overcast—83°59°
- ThursdayMay 21Overcast—81°57°
- FridayMay 22Partly Cloudy—80°57°
- PM 2.5
- 8.5 μg/m³
- PM 10
- 15.5 μg/m³
- NO₂
- 0.4 μg/m³
- Ozone
- 94.0 μg/m³
- UV Index
- 2.1 Low
When the dew is on the grass, rain will never come to pass.
- Moonrise
- 1:12 PM
- Moonset
- 3:25 AM
- In sign
- ♉︎ Taurus
Fog and sun in daily rhythm
University of California-Santa Barbara at a glance
- Today vs. normal: 11°F below the seasonal normal for this latitude
- Last frost: March 13 (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 17, 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
University of California-Santa Barbara's warmest month is August (~69°F mean) and its coldest is December (~56°F). Rainfall peaks in January (4.4 inches) and bottoms out in August (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
University of California-Santa Barbara sits within a hot-summer Mediterranean climate region — a cohort that shares similar temperature ranges, seasonal patterns, and growing conditions across nearby cities.
Similar climates: Los Angeles, CA, San Francisco, CA, San Diego, CA, Riverside, CA, Sacramento, CA.
Frequently asked
- When does it freeze in University of California-Santa Barbara?
- University of California-Santa Barbara's last spring frost typically falls around mid-March, and the first fall frost arrives around mid-December.
- What is the rainy season in University of California-Santa Barbara?
- January is the wettest month with about 4.4 inches of rain on average; the city receives roughly 19 inches annually.
- What is the warmest month in University of California-Santa Barbara?
- August is typically warmest, averaging about 69°F.
- What is the coldest month in University of California-Santa Barbara?
- December is typically coldest, averaging about 56°F.
- When can I start a vegetable garden in University of California-Santa Barbara?
- Cool-season crops (peas, lettuce) can be sown around the last spring frost (mid-March); warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers) wait until 1–2 weeks after.
- How many rainy days does University of California-Santa Barbara get?
- University of California-Santa Barbara averages about 25 rainy days per year.
- What hardiness zone is University of California-Santa Barbara?
- University of California-Santa Barbara's USDA hardiness zone is determined by its lowest average winter temperature; check the USDA's online lookup with the city ZIP for the current zone designation.
Climate
University of California-Santa Barbara, California sits in a hot-summer Mediterranean climate zone. January means hover near 57°F while July averages 68°F — a 12°F seasonal swing.
Across the year, University of California-Santa Barbara receives about 19 inches of precipitation spread over roughly 25 rainy days.
The rhythm of the year is set by latitude (34.4°N), proximity to large water bodies, and elevation — all of which shape what grows here, when frost is likely, and what the weather story looks like day to day.