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

University of California-Santa Barbara, California Weather

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

University of California-Santa Barbara weather forecast — hour by hour, 7-day outlook, NOAA radar

University of California-Santa Barbara, CA
Sunday, July 5 at 10:03 AM
67
°
Clear
Feels like
67°
Humidity
67%
Wind
6 mph
Sunrise
10:52 PM
Sunset
1:15 PM
University of California-Santa Barbara, CA
Hour by hour · 24h
24-Hour ForecastUniversity of California-Santa Barbara, CA: 24-hour forecast. Temperatures range from 58 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit.
L 58°H 73°
University of California-Santa Barbara, CA
7-day forecast
  1. Today
    Jul 5
    Overcast
    —
    —
    73°60°—
  2. Monday
    Jul 6
    Clear
    —
    —
    77°58°+4°
  3. Tuesday
    Jul 7
    Clear
    —
    —
    100°62°+23°
  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°
University of California-Santa Barbara, CA
Next 24 hours · Mild now
54°65°76°6a12p6p12anow 67°high 73°low 58°
University of California-Santa Barbara, CA
Anemometer · 24h winds · from true
NESW
From · True
ESE
109° · backing 89°
Direction
ESE
109°
Sustained
6
mph
Gust
9
mph
Peak 24h
11
avg 5
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 5 · pk 11 @ 9:00p
01020MPHB1B2B3B4B5-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOWpk 144SUSTGUST
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
A whisper of wind — leaves barely shift on the trees.
University of California-Santa Barbara, CA
Barometer · 24h pressure · mb
STORMRAINCHANGEFAIRDRY9901000101010201030
Pressure · mb
1013.1
+0.5 mb in 3h · steady · 29.92 inHg
Now
1013.1
mb
3h
+0.5
mb
12h
-0.2
mb
24h
-1.3
mb
Regime · CHANGE
STORM
RAIN
CHANGE
FAIR
DRY
24h · Pressure · mb
range 1012–1015
9951000STORM|RAIN10051010RAIN|CHG1015CHG|FAIR10201025FAIR|DRY1030-21h-18h-15h-12h-9h-6h-3h-24hNOW1014.61012.31013.1
−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Air sits at the threshold — small shifts decide the day.
University of California-Santa Barbara, 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 (AQI 49) with a 0.73 fine-to-coarse ratio and 6 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
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 (AQI 49) with a 0.73 fine-to-coarse ratio and 6 mph wind — combustion smoke trapped in calm air, not road dust.

PM2.5/PM10
0.73
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
University of California-Santa Barbara, CA
Sky cover · visibility · 24h
Cloud cover
15%
CLEAR
100%0%−24h−18h−12h−6hnow
Visibility
40.4mi
UNLIMITED
61 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
17:03 UTC · University of California-Santa Barbara, 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
17:03 UTC · University of California-Santa Barbara, CA · NOAA NESDIS / STAR · 5-min cadence · up to 10000 px
University of California-Santa Barbara, CA
Satellite · infrared · animated
University of California-Santa Barbara, CA
Loading IR frames…
IR · cloud-top temp© RainViewer · Carto
University of California-Santa Barbara, 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.
University of California-Santa Barbara, CA
The moon
Waning Gibbous
71% illuminated
Moonrise
11:16 PM
Moonset
11:18 AM
In sign
♓︎ Pisces
University of California-Santa Barbara, 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 →

University of California-Santa Barbara at a glance

  • Today vs. normal: 10°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 — University of California-Santa Barbara

  1. Sun74°60°7%
  2. Mon77°58°0%
  3. Tue100°62°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 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——
Marchlettuce, peas, spinach, radishes—
Aprillettuce, peas, spinach, radishes, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash—
Maytomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
Junetomatoes, peppers, beans, squashlettuce, peas, radishes
July—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
August—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
September—tomatoes, beans, summer squash
Octoberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrotswinter squash, tomatoes (last)
Novemberfall brassicas, garlic (overwinter), carrots—
December——

A year in weather

The year in University of California-Santa Barbara 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°3.1″9
February57°3.2″9
March58°2.8″9
April61°1.2″6
May66°0.4″3
June70°0.0″1
July75°0.0″1
August75°0.0″1
September73°0.0″1
October69°0.4″2
November61°1.4″5
December56°2.3″8

Regional context

Per NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals, University of California-Santa Barbara runs from a 56°F January mean to 75°F in July, a 18°F seasonal spread, with near 14.9 inches of precipitation across about 54 wet days.

University of California-Santa Barbara's moisture rides winter storm tracks: February brings 3.2 inches over 8.6 wet days, while August sees only 0.0 inches across 0.5 days in the dry warm season. It is a winter-storm rhythm University of California-Santa Barbara shares with places like Isla Vista, CA, Goleta, CA and Eastern Goleta Valley, CA.

With a coldest-month mean of 56°F, University of California-Santa Barbara stays mostly frost-free and grows year-round. The August peak near 75°F is University of California-Santa Barbara's real limit, pushing cool-season vegetables to spring and fall. Across University of California-Santa Barbara, elevation and tree cover drive a 4-7°F spread in University of California-Santa Barbara's overnight lows.

Similar climates: Isla Vista, CA, Goleta, CA, Eastern Goleta Valley, CA, Santa Barbara, CA, Mission Canyon, CA.

Frequently asked

When does it freeze in University of California-Santa Barbara?
Frost typically leaves University of California-Santa Barbara by mid-March and returns to University of California-Santa Barbara near mid-December.
What is the rainy season in University of California-Santa Barbara?
Rainfall in University of California-Santa Barbara peaks in February near 3.2 inches, out of about 15 inches annually.
What is the warmest month in University of California-Santa Barbara?
August is University of California-Santa Barbara's warmest month, averaging about 75°F.
What is the coldest month in University of California-Santa Barbara?
University of California-Santa Barbara bottoms out in December, with a mean near 56°F.
When can I start a vegetable garden in University of California-Santa Barbara?
University of California-Santa Barbara's last frost (mid-March) cues hardy greens; in University of California-Santa Barbara, hold heat-lovers two weeks past.
How many rainy days does University of California-Santa Barbara get?
University of California-Santa Barbara averages about 54 days with measurable rain or snow each year.
What hardiness zone is University of California-Santa Barbara?
University of California-Santa Barbara 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 University of California-Santa Barbara?
University of California-Santa Barbara'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 University of California-Santa Barbara?
See this week's day-by-day rain chances for University of California-Santa Barbara in the daily forecast above, and the next 24 hours in the hourly chart.
What is the weather like right now in University of California-Santa Barbara?
Current conditions for University of California-Santa Barbara and the next 24 hours — temperature, precipitation chance, and wind by the hour — are in the hourly forecast chart above.
How often is the University of California-Santa Barbara forecast updated?
The University of California-Santa Barbara forecast on this page is built from Open-Meteo weather-model data and refreshes regularly through the day.
When are sunrise and sunset in University of California-Santa Barbara?
Today's sunrise and sunset times for University of California-Santa Barbara 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 University of California-Santa Barbara?
The next few days in University of California-Santa Barbara's forecast are the most reliable; accuracy declines beyond about a week as weather-model uncertainty grows.

Climate

University of California-Santa Barbara, California has a hot-summer Mediterranean climate: January averages roughly 56°F, July about 75°F, 19°F between them.

Across the year, University of California-Santa Barbara collects about 15 inches of precipitation over roughly 54 days with measurable rain or snow.

Latitude 34.4°N gives University of California-Santa Barbara its 19°F swing, and with it the rhythm of University of California-Santa Barbara's growing season.

All cities in California →

Santa Barbara, CA weather →

ZIP codes in University of California-Santa Barbara

  • 93117
  • 93106
  • 93107

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.