AI-generatedSanta Barbara at a glance
- Best time
- May – Oct
- Warmest month
- Aug · 28°
- Warmest sea
- Sep · 18.6°
- Sunshine a year
- 3,400 h
- Rain a year
- 417 mm
- Climate
- Mediterranean
- Time zone
- UTC−8 / UTC−7
- Elevation
- 15 m
Climate in Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara has a Mediterranean climate with warm to hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 28 °C, while February is the coolest at 18 °C. With around 3,400 hours of sunshine a year, Santa Barbara is very sunny; June is the sunniest month with 12.2 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: May – October
Good forSightseeing & walks
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 16°
- Midday, 13:00: about 24°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 24°
- Evening, 20:00: about 20°
- Night, 23:00: about 18°
07:0318:26
Pleasant evenings; a light layer can help.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 06:47–07:37 · evening 17:52–18:41
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:38–06:47 · evening 18:41–18:51
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in Santa Barbara in October?
In October, Santa Barbara is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 17.9 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Santa Barbara.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 23 min07:03 – 18:26
- UV index
- 5 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 20 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 21 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 3 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−7America/Los_Angeles
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %98 %
- Seaweight 25 %13 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %97 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %100 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in October
- Wetsuit for longer swims
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- A jumper for the evenings
Sea temperature in Santa Barbara
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 16.3 – 19.6 °C
Swimming season: Never above 20 °C
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Santa Barbara ranges from 13.6 °C in April to 18.6 °C in September. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
The sea warms up slowly: it is warmest in September, while the air already peaks in August. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in September, eight out of ten years were between 16.7 and 20.2 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 14.4° | 13.4° | 15.4° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 14.1° | 13.2° | 15.1° | cold |
| MarchMar | 13.7° | 12.7° | 15.2° | cold |
| AprilApr | 13.6° | 12.6° | 14.2° | cold |
| MayMay | 14.6° | 13.3° | 15.4° | cold |
| JuneJun | 16.5° | 15.3° | 17.6° | cold |
| JulyJul | 17.9° | 16.7° | 19.2° | fresh |
| AugustAug | 18.3° | 16.7° | 19.8° | fresh |
| SeptemberSep | 18.6° | 16.7° | 20.2° | fresh |
| OctoberOct | 17.9° | 16.3° | 19.6° | fresh |
| NovemberNov | 16.5° | 15.4° | 18.2° | cold |
| DecemberDec | 15.0° | 13.6° | 16.8° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Santa Barbara
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 8.8 of 11.4 hours of daylight in Santa Barbara, 77 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Santa Barbara
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 5 · moderateAround midday seek shade; use sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in June (UV 11).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 25 min
- Fair skin
- about 30 min
- Light brown skin
- about 45 min
- Olive skin
- about 55 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in Santa Barbara: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, Santa Barbara has about 2 rainy days with 17 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Santa Barbara
How breezy and how cloudy Santa Barbara is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in Santa Barbara typically peaks at 20 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting: Oct – Jun.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 21 % of the sky over Santa Barbara: mostly sunny, with about 8.8 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in Santa Barbara
How often the day gets hot in Santa Barbara (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, Santa Barbara has about 3 hot days, with an average daytime high of 25 °C: pleasant. Heat plays no part this month.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in Santa Barbara
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
CoolOctober: nights around 14°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in February (8°), the warmest in August (19°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from June to September.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 29 | 18° | 8° | 14.4° | 6.5 h | 6 | 88 |
| FebruaryFeb | 30 | 18° | 8° | 14.1° | 6.9 h | 6 | 93 |
| MarchMar | 39 | 19° | 9° | 13.7° | 8.4 h | 5 | 64 |
| AprilApr | 54 | 21° | 11° | 13.6° | 10.0 h | 3 | 25 |
| MayMay | 66 | 23° | 13° | 14.6° | 11.6 h | 1 | 9 |
| JuneJun | 75 | 26° | 16° | 16.5° | 12.2 h | 0 | 2 |
| JulyJul | 78 | 28° | 19° | 17.9° | 12.0 h | 0 | 0 |
| AugustAug | 80 | 28° | 19° | 18.3° | 11.5 h | 0 | 1 |
| SeptemberSep | 81 | 27° | 17° | 18.6° | 10.0 h | 1 | 4 |
| OctoberOct | 77 | 25° | 14° | 17.9° | 8.8 h | 2 | 17 |
| NovemberNov | 47 | 21° | 11° | 16.5° | 7.2 h | 3 | 38 |
| DecemberDec | 28 | 18° | 8° | 15.0° | 6.3 h | 6 | 79 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
34.42° N, 119.70° W · 15 m · America/Los_Angeles
Best time to visit Santa Barbara
The best time to visit Santa Barbara is from May to October. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in September it only reaches 18.6 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from September to July. The wettest month is February with 93 mm of precipitation.
Santa Barbara through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Santa Barbara in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 19–23 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 10 h of sun a day
- 9 rainy days in all
Santa Barbara in summer
Jun – Aug
Good
- 26–28 °C by day
- Sea 18 °C
- 12 h of sun a day
- 1 rainy days in all
Santa Barbara in autumn
Sep – Nov
Good
- 21–27 °C by day
- Sea 18 °C
- 9 h of sun a day
- 6 rainy days in all
Santa Barbara in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 18 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 18 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Santa Barbara for you.
Your best months: July – September
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Santa Barbara
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
October and September bring similar holiday weather to Santa Barbara (score 77 and 81). In September, days are 2 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 1 °C warmer in September. September has one rainy day fewer. The sun shines an hour longer a day in September.
| Month | October | September |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 77 | 81better |
| Day high | 25° | 27° |
| Night low | 14° | 17° |
| Sea | 17.9° | 18.6° |
| Sunshine | 8.8 h | 10.0 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 2 | 1better |
| Rainfall | 17 mm | 4 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 0better | 1 |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No month
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Sep – Jul
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Santa Barbara month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
29January18° · Sea 14° · 7 h
In January, Santa Barbara is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 14.4 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 88 mm. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara in January30February18° · Sea 14° · 7 h
In February, Santa Barbara is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 14.1 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 93 mm. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara in February39March19° · Sea 14° · 8 h
In March, Santa Barbara is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 13.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 64 mm. All in all, March is not an ideal month for a holiday in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara in March54April21° · Sea 14° · 10 h
In April, Santa Barbara is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 13.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 25 mm in total. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara in April66May23° · Sea 15° · 12 h
In May, Santa Barbara is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 14.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 12 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. All in all, May is a good month for a holiday in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara in May75June26° · Sea 17° · 12 h
In June, Santa Barbara is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 16.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 12 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. All in all, June is a good month for a holiday in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara in June78July28° · Sea 18° · 12 h
In July, Santa Barbara is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sea averages 17.9 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. With around 12 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 6 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, July is a good month for a holiday in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara in July80August28° · Sea 18° · 12 h
In August, Santa Barbara is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sea averages 18.3 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. With around 12 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 9 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara in August81September27° · Sea 19° · 10 h
In September, Santa Barbara is hot: daytime highs average 27 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sea averages 18.6 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 7 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara in September77October25° · Sea 18° · 9 h
In October, Santa Barbara is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 17.9 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 9 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara in October47November21° · Sea 17° · 7 h
In November, Santa Barbara is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 16.5 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 38 mm in total. All in all, November is a so-so month for a holiday in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara in November28December18° · Sea 15° · 6 h
In December, Santa Barbara is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 15.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 79 mm. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Santa Barbara.
Santa Barbara in DecemberSanta Barbara compared
Put Santa Barbara side by side with another destination.
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Santa Barbara vs. Malibu
In October the holiday weather in Santa Barbara and Malibu is about equally good (score 77 vs. 78). During the day it is about as warm in Malibu as in Santa Barbara. The sea in Malibu is 1 °C warmer. Malibu gets one hour less sunshine a day.
| in October | Santa Barbara | Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 77 | 78 |
| Daytime high | 25° | 25° |
| Sea | 18° | 19° |
| Sunshine | 9 h | 8 h |
| Rainy days | 2 | 2 |
| Best time | May – Oct | Jun – Oct |
Through the year
USA in October: the best places
In October, Santa Barbara ranks 23 among the 31 nearest destinations in this country.
- Las Vegas26°99
- 2Los Angeles26°19°98
- 3Long Beach25°19°98
- 4Mariposa (Yosemite)23°98
- 5Sedona23°97
- 6San Jose23°96
- 7Sacramento25°96
- 8Page (Lake Powell)21°96
- 23Santa BarbaraThis page25°18°77
Planning a trip to Santa Barbara
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Santa Barbara in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
Santa Barbara has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 79) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 29).
- 50
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 21 °C by day
- Sea 14 °C
- 9.5 h of sun a day
- 3 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 68
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 24 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 11.7 h of sun a day
- 1 rainy day a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 79
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
GoodBest holidays
- 28 °C by day
- Sea 18 °C
- 11.7 h of sun a day
- 0 rainy days a month
- 77
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 25 °C by day
- Sea 18 °C
- 8.8 h of sun a day
- 2 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 29
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 18 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 6.4 h of sun a day
- 6 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 11 h 5 min
- Distance
- 8,780 km
- Time zone
- UTC−7
- Jet lag
- About 5 days (8 h west)
Rule of thumb for flying west: for a few days before, stay up a little later, and get afternoon and evening light at your destination.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about Santa Barbara
When is the best time to visit Santa Barbara?
The best time to visit Santa Barbara is from May to October. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in Santa Barbara?
The sea temperature in Santa Barbara ranges from 13.6 °C in April to 18.6 °C in September. Even at its warmest the sea stays below 20 °C, so swimming is bracing at best.
Can you swim in Santa Barbara in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 17.9 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
What is the warmest month in Santa Barbara?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 28 °C and nights around 19 °C. February is the coolest month at 18 °C.
When does it rain most in Santa Barbara?
The wettest month is February with 93 mm of precipitation. The driest month is July with 0 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Santa Barbara get?
Santa Barbara gets around 3,400 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is June with 12.2 hours a day; in December there are 6.3 hours a day.
What time zone is Santa Barbara in?
Santa Barbara uses the time zone America/Los_Angeles: UTC−8 in January and UTC−7 in July.
How long is the flight from London to Santa Barbara?
A nonstop flight from London to Santa Barbara takes about 11 h 5 min, for a straight-line distance of about 8,780 km.
Which school holidays are best for Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 79) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 29). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 50, May half-term 68, Summer holidays 79, October half-term 77, Christmas holidays 29.
Near Santa Barbara
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Santa Barbara
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Santa Barbara's – good alternatives.