AI-generatedSanta Monica at a glance
- Best time
- Jun – Oct
- Warmest month
- Aug · 29°
- Warmest sea
- Aug · 20.3°
- Sunshine a year
- 3,250 h
- Rain a year
- 277 mm
- Climate
- Mediterranean
- Time zone
- UTC−8 / UTC−7
- Elevation
- 32 m
Climate in Santa Monica
Santa Monica has a Mediterranean climate with warm to hot, dry summers and mild, wetter winters. August is the warmest month with average highs of 29 °C, while December is the coolest at 18 °C. With around 3,250 hours of sunshine a year, Santa Monica is very sunny; July is the sunniest month with 11.6 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: June – October
Good forSightseeing & walks
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 17°
- Midday, 13:00: about 25°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 25°
- Evening, 20:00: about 20°
- Night, 23:00: about 18°
06:5818:21
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 06:42–07:32 · evening 17:48–18:37
- Blue hour
- Morning 06:33–06:42 · evening 18:37–18:46
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 Monica in October?
In October, Santa Monica is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 19.0 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Santa Monica.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 11 h 23 min06:58 – 18:21
- UV index
- 5 · moderateclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 16 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 31 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 4 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC−7America/Los_Angeles
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %100 %
- Seaweight 25 %29 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %88 %
- 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
- Light, breathable clothes
- A jumper for the evenings
Sea temperature in Santa Monica
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 17.7 – 20.4 °C
Swimming season: Aug – Sep
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in Santa Monica ranges from 14.7 °C in February to 20.3 °C in August. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from August to September.
The sea temperature varies from year to year: in August, eight out of ten years were between 19.1 and 21.3 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 15.0° | 14.2° | 15.8° | cold |
| FebruaryFeb | 14.7° | 13.8° | 15.5° | cold |
| MarchMar | 14.7° | 13.6° | 15.9° | cold |
| AprilApr | 15.0° | 14.3° | 16.1° | cold |
| MayMay | 16.6° | 15.4° | 17.7° | cold |
| JuneJun | 18.3° | 17.5° | 19.2° | fresh |
| JulyJul | 19.8° | 18.8° | 20.9° | fresh |
| AugustAug | 20.3° | 19.1° | 21.3° | refreshing |
| SeptemberSep | 20.1° | 18.6° | 21.8° | refreshing |
| OctoberOct | 19.0° | 17.7° | 20.4° | fresh |
| NovemberNov | 17.4° | 16.3° | 19.0° | fresh |
| DecemberDec | 15.7° | 14.6° | 17.2° | cold |
Sunshine hours in Santa Monica
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 8.3 of 11.4 hours of daylight in Santa Monica, 73 % 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 Monica
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 Monica: 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 Monica has about 2 rainy days with 13 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Santa Monica
How breezy and how cloudy Santa Monica 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 Monica typically peaks at 16 km/h during the day: Beaufort 3, light 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: Apr.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 31 % of the sky over Santa Monica: mostly sunny, with about 8.3 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 Monica
How often the day gets hot in Santa Monica (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 Monica has about 4 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 Monica
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- 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 January (7°), the warmest in August (18°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from June to September. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from December to January, so the room should be heated.
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 | 31 | 19° | 7° | 15.0° | 6.6 h | 5 | 54 |
| FebruaryFeb | 30 | 18° | 8° | 14.7° | 6.8 h | 6 | 68 |
| MarchMar | 40 | 20° | 9° | 14.7° | 8.2 h | 5 | 39 |
| AprilApr | 53 | 21° | 11° | 15.0° | 9.5 h | 2 | 16 |
| MayMay | 62 | 23° | 13° | 16.6° | 10.2 h | 1 | 7 |
| JuneJun | 79 | 25° | 15° | 18.3° | 11.1 h | 0 | 1 |
| JulyJul | 85 | 28° | 17° | 19.8° | 11.6 h | 0 | 2 |
| AugustAug | 87 | 29° | 18° | 20.3° | 11.2 h | 0 | 2 |
| SeptemberSep | 86 | 28° | 17° | 20.1° | 9.6 h | 1 | 5 |
| OctoberOct | 80 | 25° | 14° | 19.0° | 8.3 h | 2 | 13 |
| NovemberNov | 51 | 22° | 10° | 17.4° | 7.1 h | 3 | 22 |
| DecemberDec | 30 | 18° | 7° | 15.7° | 6.3 h | 5 | 50 |
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
34.02° N, 118.49° W · 32 m · America/Los_Angeles
Best time to visit Santa Monica
The best time to visit Santa Monica is from June to October. The sea stays too cool for a classic beach holiday: even in August it only reaches 20.3 °C. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from September to July. The wettest month is February with 68 mm of precipitation.
Santa Monica through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Santa Monica in spring
Mar – May
Fair
- 20–23 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 9 h of sun a day
- 8 rainy days in all
Santa Monica in summer
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 25–29 °C by day
- Sea 20 °C
- 11 h of sun a day
- 1 rainy days in all
Santa Monica in autumn
Sep – Nov
Good
- 22–28 °C by day
- Sea 19 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 5 rainy days in all
Santa Monica in winter
Dec – Feb
Poor
- 18–19 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 15 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Santa Monica for you.
Your best months: July – September
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Santa Monica
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
August has the better holiday weather in Santa Monica: score 87 against 80. In August, days are 4 °C warmer than in October. The sea is 1 °C warmer in August. August has 2 fewer rainy days. The sun shines 3 hours longer a day in August.
| Month | October | August |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 80 | 87better |
| Day high | 25° | 29° |
| Night low | 14° | 18° |
| Sea | 19.0° | 20.3° |
| Sunshine | 8.3 h | 11.2 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 2 | 0better |
| Rainfall | 13 mm | 2 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 Monica month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
31January19° · Sea 15° · 7 h
In January, Santa Monica is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 15.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 54 mm in total. All in all, January is not an ideal month for a holiday in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica in January30February18° · Sea 15° · 7 h
In February, Santa Monica is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 8 °C. The sea averages 14.7 °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 68 mm. All in all, February is not an ideal month for a holiday in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica in February40March20° · Sea 15° · 8 h
In March, Santa Monica is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sea averages 14.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 39 mm in total. All in all, March is a so-so month for a holiday in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica in March53April21° · Sea 15° · 10 h
In April, Santa Monica is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 11 °C. The sea averages 15.0 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. Rain is rare: about 2 days bring 16 mm in total. All in all, April is a so-so month for a holiday in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica in April62May23° · Sea 17° · 10 h
In May, Santa Monica is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 16.6 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. With around 10 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 Monica.
Santa Monica in May79June25° · Sea 18° · 11 h
In June, Santa Monica is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sea averages 18.3 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. With around 11 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 Monica.
Santa Monica in June85July28° · Sea 20° · 12 h
In July, Santa Monica is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sea averages 19.8 °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 5 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica in July87August29° · Sea 20° · 11 h
In August, Santa Monica is hot: daytime highs average 29 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sea averages 20.3 °C – refreshing for a swim. With around 11 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 10 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica in August86September28° · Sea 20° · 10 h
In September, Santa Monica is hot: daytime highs average 28 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sea averages 20.1 °C – refreshing for a swim. With around 10 hours of sunshine a day, there is plenty of sun. It hardly ever rains. On about 8 days the thermometer climbs to 30 °C or more. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica in September80October25° · Sea 19° · 8 h
In October, Santa Monica is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 19.0 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica in October51November22° · Sea 17° · 7 h
In November, Santa Monica is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. The sea averages 17.4 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 22 mm in total. All in all, November is a so-so month for a holiday in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica in November30December18° · Sea 16° · 6 h
In December, Santa Monica is mild: daytime highs average 18 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sea averages 15.7 °C – swimming is only for the hardy. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 50 mm in total. All in all, December is not an ideal month for a holiday in Santa Monica.
Santa Monica in DecemberSanta Monica compared
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Santa Monica vs. Los Angeles
In October the holiday weather in Santa Monica and Los Angeles is about equally good (score 80 vs. 79). During the day Los Angeles is 1 °C warmer than Santa Monica. The sea is about equally warm.
| in October | Santa Monica | Los Angeles |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 80 | 79 |
| Daytime high | 25° | 26° |
| Sea | 19° | 19° |
| Sunshine | 8 h | 8 h |
| Rainy days | 2 | 2 |
| Best time | Jun – Oct | Sep – Jul |
Through the year
USA in October: the best places
In October, Santa Monica ranks 21 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
- 21Santa MonicaThis page25°19°80
Planning a trip to Santa Monica
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Santa Monica 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 Monica has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 86) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 31).
- 49
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Fair
- 21 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 9.1 h of sun a day
- 3 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 65
May half-term
May – Jun
Good
- 23 °C by day
- Sea 17 °C
- 10.4 h of sun a day
- 1 rainy day a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 86
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
ExcellentBest holidays
- 28 °C by day
- Sea 20 °C
- 11.3 h of sun a day
- 0 rainy days a month
- 80
October half-term
Oct
Excellent
- 25 °C by day
- Sea 19 °C
- 8.3 h of sun a day
- 2 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 31
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Poor
- 18 °C by day
- Sea 15 °C
- 6.5 h of sun a day
- 5 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
- 8,760 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 Monica
When is the best time to visit Santa Monica?
The best time to visit Santa Monica is from June 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 Monica?
The sea temperature in Santa Monica ranges from 14.7 °C in February to 20.3 °C in August. It is warm enough for a comfortable swim (20 °C and more) from August to September.
Can you swim in Santa Monica in October?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in October the sea averages just 19.0 °C. Comfortable swimming is possible from August to September.
What is the warmest month in Santa Monica?
August is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C and nights around 18 °C. December is the coolest month at 18 °C.
When does it rain most in Santa Monica?
The wettest month is February with 68 mm of precipitation. The driest month is June with 1 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Santa Monica get?
Santa Monica gets around 3,250 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is July with 11.6 hours a day; in December there are 6.3 hours a day.
What time zone is Santa Monica in?
Santa Monica 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 Monica?
A nonstop flight from London to Santa Monica takes about 11 h 5 min, for a straight-line distance of about 8,760 km.
Which school holidays are best for Santa Monica?
Santa Monica has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 86) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 31). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 49, May half-term 65, Summer holidays 86, October half-term 80, Christmas holidays 31.
Near Santa Monica
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Santa Monica
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Santa Monica's – good alternatives.