Best time to visit Santa Cruz
The best time to visit Santa Cruz is July–October, judged on twenty years of weather records and the events worth going for.
Santa Cruz, California, United States
°C
mm
- Average daily high and low
- Precipitation
- Good month
- Best month
- Made good or best by an event
| Month | Average daily high | Average daily low | Precipitation | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.5 °C / 56 °F | 9.5 °C / 49 °F | 125 mm / 4.9 in | neither best nor good |
| February | 13.4 °C / 56 °F | 9.5 °C / 49 °F | 122 mm / 4.8 in | neither best nor good |
| March | 13.3 °C / 56 °F | 9.9 °C / 50 °F | 104 mm / 4.1 in | neither best nor good |
| April | 13.8 °C / 57 °F | 10.3 °C / 51 °F | 41 mm / 1.6 in | good month |
| May | 14.4 °C / 58 °F | 11 °C / 52 °F | 15 mm / 0.6 in | good month |
| June | 15.8 °C / 60 °F | 12.2 °C / 54 °F | 4 mm / 0.1 in | good month |
| July | 16.4 °C / 62 °F | 13.1 °C / 56 °F | 1 mm / 0 in | best month |
| August | 17.3 °C / 63 °F | 14.1 °C / 57 °F | 0 mm / 0 in | best month |
| September | 18 °C / 64 °F | 14.5 °C / 58 °F | 4 mm / 0.1 in | best month |
| October | 17.6 °C / 64 °F | 13.6 °C / 56 °F | 33 mm / 1.3 in | best month |
| November | 15.4 °C / 60 °F | 11.4 °C / 53 °F | 64 mm / 2.5 in | good month |
| December | 13.4 °C / 56 °F | 9.7 °C / 49 °F | 127 mm / 5 in | neither best nor good |
Good and best months depend on more than temperature, rain and events. How they are chosen
Each activity on this page has its own good and best months, rated on twenty years of daily weather records. Which measures count, and how much, depends on the activity: humidity for exploring outdoors, wind for the beach, hiking and skiing, snow for skiing alone. Between them, the activities are rated on:
- Daytime highs
- Night-time lows
- How warm it feels
- Humidity
- How much of the day is sunny
- Hours of daylight
- Monthly rainfall
- How many days it rains
- Days of heavy rain
- Wind
- Snowfall and days with snow
- Major events, such as festivals
The chart shows the good and best months for exploring outdoors.
The event icon marks a month that an event lifts to good or best, such as a festival or a natural spectacle. Choose “Weather only” in the toolbar to rate the months on weather alone.
Best months by activity
Exploring outdoors
Mild days and nights, mostly dry and bright. The default for 'when should I go'.
- JJanuary: neither
- FFebruary: neither
- MMarch: neither
- AApril: good
- MMay: good
- JJune: good
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: good
- DDecember: neither
- Best
- July–October
- Good
- April–June, November
Why these months
April · good
In its favour: precipitation 41 mm / 1.6 in, share of daylight that is sunny 87%, wet days 4.6 days, days with heavy rain 1.5 days, average daily high 13.8 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 10.3 °C / 51 °F.
Against: feels like (high) 12.4 °C / 54 °F, relative humidity 80%.
May · good
In its favour: precipitation 15 mm / 0.6 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, feels like (high) 13.3 °C / 56 °F, wet days 2.1 days, days with heavy rain 0.4 days, average daily high 14.4 °C / 58 °F, average daily low 11 °C / 52 °F.
Against: relative humidity 81%.
June · good
In its favour: feels like (high) 15.2 °C / 59 °F, precipitation 4 mm / 0.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, average daily high 15.8 °C / 60 °F, wet days 0.7 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 12.2 °C / 54 °F.
Against: relative humidity 83%.
July · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.3 °C / 61 °F, precipitation 1 mm / 0 in, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, average daily high 16.4 °C / 62 °F, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, average daily low 13.1 °C / 56 °F.
Against: relative humidity 85%.
August · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.4 °C / 63 °F, precipitation 0 mm / 0 in, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, average daily high 17.3 °C / 63 °F, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, average daily low 14.1 °C / 57 °F.
Against: relative humidity 85%.
September · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 17.8 °C / 64 °F, average daily high 18 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 4 mm / 0.1 in, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, wet days 0.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, average daily low 14.5 °C / 58 °F.
Against: relative humidity 82%.
October · best
In its favour: feels like (high) 16.7 °C / 62 °F, precipitation 33 mm / 1.3 in, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, average daily high 17.6 °C / 64 °F, wet days 2.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, average daily low 13.6 °C / 56 °F.
Against: relative humidity 79%.
November · good
In its favour: share of daylight that is sunny 87%, precipitation 64 mm / 2.5 in, feels like (high) 13.9 °C / 57 °F, wet days 5.9 days, average daily high 15.4 °C / 60 °F, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, average daily low 11.4 °C / 53 °F.
Against: relative humidity 79%.
Hiking and trekking
Cool enough to climb in, dry enough to enjoy, long enough days.
- JJanuary: good
- FFebruary: best
- MMarch: best
- AApril: best
- MMay: best
- JJune: best
- JJuly: best
- AAugust: best
- SSeptember: best
- OOctober: best
- NNovember: best
- DDecember: good
- Best
- February–November
- Good
- December–January
Why these months
January · good
In its favour: average daily high 13.5 °C / 56 °F, wet days 8.6 days, feels like (high) 11.7 °C / 53 °F, average daily low 9.5 °C / 49 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 80%, precipitation 125 mm / 4.9 in, days with heavy rain 4 days, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
Against: daylight per day 10 h.
February · best
In its favour: average daily high 13.4 °C / 56 °F, wet days 7.8 days, feels like (high) 11.3 °C / 52 °F, average daily low 9.5 °C / 49 °F, precipitation 122 mm / 4.8 in, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, daylight per day 10.9 h, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph.
Against: days with heavy rain 4.5 days.
March · best
In its favour: average daily high 13.3 °C / 56 °F, precipitation 104 mm / 4.1 in, wet days 9.6 days, feels like (high) 11.7 °C / 53 °F, average daily low 9.9 °C / 50 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 84%, daylight per day 12 h, days with heavy rain 4 days, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph.
April · best
In its favour: average daily high 13.8 °C / 57 °F, precipitation 41 mm / 1.6 in, wet days 4.6 days, days with heavy rain 1.5 days, feels like (high) 12.4 °C / 54 °F, average daily low 10.3 °C / 51 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 87%, daylight per day 13.2 h, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph.
May · best
In its favour: average daily high 14.4 °C / 58 °F, precipitation 15 mm / 0.6 in, wet days 2.1 days, days with heavy rain 0.4 days, feels like (high) 13.3 °C / 56 °F, average daily low 11 °C / 52 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, daylight per day 14.2 h, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph.
June · best
In its favour: average daily high 15.8 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 4 mm / 0.1 in, wet days 0.7 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 15.2 °C / 59 °F, average daily low 12.2 °C / 54 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 91%, daylight per day 14.7 h, wind (daily max) 21 km/h / 13 mph.
July · best
In its favour: average daily high 16.4 °C / 62 °F, precipitation 1 mm / 0 in, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, feels like (high) 16.3 °C / 61 °F, average daily low 13.1 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 92%, daylight per day 14.4 h, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
August · best
In its favour: average daily high 17.3 °C / 63 °F, precipitation 0 mm / 0 in, wet days 0.1 days, days with heavy rain 0 days, feels like (high) 17.4 °C / 63 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 93%, daylight per day 13.5 h, average daily low 14.1 °C / 57 °F, wind (daily max) 19 km/h / 12 mph.
September · best
In its favour: average daily high 18 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 4 mm / 0.1 in, wet days 0.8 days, days with heavy rain 0.1 days, feels like (high) 17.8 °C / 64 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 94%, daylight per day 12.4 h, average daily low 14.5 °C / 58 °F, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
October · best
In its favour: average daily high 17.6 °C / 64 °F, precipitation 33 mm / 1.3 in, wet days 2.9 days, days with heavy rain 0.8 days, feels like (high) 16.7 °C / 62 °F, average daily low 13.6 °C / 56 °F, share of daylight that is sunny 90%, daylight per day 11.2 h, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 11 mph.
November · best
In its favour: average daily high 15.4 °C / 60 °F, precipitation 64 mm / 2.5 in, wet days 5.9 days, feels like (high) 13.9 °C / 57 °F, average daily low 11.4 °C / 53 °F, days with heavy rain 2.5 days, share of daylight that is sunny 87%, wind (daily max) 17 km/h / 10 mph, daylight per day 10.2 h.
December · good
In its favour: average daily high 13.4 °C / 56 °F, feels like (high) 11.6 °C / 53 °F, average daily low 9.7 °C / 49 °F, wet days 9.8 days, share of daylight that is sunny 79%, precipitation 127 mm / 5 in, wind (daily max) 18 km/h / 11 mph.
Against: days with heavy rain 4.2 days, daylight per day 9.7 h.
An activity is listed only where it applies: skiing at ski destinations, beach and swimming at beach destinations. The nearest ski area is Dodge Ridge Ski Area, 229 km away.
Weather averages
Monthly averages over twenty years, 2006–2025. Highs, lows and precipitation are in the chart at the top.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feels like (high) | 11.7 °C | 11.3 °C | 11.7 °C | 12.4 °C | 13.3 °C | 15.2 °C | 16.3 °C | 17.4 °C | 17.8 °C | 16.7 °C | 13.9 °C | 11.6 °C |
| Days with heavy rain | 4 days | 4.5 days | 4 days | 1.5 days | 0.4 days | 0.1 days | 0 days | 0 days | 0.1 days | 0.8 days | 2.5 days | 4.2 days |
| Time rain usually falls | 1 am | 6 am | 12 am | 7 am | 12 pm | 8 am | 1 pm | 7 am | 8 am | 8 am | 1 pm | 5 am |
| Sunshine per day | 7.9 h | 9.2 h | 10.1 h | 11.5 h | 12.8 h | 13.3 h | 13.2 h | 12.5 h | 11.6 h | 10.1 h | 8.9 h | 7.7 h |
| Relative humidity | 80% | 79% | 80% | 80% | 81% | 83% | 85% | 85% | 82% | 79% | 79% | 79% |
Sea temperature
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature 2022–2025 | 12.8 °C | 12.6 °C | 12.4 °C | 12.7 °C | 13.2 °C | 14.2 °C | 14.6 °C | 15.4 °C | 16.3 °C | 15.8 °C | 13.8 °C | 13.5 °C |
| Sea temperature (daily max) 2022–2025 | 13 °C | 12.8 °C | 12.6 °C | 12.9 °C | 13.5 °C | 14.5 °C | 14.9 °C | 15.7 °C | 16.6 °C | 16.1 °C | 13.9 °C | 13.7 °C |
- Very cold 10 °C or less
- Cold 10 to 15 °C
- Cool 15 to 20 °C
- Comfortable 20 to 25 °C
- Warm 25 to 28 °C
- Very warm over 28 °C
The words describe how the water feels to swim in. They are ours, not an official standard.
Air quality
Averaged over a shorter period (2022–2025) than the twenty-year averages above, and not counted towards good or best months.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air pollution (PM2.5) 2022–2025 | 8.3 µg/m³ | 9.2 µg/m³ | 8.9 µg/m³ | 9.5 µg/m³ | 8.4 µg/m³ | 8.6 µg/m³ | 7.6 µg/m³ | 7.4 µg/m³ | 8.5 µg/m³ | 9.7 µg/m³ | 9.4 µg/m³ | 9.6 µg/m³ |
| Air pollution (PM2.5, daily peak) 2022–2025 | 12.8 µg/m³ | 13.5 µg/m³ | 12.7 µg/m³ | 12.7 µg/m³ | 11 µg/m³ | 10.6 µg/m³ | 9.9 µg/m³ | 9.8 µg/m³ | 11.2 µg/m³ | 14.5 µg/m³ | 13.8 µg/m³ | 14.3 µg/m³ |
- Good 15 µg/m³ or less
- Fair 15 to 25 µg/m³
- Moderate 25 to 37.5 µg/m³
- Poor 37.5 to 50 µg/m³
- Very poor 50 to 75 µg/m³
- Extremely poor over 75 µg/m³
Each figure is compared with the World Health Organization's guideline for a day's air, 15 µg/m³ or less, and with its interim targets above that. The words are ours: the WHO does not name its steps. The figures are modelled monthly averages, so single days can be well above them. The daily peak is the average of each day's highest hour, shaded on the same scale.