Santa Cruz weather in December
In December, Santa Cruz sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 12°C, with 10 mm of rain across 1.3 wet days and about 14.3 hours of daylight. It is the 3rd-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.
Highs climb over the month, from about 26°C in the first days to 28°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 79% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.
Daylight stretches from about 14 h 12 min at the start of December to 14 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Santa Cruz's 4th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Santa Cruz's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- 27°
- 3rd warmest
- Overnight low
- 12°
- 10th coldest
- Rainfall
- 10 mm
- 1.3 wet days
- Daylight
- 14 h 18 min
- 6:32 AM – 8:51 PM
- Cloud cover
- 20%
- 4th clearest
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- 1st windiest
- Solar energy
- 8.75 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 8.5
- out of 10
Temperature in December
Highs climb over the month, from about 26°C in the first days to 28°C by the end.
A typical December day in Santa Cruz reaches about 27°C in the afternoon and slips back to 12°C overnight — a 15°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 24°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 3°C warmer than November and about 2°C cooler than January.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 27 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 |
| Avg low (°C) | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 |
| Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 | 11 |
| 2 | 26 | 11 |
| 3 | 26 | 12 |
| 4 | 26 | 12 |
| 5 | 26 | 12 |
| 6 | 26 | 12 |
| 7 | 26 | 12 |
| 8 | 26 | 12 |
| 9 | 27 | 12 |
| 10 | 27 | 12 |
| 11 | 27 | 12 |
| 12 | 27 | 12 |
| 13 | 27 | 12 |
| 14 | 27 | 12 |
| 15 | 27 | 12 |
| 16 | 27 | 12 |
| 17 | 27 | 13 |
| 18 | 27 | 13 |
| 19 | 27 | 13 |
| 20 | 28 | 13 |
| 21 | 28 | 13 |
| 22 | 28 | 13 |
| 23 | 28 | 13 |
| 24 | 28 | 13 |
| 25 | 28 | 13 |
| 26 | 28 | 13 |
| 27 | 28 | 13 |
| 28 | 28 | 13 |
| 29 | 28 | 13 |
| 30 | 28 | 13 |
| 31 | 28 | 14 |
Santa Cruz weather by month
How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 3rd-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29° / 14° | 3 | 0.6 | 14.1 | 7.7 |
| Feb | 28° / 14° | 5 | 0.7 | 13.3 | 8.2 |
| Mar | 26° / 12° | 8 | 1.4 | 12.3 | 8.8 |
| Apr | 21° / 9° | 41 | 3.4 | 11.2 | 7.8 |
| May | 17° / 7° | 115 | 7 | 10.2 | 5.6 |
| Jun | 14° / 5° | 195 | 10.2 | 9.7 | 3.9 |
| Jul | 14° / 4° | 130 | 8.8 | 9.9 | 4.0 |
| Aug | 15° / 5° | 108 | 7.8 | 10.7 | 4.9 |
| Sep | 18° / 7° | 58 | 5.8 | 11.8 | 6.4 |
| Oct | 21° / 8° | 35 | 4.2 | 12.9 | 7.5 |
| Nov | 25° / 10° | 13 | 2.2 | 13.8 | 8.6 |
| Dec | 27° / 12° | 10 | 1.3 | 14.3 | 8.5 |
Cloud cover in December
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 79% of the time in December.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 10% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 11%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 84 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 85 | 86 | 86 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 89 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 91 | 91 | 91 | 92 | 92 | 93 | 93 |
| Cloudier (%) | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 84 | 16 |
| 2 | 85 | 15 |
| 3 | 85 | 15 |
| 4 | 85 | 15 |
| 5 | 85 | 15 |
| 6 | 85 | 15 |
| 7 | 86 | 14 |
| 8 | 86 | 14 |
| 9 | 86 | 14 |
| 10 | 87 | 13 |
| 11 | 88 | 12 |
| 12 | 88 | 12 |
| 13 | 88 | 12 |
| 14 | 88 | 12 |
| 15 | 89 | 11 |
| 16 | 89 | 11 |
| 17 | 89 | 11 |
| 18 | 89 | 11 |
| 19 | 89 | 11 |
| 20 | 90 | 10 |
| 21 | 90 | 10 |
| 22 | 90 | 10 |
| 23 | 90 | 10 |
| 24 | 90 | 10 |
| 25 | 91 | 9 |
| 26 | 91 | 9 |
| 27 | 91 | 9 |
| 28 | 92 | 8 |
| 29 | 92 | 8 |
| 30 | 93 | 7 |
| 31 | 93 | 7 |
Chance of precipitation in December
Santa Cruz gets around 10 mm of rain over 1.3 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 4% and peaks near 5% on the wettest days.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain chance (%) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Rain chance (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 5 |
| 2 | 5 |
| 3 | 5 |
| 4 | 5 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 6 | 5 |
| 7 | 5 |
| 8 | 5 |
| 9 | 5 |
| 10 | 4 |
| 11 | 4 |
| 12 | 4 |
| 13 | 4 |
| 14 | 4 |
| 15 | 4 |
| 16 | 4 |
| 17 | 4 |
| 18 | 4 |
| 19 | 4 |
| 20 | 3 |
| 21 | 3 |
| 22 | 3 |
| 23 | 3 |
| 24 | 3 |
| 25 | 3 |
| 26 | 3 |
| 27 | 3 |
| 28 | 3 |
| 29 | 3 |
| 30 | 2 |
| 31 | 2 |
Humidity in December
Most of December feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
By dew point, December lands in the dry band about 83% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry (%) | 94 | 93 | 93 | 92 | 91 | 90 | 89 | 88 | 87 | 87 | 86 | 85 | 85 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 83 | 83 | 82 | 82 | 81 | 80 | 80 | 78 | 77 | 76 | 75 | 74 | 74 | 73 | 73 |
| Comfortable (%) | 6 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 | 26 |
| Humid (%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Dry (%) | Comfortable (%) | Humid (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 94 | 6 | 0 |
| 2 | 93 | 7 | 0 |
| 3 | 93 | 7 | 0 |
| 4 | 92 | 8 | 0 |
| 5 | 91 | 9 | 0 |
| 6 | 90 | 10 | 0 |
| 7 | 89 | 11 | 0 |
| 8 | 88 | 12 | 0 |
| 9 | 87 | 13 | 0 |
| 10 | 87 | 13 | 0 |
| 11 | 86 | 14 | 0 |
| 12 | 85 | 15 | 0 |
| 13 | 85 | 15 | 0 |
| 14 | 84 | 16 | 0 |
| 15 | 84 | 16 | 0 |
| 16 | 84 | 16 | 0 |
| 17 | 83 | 17 | 0 |
| 18 | 83 | 17 | 0 |
| 19 | 82 | 18 | 0 |
| 20 | 82 | 18 | 0 |
| 21 | 81 | 19 | 0 |
| 22 | 80 | 20 | 0 |
| 23 | 80 | 20 | 0 |
| 24 | 78 | 21 | 1 |
| 25 | 77 | 22 | 1 |
| 26 | 76 | 23 | 1 |
| 27 | 75 | 24 | 1 |
| 28 | 74 | 25 | 1 |
| 29 | 74 | 25 | 1 |
| 30 | 73 | 26 | 1 |
| 31 | 73 | 26 | 1 |
Wind in December
Winds average 8 km/h in December, the windiest month of the year.
Across December, daily wind ranges from about 7 km/h on the calmest days to 8 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (km/h) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Feels | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm |
| Wind speed (km/h) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | calm |
| 2 | 7 | calm |
| 3 | 7 | calm |
| 4 | 7 | calm |
| 5 | 7 | calm |
| 6 | 7 | calm |
| 7 | 7 | calm |
| 8 | 7 | calm |
| 9 | 7 | calm |
| 10 | 7 | calm |
| 11 | 7 | calm |
| 12 | 7 | calm |
| 13 | 8 | calm |
| 14 | 8 | calm |
| 15 | 8 | calm |
| 16 | 8 | calm |
| 17 | 8 | calm |
| 18 | 8 | calm |
| 19 | 8 | calm |
| 20 | 8 | calm |
| 21 | 8 | calm |
| 22 | 8 | calm |
| 23 | 8 | calm |
| 24 | 8 | calm |
| 25 | 8 | calm |
| 26 | 8 | calm |
| 27 | 8 | calm |
| 28 | 8 | calm |
| 29 | 8 | calm |
| 30 | 8 | calm |
| 31 | 8 | calm |
Sunrise & sunset in December
Daylight runs from about 14 h 12 min at the start of December to 14 h 18 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Days grow by about 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 6:31 AM to 6:40 AM, and sunset from 8:40 PM to 8:57 PM.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 14.2 | 14.2 | 14.2 | 14.2 | 14.2 | 14.2 | 14.2 | 14.2 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 | 14.3 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 6:31 | 6:31 | 6:30 | 6:30 | 6:30 | 6:30 | 6:31 | 6:31 | 6:31 | 6:31 | 6:31 | 6:31 | 6:31 | 6:32 | 6:32 | 6:32 | 6:33 | 6:33 | 6:33 | 6:34 | 6:34 | 6:35 | 6:35 | 6:36 | 6:36 | 6:37 | 6:37 | 6:38 | 6:39 | 6:39 | 6:40 |
| Sunset (PM) | 8:40 | 8:41 | 8:41 | 8:42 | 8:43 | 8:44 | 8:45 | 8:45 | 8:46 | 8:47 | 8:48 | 8:48 | 8:49 | 8:50 | 8:50 | 8:51 | 8:52 | 8:52 | 8:53 | 8:53 | 8:54 | 8:54 | 8:55 | 8:55 | 8:55 | 8:56 | 8:56 | 8:57 | 8:57 | 8:57 | 8:57 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14.2 | 6:31 | 8:40 |
| 2 | 14.2 | 6:31 | 8:41 |
| 3 | 14.2 | 6:30 | 8:41 |
| 4 | 14.2 | 6:30 | 8:42 |
| 5 | 14.2 | 6:30 | 8:43 |
| 6 | 14.2 | 6:30 | 8:44 |
| 7 | 14.2 | 6:31 | 8:45 |
| 8 | 14.2 | 6:31 | 8:45 |
| 9 | 14.3 | 6:31 | 8:46 |
| 10 | 14.3 | 6:31 | 8:47 |
| 11 | 14.3 | 6:31 | 8:48 |
| 12 | 14.3 | 6:31 | 8:48 |
| 13 | 14.3 | 6:31 | 8:49 |
| 14 | 14.3 | 6:32 | 8:50 |
| 15 | 14.3 | 6:32 | 8:50 |
| 16 | 14.3 | 6:32 | 8:51 |
| 17 | 14.3 | 6:33 | 8:52 |
| 18 | 14.3 | 6:33 | 8:52 |
| 19 | 14.3 | 6:33 | 8:53 |
| 20 | 14.3 | 6:34 | 8:53 |
| 21 | 14.3 | 6:34 | 8:54 |
| 22 | 14.3 | 6:35 | 8:54 |
| 23 | 14.3 | 6:35 | 8:55 |
| 24 | 14.3 | 6:36 | 8:55 |
| 25 | 14.3 | 6:36 | 8:55 |
| 26 | 14.3 | 6:37 | 8:56 |
| 27 | 14.3 | 6:37 | 8:56 |
| 28 | 14.3 | 6:38 | 8:57 |
| 29 | 14.3 | 6:39 | 8:57 |
| 30 | 14.3 | 6:39 | 8:57 |
| 31 | 14.3 | 6:40 | 8:57 |
Solar energy in December
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 8.75 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.09 kWh/m² to a high of 8.75 kWh/m² in December across the year — December's 8.75 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.5 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.6 | 8.7 | 8.7 | 8.7 | 8.7 | 8.7 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.8 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 8.9 |
| Level | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8.5 | Intense |
| 2 | 8.5 | Intense |
| 3 | 8.5 | Intense |
| 4 | 8.5 | Intense |
| 5 | 8.6 | Intense |
| 6 | 8.6 | Intense |
| 7 | 8.6 | Intense |
| 8 | 8.6 | Intense |
| 9 | 8.6 | Intense |
| 10 | 8.7 | Intense |
| 11 | 8.7 | Intense |
| 12 | 8.7 | Intense |
| 13 | 8.7 | Intense |
| 14 | 8.7 | Intense |
| 15 | 8.8 | Intense |
| 16 | 8.8 | Intense |
| 17 | 8.8 | Intense |
| 18 | 8.8 | Intense |
| 19 | 8.8 | Intense |
| 20 | 8.8 | Intense |
| 21 | 8.8 | Intense |
| 22 | 8.9 | Intense |
| 23 | 8.9 | Intense |
| 24 | 8.9 | Intense |
| 25 | 8.9 | Intense |
| 26 | 8.9 | Intense |
| 27 | 8.9 | Intense |
| 28 | 8.9 | Intense |
| 29 | 8.9 | Intense |
| 30 | 8.9 | Intense |
| 31 | 8.9 | Intense |
Hazard calendar for Santa Cruz
None of Santa Cruz's seasonal hazards are active in December. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.
Santa Cruz's rainy season runs May–August, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is December a good time to visit Santa Cruz?
Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
December is one of the better times to visit Santa Cruz for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Santa Cruz in December
From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In December, Santa Cruz sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 12°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection.
Sea temperature near Santa Cruz in December
The nearest coast averages about 15°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 69 km away) is warmest in February at about 16°C and coldest in August near 12°C.
The water stays below 20°C all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 15 |
| Comfort | Cool | Cool | Cool | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16 | Cool |
| Feb | 16 | Cool |
| Mar | 16 | Cool |
| Apr | 15 | Bracing |
| May | 14 | Bracing |
| Jun | 13 | Bracing |
| Jul | 13 | Bracing |
| Aug | 12 | Bracing |
| Sep | 13 | Bracing |
| Oct | 13 | Bracing |
| Nov | 14 | Bracing |
| Dec | 15 | Bracing |
UV index in Santa Cruz in December
Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 12 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Santa Cruz peaks around January 16 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 15 at about 2 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 13 | 12 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 11 | 12 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13 | Extreme |
| Feb | 12 | Extreme |
| Mar | 10 | Very high |
| Apr | 5 | High |
| May | 3 | Moderate |
| Jun | 2 | Moderate |
| Jul | 3 | Moderate |
| Aug | 4 | Moderate |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 9 | Very high |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 12 | Extreme |
Air quality in Santa Cruz in December
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Santa Cruz is worst in May — around 41 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 2.1× the cleanest month (November, 19 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 34 | 22 | 22 | 29 | 41 | 37 | 37 | 35 | 32 | 24 | 19 | 19 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 34 | Moderate |
| Feb | 22 | Moderate |
| Mar | 22 | Moderate |
| Apr | 29 | Moderate |
| May | 41 | Poor |
| Jun | 37 | Poor |
| Jul | 37 | Poor |
| Aug | 35 | Moderate |
| Sep | 32 | Moderate |
| Oct | 24 | Moderate |
| Nov | 19 | Moderate |
| Dec | 19 | Moderate |
Where is Santa Cruz?
Santa Cruz sits at 34.6°S, 71.4°W, 174 m above sea level, in Chile. The nearest listed city is Chimbarongo, 31 km away.
Topography around Santa Cruz
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Santa Cruz.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Santa Cruz has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 35 m around an average of 164 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,083 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,840 m.
The land around Santa Cruz is covered by cropland (41%) and trees (25%) within 3 km, trees (32%) and cropland (31%) within 16 km, and trees (36%) and grassland (28%) within 80 km.
Chile travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type C / F / L
- 220 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 48% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $17,995
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.3 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 98%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 6.3
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 14.9
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- English
- Moderate
- EF EPI 517
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Santa Cruz (-34.6388°, -71.3658°, elevation 174 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).