Santa Bárbara in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Santa Bárbara sees average daytime highs around 28°C and overnight lows near 18°C, with 79 mm of rain over about 23 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 27°C in early December to 29°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 76% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels humid.
Winter is Santa Bárbara's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Santa Bárbara's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 28°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 18°C
- Rainfall
- 79 mm
- 23 wet days
- Avg wind
- 5 km/h
- Travel score
- 6.8
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Santa Bárbara in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 27°C in early December to 29°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Santa Bárbara reaches about 28°C and drops to 18°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
Santa Bárbara weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28° / 18° | 20 | 6 | 11.2 | 7.3 |
| Feb | 29° / 18° | 16 | 5.1 | 11.5 | 6.5 |
| Mar | 29° / 19° | 49 | 10.3 | 11.9 | 5.5 |
| Apr | 29° / 20° | 128 | 19.4 | 12.3 | 4.4 |
| May | 28° / 20° | 395 | 29 | 12.7 | 3.5 |
| Jun | 27° / 20° | 436 | 29.3 | 12.8 | 3.3 |
| Jul | 27° / 20° | 374 | 30.6 | 12.8 | 3.3 |
| Aug | 27° / 20° | 447 | 30.7 | 12.5 | 3.3 |
| Sep | 27° / 20° | 520 | 29.8 | 12.1 | 3.3 |
| Oct | 27° / 20° | 509 | 30.4 | 11.7 | 3.5 |
| Nov | 27° / 19° | 196 | 23 | 11.3 | 4.7 |
| Dec | 27° / 18° | 44 | 11.5 | 11.2 | 6.7 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 76% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Santa Bárbara gets around 79 mm of rain over 23 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels humid — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 5 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 12 min in early December to 11 h 42 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 5.3 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Santa Bárbara
None of Santa Bárbara's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Santa Bárbara sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.
Santa Bárbara's rainy season runs May–October, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Santa Bárbara?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a reasonable time to visit Santa Bárbara for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Santa Bárbara in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Santa Bárbara sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 18°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 23 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Santa Bárbara in Winter
The nearest coast averages about 29°C across winter — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 55 km away) is warmest in July at about 30°C and coldest in February near 29°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 29 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 30 | 29 |
| Comfort | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical | Tropical |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 | Tropical |
| Feb | 29 | Tropical |
| Mar | 29 | Tropical |
| Apr | 29 | Tropical |
| May | 30 | Tropical |
| Jun | 30 | Tropical |
| Jul | 30 | Tropical |
| Aug | 30 | Tropical |
| Sep | 30 | Tropical |
| Oct | 29 | Tropical |
| Nov | 30 | Tropical |
| Dec | 29 | Tropical |
UV index in Santa Bárbara in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 10 (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 Bárbara peaks around April 13 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 12 at about 9 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 9 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 9 |
| Level | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | Very high |
| Feb | 12 | Extreme |
| Mar | 12 | Extreme |
| Apr | 13 | Extreme |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 12 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 12 | Extreme |
| Sep | 11 | Extreme |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 9 | Very high |
| Dec | 9 | Very high |
Air quality in Santa Bárbara in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Santa Bárbara is worst in December — around 45 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 1.6× the cleanest month (June, 28 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) | 44 | 45 | 41 | 44 | 40 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 37 | 45 |
| Level | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Poor |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 44 | Poor |
| Feb | 45 | Poor |
| Mar | 41 | Poor |
| Apr | 44 | Poor |
| May | 40 | Poor |
| Jun | 28 | Moderate |
| Jul | 29 | Moderate |
| Aug | 29 | Moderate |
| Sep | 29 | Moderate |
| Oct | 30 | Moderate |
| Nov | 37 | Poor |
| Dec | 45 | Poor |
Where is Santa Bárbara?
Santa Bárbara sits at 14.4°N, 91.2°W, 425 m above sea level, in Guatemala. The nearest listed city is Patulul, 7.0 km away.
Topography around Santa Bárbara
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Santa Bárbara.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Santa Bárbara has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 452 m around an average of 416 m above sea level; within 16 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,931 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,945 m.
The land around Santa Bárbara is covered by trees (69%) and grassland (28%) within 3 km, trees (75%) within 16 km, and trees (52%) within 80 km.
Guatemala travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 3
- Reconsider Travel
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 43% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $6,598
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.5 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 49%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 23.4
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 22.9
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Upper middle
- World Bank
- English
- Moderate
- EF EPI 510
- 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 Bárbara (14.4356°, -91.2268°, elevation 425 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.