Big Sur in Summer
In summer (June, July and August), Big Sur sees average daytime highs around 65°F and overnight lows near 54°F, with 0.2 in of rain over about 1 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 61°F in early June to 68°F by late August. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 86% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels dry.
Summer is Big Sur's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Big Sur's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 65°F
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 54°F
- Rainfall
- 0.2 in
- 1 wet days
- Avg wind
- 9 mph
- Travel score
- 8.1
- best season of the year
- Months
- Jun · Jul · Aug
Temperature in Big Sur in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 61°F in early June to 68°F by late August.
A typical summer day in Big Sur reaches about 65°F and drops to 54°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is August, the coolest June.
Big Sur weather by month
How the three summer months (June, July and August) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°F) | Rainfall (inches) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55° / 46° | 5.1 | 9.3 | 9.8 | 3.7 |
| Feb | 55° / 46° | 4.8 | 9.3 | 10.6 | 3.6 |
| Mar | 56° / 46° | 3.4 | 8.3 | 11.7 | 4.1 |
| Apr | 57° / 47° | 1.7 | 5.7 | 12.9 | 4.7 |
| May | 59° / 49° | 0.7 | 2.6 | 13.9 | 5.8 |
| Jun | 63° / 51° | 0.1 | 0.4 | 14.4 | 7.4 |
| Jul | 66° / 54° | 0.0 | 0.1 | 14.2 | 8.3 |
| Aug | 67° / 55° | 0.1 | 0.3 | 13.4 | 8.5 |
| Sep | 67° / 55° | 0.1 | 0.6 | 12.2 | 8.4 |
| Oct | 65° / 53° | 0.9 | 2.4 | 11.1 | 7.6 |
| Nov | 59° / 49° | 2.2 | 6.1 | 10.1 | 5.3 |
| Dec | 55° / 46° | 4.5 | 9.2 | 9.6 | 3.8 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 86% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Big Sur gets around 0.2 in of rain over 1 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 9 mph across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 14 h 18 min in early June to 12 h 48 min by late August. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 7.8 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Big Sur
None of Big Sur's seasonal hazards peak in summer. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Big Sur's rainy season runs December–March, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is summer a good time to visit Big Sur?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is one of the better times to visit Big Sur for general sightseeing.
What to pack for Big Sur in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Big Sur sees daytime highs around 65°F and nights near 54°F. Pack sun protection.
Sea temperature near Big Sur in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 57°F across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 8 mi away) is warmest in September at about 59°F and coldest in April near 54°F.
The water stays below 68°F all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°F) | 55 | 55 | 55 | 54 | 54 | 55 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 58 | 57 | 56 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 55 | Bracing |
| Feb | 55 | Bracing |
| Mar | 55 | Bracing |
| Apr | 54 | Bracing |
| May | 54 | Bracing |
| Jun | 55 | Bracing |
| Jul | 57 | Bracing |
| Aug | 58 | Bracing |
| Sep | 59 | Bracing |
| Oct | 58 | Bracing |
| Nov | 57 | Bracing |
| Dec | 56 | Bracing |
UV index in Big Sur in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer 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 Big Sur peaks around June 22 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 12 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) | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 3 | 2 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3 | Moderate |
| Feb | 4 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | Moderate |
| Apr | 7 | High |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 10 | Extreme |
| Aug | 10 | Very high |
| Sep | 7 | High |
| Oct | 5 | High |
| Nov | 3 | Moderate |
| Dec | 2 | Moderate |
Air quality in Big Sur in Summer
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where summer falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Big Sur is worst in September — around 27 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 7.0× the cleanest month (December, 4 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) | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 25 | 27 | 6 | 4 | 4 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4 | Good |
| Feb | 5 | Good |
| Mar | 5 | Good |
| Apr | 5 | Good |
| May | 5 | Good |
| Jun | 5 | Good |
| Jul | 16 | Moderate |
| Aug | 25 | Moderate |
| Sep | 27 | Moderate |
| Oct | 6 | Good |
| Nov | 4 | Good |
| Dec | 4 | Good |
Where is Big Sur?
Big Sur sits at 36.3°N, 121.8°W, 0 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Monterey, 24 mi away.
Topography around Big Sur
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Big Sur.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Big Sur has large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,455 ft around an average of 1,145 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,918 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 5,758 ft.
The land around Big Sur is covered by trees (77%) within 2 miles, water (45%) and trees (43%) within 10 miles, and water (40%), grassland (27%) and trees (22%) within 50 miles.
United States travel facts
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 100% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $90,027
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 98%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 5.8
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 12.7
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- High
- World Bank
- 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 Big Sur (36.2702°, -121.8075°, elevation 0 ft), 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.