Rancho Santa Margarita in Spring
In spring (March, April and May), Rancho Santa Margarita sees average daytime highs around 71°F and overnight lows near 52°F, with 4.4 in of rain over about 13 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the 2nd-wettest season.
Over the season highs climb from about 65°F in early March to 76°F by late May. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 54% of the time across spring, and the air most often feels dry.
Spring is Rancho Santa Margarita's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Rancho Santa Margarita's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 71°F
- 3rd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 52°F
- Rainfall
- 4.4 in
- 13 wet days
- Avg wind
- 4 mph
- Travel score
- 7.8
- best season of the year
- Months
- Mar · Apr · May
Temperature in Rancho Santa Margarita in Spring
Over the season highs climb from about 65°F in early March to 76°F by late May.
A typical spring day in Rancho Santa Margarita reaches about 71°F and drops to 52°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is May, the coolest March.
Rancho Santa Margarita weather by month
How the three spring months (March, April and May) 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 | 64° / 44° | 3.6 | 6.4 | 10 | 6.5 |
| Feb | 64° / 46° | 4.4 | 6.8 | 10.7 | 6.4 |
| Mar | 67° / 48° | 2.6 | 6.5 | 11.7 | 6.9 |
| Apr | 71° / 51° | 1.2 | 3.9 | 12.8 | 7.9 |
| May | 74° / 56° | 0.6 | 2.3 | 13.7 | 8.7 |
| Jun | 80° / 60° | 0.1 | 0.6 | 14.2 | 8.6 |
| Jul | 86° / 65° | 0.1 | 0.6 | 14 | 6.7 |
| Aug | 88° / 66° | 0.1 | 0.3 | 13.2 | 6.1 |
| Sep | 85° / 64° | 0.2 | 1.3 | 12.2 | 6.9 |
| Oct | 79° / 57° | 0.9 | 2.8 | 11.2 | 8.5 |
| Nov | 70° / 49° | 1.2 | 3.2 | 10.3 | 8.0 |
| Dec | 64° / 44° | 2.5 | 5.3 | 9.8 | 6.6 |
Cloud cover in Spring
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 54% of the time across spring.
Chance of precipitation in Spring
Rancho Santa Margarita gets around 4.4 in of rain over 13 wet days across spring. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Spring
Most of spring feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Spring
Winds average 4 mph across spring.
Sunrise & sunset in Spring
Daylight runs from about 11 h 12 min in early March to 14 hours by late May. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Spring
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across spring, about 6.4 kWh/m².
Is spring a good time to visit Rancho Santa Margarita?
Our two travel scores rate spring for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
spring is one of the better times to visit Rancho Santa Margarita for general sightseeing.
What to pack for Rancho Santa Margarita in Spring
From spring's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In spring, Rancho Santa Margarita sees daytime highs around 71°F and nights near 52°F. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes. About 13 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Rancho Santa Margarita in Spring
The nearest coast averages about 61°F across spring — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 16 mi away) is warmest in August at about 69°F and coldest in February near 59°F.
It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 13 to Sep 28 — about 2.6 months when the water holds above 68°F.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°F) | 59 | 59 | 59 | 60 | 63 | 65 | 68 | 69 | 69 | 67 | 64 | 60 |
| Comfort | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Cool | Cool | Cool |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59 | Cool |
| Feb | 59 | Cool |
| Mar | 59 | Cool |
| Apr | 60 | Cool |
| May | 63 | Cool |
| Jun | 65 | Cool |
| Jul | 68 | Refreshing |
| Aug | 69 | Refreshing |
| Sep | 69 | Refreshing |
| Oct | 67 | Cool |
| Nov | 64 | Cool |
| Dec | 60 | Cool |
UV index in Rancho Santa Margarita in Spring
Clear-sky midday UV across spring averages around 7 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Rancho Santa Margarita peaks around June 23 at about 10 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 16 at about 3 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 11 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 4 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 4 | Moderate |
| Feb | 5 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | Moderate |
| Apr | 8 | Very high |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 10 | Extreme |
| Aug | 10 | Extreme |
| Sep | 8 | Very high |
| Oct | 6 | High |
| Nov | 3 | Moderate |
| Dec | 3 | Moderate |
Air quality in Rancho Santa Margarita in Spring
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where spring falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Rancho Santa Margarita is worst in September — around 49 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 4.0× the cleanest month (May, 12 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) | 18 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 12 | 17 | 19 | 32 | 49 | 21 | 21 | 18 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 18 | Moderate |
| Feb | 19 | Moderate |
| Mar | 19 | Moderate |
| Apr | 17 | Moderate |
| May | 12 | Moderate |
| Jun | 17 | Moderate |
| Jul | 19 | Moderate |
| Aug | 32 | Moderate |
| Sep | 49 | Poor |
| Oct | 21 | Moderate |
| Nov | 21 | Moderate |
| Dec | 18 | Moderate |
Where is Rancho Santa Margarita?
Rancho Santa Margarita sits at 33.6°N, 117.6°W, 948 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Mission Viejo, 5.0 mi away.
Topography around Rancho Santa Margarita
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Rancho Santa Margarita.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Rancho Santa Margarita has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 764 ft around an average of 1,007 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 5,564 ft; within 50 miles, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 9,967 ft.
The land around Rancho Santa Margarita is covered by artificial surfaces (41%) and trees (35%) within 2 miles, trees (43%) and artificial surfaces (21%) within 10 miles, and water (27%) and artificial surfaces (25%) 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 Rancho Santa Margarita (33.6409°, -117.6031°, elevation 948 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.