Santa Barbara in Summer
In summer (June, July and August), Santa Barbara sees average daytime highs around 77°F and overnight lows near 61°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 71°F in early June to 79°F by late August. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 89% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels dry.
Summer is Santa Barbara's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Santa Barbara's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 77°F
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 61°F
- Rainfall
- 0.2 in
- 1 wet days
- Avg wind
- 5 mph
- Travel score
- 9.2
- best season of the year
- Months
- Jun · Jul · Aug
Temperature in Santa Barbara in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 71°F in early June to 79°F by late August.
A typical summer day in Santa Barbara reaches about 77°F and drops to 61°F overnight. The warmest of the three months is August, the coolest June.
Santa Barbara 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 | Snow days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 60° / 46° | 3.7 | 6.2 | 0.4 | 10 | 5.5 |
| Feb | 60° / 46° | 3.7 | 6.6 | 0.7 | 10.7 | 5.3 |
| Mar | 62° / 47° | 2.7 | 5.8 | 0.6 | 11.7 | 6.2 |
| Apr | 65° / 49° | 0.9 | 3 | 0.3 | 12.8 | 7.5 |
| May | 69° / 53° | 0.4 | 1.8 | 0 | 13.8 | 8.3 |
| Jun | 74° / 58° | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0 | 14.3 | 9.3 |
| Jul | 78° / 62° | 0.1 | 0.7 | 0 | 14.1 | 9.2 |
| Aug | 78° / 63° | 0.0 | 0.2 | 0 | 13.3 | 9.2 |
| Sep | 76° / 60° | 0.1 | 0.5 | 0 | 12.2 | 9.4 |
| Oct | 72° / 56° | 0.7 | 1.9 | 0 | 11.1 | 8.8 |
| Nov | 65° / 50° | 1.0 | 3 | 0.1 | 10.2 | 7.5 |
| Dec | 60° / 46° | 2.4 | 5.1 | 0.3 | 9.7 | 5.6 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 89% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Santa Barbara 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 5 mph across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 14 h 06 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 7.9 kWh/m².
Is summer a good time to visit Santa Barbara?
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 Santa Barbara for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Santa Barbara in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Santa Barbara sees daytime highs around 77°F and nights near 61°F. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes.
Sea temperature near Santa Barbara in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 64°F across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea offshore is warmest in September at about 65°F and coldest in April near 56°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) | 58 | 58 | 57 | 56 | 58 | 61 | 64 | 65 | 65 | 64 | 62 | 59 |
| Comfort | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Bracing |
| Sea temperature (°F) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 58 | Bracing |
| Feb | 58 | Bracing |
| Mar | 57 | Bracing |
| Apr | 56 | Bracing |
| May | 58 | Bracing |
| Jun | 61 | Cool |
| Jul | 64 | Cool |
| Aug | 65 | Cool |
| Sep | 65 | Cool |
| Oct | 64 | Cool |
| Nov | 62 | Cool |
| Dec | 59 | Bracing |
UV index in Santa Barbara in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 11 (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 Barbara peaks around June 23 at about 11 (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) | 3 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 11 | 11 | 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 | 3 | Moderate |
| Feb | 5 | Moderate |
| Mar | 5 | Moderate |
| Apr | 7 | Very high |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 10 | Extreme |
| Sep | 8 | Very high |
| Oct | 6 | High |
| Nov | 3 | Moderate |
| Dec | 3 | Moderate |
Air quality in Santa Barbara 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 Santa Barbara is worst in July — around 28 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 5.1× the cleanest month (February, 6 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) | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 28 | 19 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 21 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6 | Good |
| Feb | 6 | Good |
| Mar | 7 | Good |
| Apr | 6 | Good |
| May | 6 | Good |
| Jun | 6 | Good |
| Jul | 28 | Moderate |
| Aug | 19 | Moderate |
| Sep | 9 | Good |
| Oct | 11 | Good |
| Nov | 7 | Good |
| Dec | 21 | Moderate |
Where is Santa Barbara?
Santa Barbara sits at 34.4°N, 119.7°W, 49 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Goleta, 7.5 mi away.
Topography around Santa Barbara
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Santa Barbara.
Within 2 miles, the terrain around Santa Barbara has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 830 ft around an average of 177 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 3,963 ft; within 50 miles, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 8,806 ft.
The land around Santa Barbara is covered by artificial surfaces (45%) and trees (33%) within 2 miles, water (46%) and trees (36%) within 10 miles, and water (41%), grassland (28%) and trees (21%) 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 Santa Barbara (34.4208°, -119.6982°, elevation 49 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.