Weather by month
Santa Cruz
California
A surf town with a mild, foggy summer, a genuinely wet winter, and the best weeks saved for after Labor Day.
The best time to come
September and October are Santa Cruz at its best: warm afternoons, the summer fog finally gone, and the boardwalk crowds back at school. The water never really warms up, so pack the wetsuit whenever you come.
The year at a glance
| Month | Highs / lows | Temperature range | Wet days | Water |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 61° / 40° | 6 | 56° | |
| February | 62° / 42° | 7 | 56° | |
| March | 64° / 43° | 6 | 55° | |
| April | 66° / 45° | 3 | 56° | |
| May | 69° / 48° | 1 | 57° | |
| June | 72° / 50° | 0 | 58° | |
| July | 72° / 53° | 0 | 60° | |
| August | 73° / 53° | 0 | 61° | |
| September ● | 75° / 52° | 0 | 62° | |
| October ● | 74° / 48° | 1 | 60° | |
| November | 67° / 43° | 4 | 57° | |
| December | 61° / 39° | 6 | 57° |
Santa Cruz facts
- Sits at about 160 ft above sea level.
- 22.4 in of rain in a typical year, with January the wettest month.
- September runs hottest (75° afternoons); December nights are the coldest (39°).