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Typical March weather

Santa Cruz

California · March

Rain, wind, and the coldest water on the calendar.

64° days
43° nights

about 6 rainy days · 12 hours of daylight · ocean 55°

What to pack

What March feels like

March is when upwelling turns the bay cold and clear and the surf crowd goes to thicker suits. On land the wildflowers start along the coastal terraces at Wilder Ranch, and the trail crowds are still thin.

Expect about 6 days with real rain — enough to notice, not enough to plan around.

Can you swim?

The ocean runs about 55° — frigid — locals in wetsuits only.

The numbers

Typical high64°
Typical low43°
Days with real rain6
Total rain4.3 in
Water temperature55°
Sunrise / sunset (mid-month)7:18 am / 7:15 pm

How March compares

See the whole year in Santa Cruz ›