Climate Comfort Score
82/100
Excellent
2026 data Public-data reference. official source
Santa Cruz, CA Climate
Temperature, precipitation, and comfort score from NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals →
30-year climate normals from 1 weather station (1991-2020).
Santa Cruz, California has an average annual temperature of 59°F and a climate comfort score of 82/100 (Excellent). Annual precipitation totals 30.6". Based on NOAA 30-year normals (1991–2020).
Avg Temperature
59°F (15°C)
Avg High
70°F
Avg Low
48°F
Annual Precip
30.6"
Annual Snow
0.0"
Comfort Score
82/100
Excellent
Avg Annual Temperature
59°F
30-year mean (NOAA NCEI)
Annual Precipitation
30.6"
Liquid-equivalent total
Comfort score vs national 100-point ceiling (Santa Cruz) 82.0%
National median (≈55)
PlainClimate composite — temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, extreme-weather frequency. Excellent for the Santa Cruz area.
Warming context for Santa Cruz
MethodologyHow the U.S. land temperature anomaly tracks against the global mean since 1900. The current NOAA 1991-2020 normal for Santa Cruz captures average conditions across the spread shown — the most recent decade is warmer than the 30-year mean.
- United States land mean (NOAA NCEI) +0.11 °C/decade
- Global anomaly (NASA GISTEMP) +0.11 °C/decade
- Paris Agreement thresholds 1.5°C / 2.0°C
Monthly Temperatures
Average daily high and low temperatures by month
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Mean | Precip | Snow | Freeze Days | 90°F+ Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 63°F (17°C) | 41°F (5°C) | 52°F (11°C) | 6.4" | 0.0" | 1.9 | 0.0 |
| February | 64°F (18°C) | 43°F (6°C) | 53°F (12°C) | 6.1" | 0.0" | 0.7 | 0.0 |
| March | 67°F (19°C) | 44°F (7°C) | 55°F (13°C) | 4.3" | 0.0" | 0.1 | 0.0 |
| April | 69°F (21°C) | 46°F (8°C) | 58°F (14°C) | 2.0" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.3 |
| May | 71°F (22°C) | 49°F (9°C) | 60°F (16°C) | 0.9" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.4 |
| June | 74°F (23°C) | 52°F (11°C) | 63°F (17°C) | 0.2" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.9 |
| July | 74°F (24°C) | 54°F (12°C) | 64°F (18°C) | 0.0" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.3 |
| August | 76°F (24°C) | 55°F (13°C) | 65°F (18°C) | 0.0" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 0.8 |
| September | 77°F (25°C) | 53°F (12°C) | 65°F (18°C) | 0.1" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 2.1 |
| October | 74°F (23°C) | 50°F (10°C) | 62°F (17°C) | 1.3" | 0.0" | 0.0 | 1.0 |
| November | 67°F (19°C) | 44°F (7°C) | 56°F (13°C) | 3.2" | 0.0" | 0.5 | 0.0 |
| December | 62°F (16°C) | 41°F (5°C) | 51°F (11°C) | 6.0" | 0.0" | 2.5 | 0.0 |
Monthly Precipitation
Average monthly rainfall and snowfall
January 6.4"
10.6 days with precipitation
February 6.1"
10.7 days with precipitation
March 4.3"
9.5 days with precipitation
April 2.0"
6.0 days with precipitation
May 0.9"
3.5 days with precipitation
June 0.2"
1.3 days with precipitation
July 0.0"
0.6 days with precipitation
August 0.0"
0.8 days with precipitation
September 0.1"
1.1 days with precipitation
October 1.3"
3.6 days with precipitation
November 3.2"
6.9 days with precipitation
December 6.0"
10.2 days with precipitation
Frost Dates & Growing Season
First Fall Freeze
December 13
50% probability date
Last Spring Freeze
January 29
50% probability date
Heating & Cooling Degree Days
Annual totals indicate energy demand for heating and cooling
Heating Degree Days
2,488
Higher = more heating needed
Cooling Degree Days
180
Higher = more cooling needed
Warmest Month
August
Coldest Month
December
Related Data
PlainEnviro
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Carbon emissions data — greenhouse gas reporting and facility-level CO2 data
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PlainAirData
EPA air quality data — AQI readings, pollutant levels, and air quality trends
Climate Guides
Climate Insight: Santa Cruz, CA
The NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals describe Santa Cruz, California as a location with an annual average temperature of 59°F, ranging from a mean daily high of 70°F to a mean daily low of 48°F. August is typically the warmest month of the year, while December is the coldest. These thirty-year averages, computed from station USC00047916, smooth out year-to-year variability and give a baseline expectation for typical conditions in any given month.
Precipitation patterns matter as much as temperature for anyone planning to live, garden, or travel here. Santa Cruz receives roughly 30.6 inches of precipitation each year, with seasonal snowfall possible. Growing-season length varies with elevation and microclimate, with the last spring freeze near January 29 and the first fall freeze near December 13. For energy use, 2,488 heating degree days and 180 cooling degree days tell the story of how often furnaces and air conditioners run during a normal year.
On PlainClimate's composite comfort index, Santa Cruz scores 82/100 (Excellent), a blended measure that weighs temperature mildness, precipitation moderation, and extreme-weather frequency against one another. Use the monthly tables above to plan around specific windows — shoulder seasons for mild highs and lows, peak summer for August-driven heat, or deep winter for December-driven cold. All figures here are thirty-year averages: any single year may run warmer, wetter, drier, or cooler than the normal, so treat them as planning guidance rather than forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average temperature in Santa Cruz, CA? ▼
The average annual temperature in Santa Cruz, California is 59°F. The warmest month averages 77°F (25°C) and the coldest averages 41°F (5°C).
How much rain does Santa Cruz get? ▼
Santa Cruz receives 30.6 inches of precipitation annually. Based on NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991-2020).
What is the comfort score for Santa Cruz? ▼
Santa Cruz has a climate comfort score of 82/100 (Excellent). This score considers temperature mildness, humidity, precipitation, and extreme weather frequency.
When is the growing season in Santa Cruz? ▼
Growing season data is not available for Santa Cruz.
How much energy does heating and cooling require in Santa Cruz? ▼
Santa Cruz has 2,488 heating degree days and 180 cooling degree days annually. Higher heating degree days indicate greater winter energy demand, while higher cooling degree days indicate greater summer cooling needs.
Where does this Santa Cruz climate data come from? ▼
All climate data comes from NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1, covering the 30-year period from 1991 to 2020. Data is collected from weather station USC00047916. These 30-year averages are the standard reference for typical weather conditions.
Data Sources
Data source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals v1.0.1 (1991-2020). Station: USC00047916. For informational purposes only.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainClimate Editorial
