Santa Cruz Weather & Climate: Best Time to Visit

The climate in Santa Cruz is known for significant temperature differences throughout the year, making the weather dynamic. Average maximum daytime temperatures range from a very hot 37°C (99°F) in July, the warmest time of the year, to a moderate 16°C (61°F) during cooler months like January.

At night, you can expect temperatures ranging from 21°C (70°F) in July to around 5°C (41°F) during January.

Check out our detailed temperature page for more information.

Temperature ranges by month

Generally, Santa Cruz receives mid-range precipitation levels, with 501 mm (20 in) annually. Significant seasonal changes in precipitation occur throughout the year. In the wettest month, December it receives moderate rainfall, averaging 72 mm (2.8 in) of precipitation, recorded across 15 rainy days. In contrast, the driest month July brings less rainfall, with 2.3 mm (0.1 in) over 3 rainy days. For more details, please visit our Santa Cruz Precipitation page.

The mean monthly precipitation over the year, including rain, hail, and snow

The average number of days each month with precipitation

Seasonal changes in sunshine hours are quite dramatic in Santa Cruz. While July receives considerable daily sunshine with up to 12.3 hours, December marks the darkest time of the year, where sunshine is scarce with only 5.0 hours of sunlight per day.

Visit our detailed sunshine hours page for more information.

Monthly hours of sunshine

Daily hours of sunshine

The relative humidity is high throughout the year in Santa Cruz.

The city experiences its highest humidity in December, reaching 80%. In July, the humidity drops to its lowest level at 41%. What does this mean? Read our detailed page on humidity levels for further details.

Relative humidity over the year