Average Monthly Sunshine in Santa Cruz

The graphs on this page shows the average number of hours per month and per day that Santa Cruz receives direct sunlight. The numbers are calculated over a 30-year period to provide a reliable average.

Monthly hours of sunshine

Sunshine in Santa Cruz varies greatly throughout the year. The sunniest month, March, reaches an impressive 305 hours, while September, the darkest month, offers only 158 hours. The total annual amount of sun is 2675 hours.

Daily hours of sunshine

For those who appreciate different seasons, Santa Cruz serves as an ideal destination. Expect longer, more sun-filled days in March with an average of 10.2 hours of sunshine daily, and embrace the darker days in September, offering only 5.3 hours of daily sunlight.

Santa Cruz’s total hours of sunshine compared to other major cities

Santa Cruz enjoys an average of 2675 hours of sunshine annually. Let’s compare this with some popular tourist destinations:

In Lisbon, Portugal, there are approximately 2801 hours of sunshine annually, highlighting its warm and sunny Mediterranean climate.

In contrast, Tromsø , Norway, receives only about 1270 hours of sunshine per year, known for the polar night with no sunlight for weeks during winter.

In Chicago, USA, the annual sunshine averages 2520 hours, contributing to its humid continental climate.

Melbourne, Australia, has 2380 hours of sunshine annually, with its famous “four seasons in a day” weather pattern.

Other climate information

October, Santa Cruz’s wettest month, receives 43 mm of rainfall and has a maximum daytime temperature of 31°C. During the driest month January you can expect a temperature of 34°C.

For more detailed insights into the city’s temperatures, check out our Temperature page. To explore more about precipitation patterns, visit our Santa Cruz Precipitation page.