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

Santa Cruz experiences sunny spells throughout the year. The sunniest month, August, sees up to 238 hours of sunshine, while December, the least sunny month, still provides a respectable 152 hours. The total annual sunshine amounts to 2315 hours.

Daily hours of sunshine

The difference in daily sunshine hours between August (7.9 hours per day) and December (5.1 hours per day) offers moderate variety for visitors and residents.

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

Santa Cruz enjoys an average of 2315 hours of sunshine annually. Let’s compare this with some popular tourist destinations:

The city of Rome, Italy, experiences 2470 hours of sunshine annually, adding to its charm as a year-round tourist destination.

In contrast, Juneau, Alaska, receives only about 1523 hours of sunshine per year and is known for its very short days in winter and frequently overcast conditions.

The climate in San Francisco, USA, includes 3072 hours of sunshine annually, thanks to its mild coastal weather.

In Tokyo, Japan, the average annual sunshine is 1930 hours, with sunny periods between rainy seasons.

Other climate information

December, Santa Cruz’s wettest month, receives 12 mm of rainfall and has a maximum daytime temperature of 19°C. During the driest month July you can expect a temperature of 24°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.