Monthly climate guide
Santa Barbara weather in December
Expect mild weather in Santa Barbara in December: afternoons reach about 17°C (62°F), while nights drop to around 10°C (49°F). Around 50 mm of rain falls over the month (some rain), and skies are a mix of sun and cloud. Daytime highs are 3°C cooler than November and about the same as January.
What stands out in December
- Just 100 km apart, but Santa Barbara runs about 2°C cooler than Malibu this month.
- December brings early winter to Santa Barbara.
- Only one month is cooler in Santa Barbara than December.
- Rain is above Santa Barbara's usual level, by about 74%.
Avg high
17°C
62°F
Avg low
10°C
49°F
Rainfall
50 mm
some rain
Humidity
66%
relative
Sky
39%
cloud · a mix of sun and cloud
Santa Barbara weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 17°C / 62°F | 10°C / 50°F | 74 mm | 68% | 44% |
| February | 17°C / 62°F | 9°C / 48°F | 60 mm | 70% | 37% |
| March | 17°C / 63°F | 10°C / 50°F | 78 mm | 73% | 46% |
| April | 19°C / 66°F | 11°C / 51°F | 22 mm | 69% | 36% |
| May | 21°C / 69°F | 12°C / 53°F | 10 mm | 65% | 32% |
| June | 24°C / 75°F | 15°C / 59°F | 4 mm | 58% | 28% |
| July | 26°C / 78°F | 17°C / 63°F | 2 mm | 56% | 25% |
| August | 27°C / 80°F | 18°C / 64°F | 1 mm | 54% | 21% |
| September | 26°C / 79°F | 17°C / 63°F | 4 mm | 56% | 23% |
| October | 24°C / 76°F | 16°C / 60°F | 10 mm | 57% | 23% |
| November | 20°C / 68°F | 12°C / 54°F | 29 mm | 62% | 33% |
| December | 17°C / 62°F | 10°C / 49°F | 50 mm | 66% | 39% |
What to pack for December
- A warm sweater or fleece for layering
- A mid-weight jacket
- A small travel umbrella, just in case
- Sunglasses
Is December a good time to visit Santa Barbara?
Compare the months in the chart above to find your ideal window.
Best time to visit Santa Barbara →Other United States cities in December
Cite or embed this data
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Santa Barbara weather in December. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/usa/santa-barbara/december
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/usa/santa-barbara/december">Santa Barbara weather in December</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/usa/santa-barbara" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Santa Barbara weather in December"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/usa/santa-barbara/december">Santa Barbara weather in December</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
Santa Barbara in December: quick answers
Is December a good time to visit Santa Barbara?
December is a reasonable time for Santa Barbara: highs around 17°C and about 50 mm of rain, though not one of the three best months.
How warm is Santa Barbara in December?
Average highs are about 17°C (62°F) and average lows about 10°C (49°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in Santa Barbara in December?
Santa Barbara typically gets around 50 mm of rain in December — some rain.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around Santa Barbara (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.