Photo: Saschaporsche · CC BY-SA 3.0Less rain and snow falls on Santa Ynez than on 91% of U.S. towns: 18 inches a year
Peak summer warmth arrives in July, with afternoons near 83°. February is the wettest month, July the driest. In January, nights here are milder than in 86% of U.S. towns. Garden chairs stay out from February to November, the months with highs of 66–84°.
A year in Santa Ynez at a glance
Each month’s typical high and low, and what it brings.
What stands out about Santa Ynez’s climate
Compared with towns across the U.S., with Santa Ynez’s place in California beside it.
What a year in Santa Ynez feels like
Typical highs and lows by season and by month, from NOAA’s 30-year normals.
About 18 inches of rain a year
February is the wettest month and July the driest.
Rain + melted snow by month
Inches of water
Living with Santa Ynez’s climate
What the numbers mean for a garden, a free afternoon and a bad-weather day.
Zone 9a.
Months with highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more: February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November. 8.1 miles of trails are waiting.
Parks & trails →Of the yearly building losses FEMA expects in Santa Ynez from natural hazards, river flooding is the largest share (46%). Normals are averages; the hazards page covers the extremes.
Natural hazards →Santa Ynez and its neighbors
Ballard the hottest July afternoons (85°, 2° warmer). Differences under a degree are within what the 5 km grid can tell apart. Tap a town to see its climate.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value. Snow and frost-free days come from the nearest weather station, so neighbors often share them.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Santa Ynez averaged 2.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.2°).
A bigger shift than in all but 93 U.S. towns.
Change by month
The two periods overlap (1991–2000 is in both), which makes the gap a little smaller than it would be between separate periods.
How Santa Ynez compares
Against 12,954 U.S. towns of 2,500 or more (one per 5 km climate cell), with Santa Ynez’s place among California’s.
Santa Ynez weather by month
Highs, lows and precipitation from NOAA’s grid at Santa Ynez’s center. 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 66° | 39° | 4.0" | 48° – 57° |
| February | 66° | 40° | 4.2" | 48° – 59° |
| March | 68° | 43° | 3.1" | 49° – 61° |
| April | 71° | 44° | 1.1" | 54° – 62° |
| May | 74° | 48° | 0.4" | 57° – 66° |
| June | 79° | 51° | 0.1" | 61° – 69° |
| July | 83° | 54° | 0.0" | 66° – 73° |
| August | 84° | 54° | 0.0" | 66° – 72° |
| September | 83° | 53° | 0.1" | 64° – 73° |
| October | 78° | 48° | 0.7" | 59° – 69° |
| November | 71° | 42° | 1.3" | 50° – 60° |
| December | 65° | 38° | 2.7" | 49° – 54° |
| Year | 74° | 46° | 17.5" |
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average. March swings the most: from 1991 to 2020 its average ranged from 49° to 61°. December is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Where Santa Ynez’s numbers come from
Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. How TownRatings reads climate data →
- Temperatures and precipitation: NOAA’s gridded 1991–2020 normals for the 5 km cell at Santa Ynez’s center.
- Growing zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, 2023. USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu/phzm, accessed 8 Oct 2026.
- Then and now: NOAA’s gridded normals for 1901–2000 at the same cell.
- Storms and extremes: FEMA National Risk Index (expected annual losses to buildings).
Common questions about Santa Ynez’s climate
What is the weather like in Santa Ynez?
A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 39°. Milder January nights than 86% of U.S. towns; cooler July afternoons than 71% of U.S. towns.
How cold does it get in Santa Ynez in winter?
December nights average 38°. About 19 nights a year reach 32° or below. In the coldest December of the last 30 years the month averaged 49°.
How hot does it get in Santa Ynez?
July, with a typical high of 83° and a low of 54°. About 86 days a year reach 90° and 19 reach 100°.
What growing zone is Santa Ynez in?
Zone 9a on the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: the coldest night of a typical winter reaches about 23°.
What is the best time of year to visit Santa Ynez?
By one simple rule (highs of 62–84° and lows of 40° or more), February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October and November. The rule is ours, not NOAA’s; the month table has the numbers to judge by.
Is Santa Ynez getting warmer?
Yes: 1991–2020 averaged 2.5° warmer than 1901–2000 on NOAA’s grid. A bigger shift than all but 93 U.S. towns.
Neighbors talk weather
Gardens, snow, and the best days of the year in Santa Ynez.
Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000; USDA/PRISM 2023 hardiness zones; FEMA National Risk Index. Today’s forecast: National Weather Service.