December · United States
Best time to visit Santa Barbara in December Weather, crowds & prices
Weather in Santa Barbara in December
Average temperature 13°C, 97 mm of rain, about 3 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 73% humidity — based on the five most recent complete years of ERA5 data (2021–2025).
December score
2.3/10
Ranked #12 of 12 months
- Avg temp
- 13°C
- Rainfall
- 97 mm
- Humidity
- 73%
- Days with 6h+ sun
- 3
- Crowd Density
- Quiet / Uncrowded
- Average Expenses
- $ · Budget Friendly ($)
December in Santa Barbara scores 2.3/10 for beach and coastal travel - ranked #12 of 12. Expect around 13°C, 97 mm of rain, and roughly 3 days with 6+ hours of sunshine this month.
Santa Barbara pairs Spanish colonial architecture and a palm-lined waterfront with California wine country.
December in Santa Barbara — the hardest end of the year
Temperatures hover around 13°C (56°F) — the kind of month where neither heat nor cold forces the schedule.
Budget for roughly 97 mm of rain this month — a flexible day or two helps — with about 3 days with 6+ hours of sunshine and 9.7 hours of daylight to work around it.
That is 2.3/10 on the same scale — 12th of 12 months, versus 9.7/10 for the best month here.
Pack layers you can shed by midday plus one warm layer for the evening, a packable rain layer.
Expect low-season pricing, and crowds are light for this destination.
If your dates are flexible, August is materially better in Santa Barbara — 7.4 points higher on the same scale.
Frequently asked
- What is the weather like in Santa Barbara in December?
- In December, Santa Barbara averages 13°C, 97 mm of rain, and about 3 days with 6+ hours of sunshine. Its climate-comfort score is 2.3/10.
- Is December a good time to visit Santa Barbara?
- December earns a 2.3/10 climate-comfort score. Use the year-round chart to weigh the weather against your budget and crowd preferences.
- How much does it rain in Santa Barbara in December?
- Expect about 97 mm of rain in December. Average humidity is 73% and there are about 3 days with 6+ hours of sunshine.
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