Isla Vista, CA climate
Isla Vista has warm winters and cool summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 72°, a January night drops to 45°, and snow is almost unheard of.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decade9° warmer than normal today. The forecast high is 81°, and a typical Oct 1 in Isla Vista peaks around 72°.Live forecast: National Weather Service · Normal: NOAA 1991–2020
What a year in Isla Vista feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Isla Vista weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals.
| Month | High | Low | Rain + melt | Snow | Wet days | Snow on ground | 30-yr range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 64° | 45° | 4.2" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 51° – 59° |
| February | 64° | 47° | 4.4" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 50° – 61° |
| March | 64° | 49° | 3.3" | 0 | 7 | 0 | 51° – 62° |
| April | 66° | 50° | 1.0" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 54° – 62° |
| May | 67° | 53° | 0.4" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 57° – 65° |
| June | 69° | 56° | 0.1" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 59° – 65° |
| July | 72° | 58° | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 0 | 62° – 70° |
| August | 73° | 58° | 0.0" | 0 | 0 | 0 | 62° – 69° |
| September | 73° | 58° | 0.1" | 0 | 1 | 0 | 62° – 71° |
| October | 72° | 54° | 0.7" | 0 | 2 | 0 | 59° – 70° |
| November | 68° | 49° | 1.3" | 0 | 3 | 0 | 53° – 63° |
| December | 64° | 45° | 3.0" | 0 | 6 | 0 | 52° – 57° |
| Year | 68° | 52° | 18.4" | 0.0" | 41 | 0 |
“Wet days” have at least 0.01" of rain or melted snow. “Snow on ground” counts days with 1" or more. The 30-year range is the coldest and warmest that month’s average temperature got between 1991 and 2020.
Rain and snow in Isla Vista
Isla Vista gets 18 inches of rain and melted snow a year. February is the wettest month and July the driest. Rain or snow falls on about 41 days a year.
A year-round growing season
Heating and cooling a home in Isla Vista
Engineers use “degree days” to estimate how hard a furnace or air conditioner works. In Isla Vista, 96% of that work is heating and 4% is cooling, so the furnace matters far more than the air conditioner.
Degree days measure how far each day’s average temperature falls below or rises above 65°, added up over a year. Source: NOAA station normals.
Isla Vista and its neighbors
Isla Vista borders 1 town with climate data. January nights across them vary by 0.0°. University of California-Santa Barbara has both the coldest January nights (45°) and the hottest July afternoons (72°). Isla Vista’s January low is 45° and its July high 72°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Isla Vista compares
Compared with every U.S. town and city on TownTapestry, each counted once.
Warmer than it used to be
The last 30 years in Isla Vista averaged 2.7° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.4°). The shift is larger than in 100% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Isla Vista’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. October swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 59° to 70°. December is the most reliable, staying within 5°.
Common questions about Isla Vista’s climate
What is the coldest month in Isla Vista?
December, with a typical high of 64° and a low of 45°.
What is the hottest month in Isla Vista?
September, with a typical high of 73° and a low of 58°. About 1 days a year reach 90°.
How much snow does Isla Vista get?
Almost none. A normal year brings 0.0 inches.
When is the first frost in Isla Vista?
Frost is uncommon. Only 46% of years see a night at 32° or below.
What is the rainiest month in Isla Vista?
February, with 4.4 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 18 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Isla Vista itself (about a 3-mile square). Snow, frost dates and day counts come from NOAA’s weather station at Santa Barbara, CA (10 mi, snow) and Santa Barbara 11 W, CA (1 mi, frost, heat and degree days). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.