Santa Ynez, CA climate
Santa Ynez has mild winters and pleasant summers, with very little rain. A typical July afternoon reaches 83°, a January night drops to 39°.
NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals Updated once a decadeWhat a year in Santa Ynez feels like
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
Santa Ynez weather by month
Average highs, lows, rain and snow for every month, from NOAA’s 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° | 17.6" |
“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 Santa Ynez
Santa Ynez gets 18 inches of rain and melted snow a year. February is the wettest month and July the driest.
Santa Ynez and its neighbors
Santa Ynez borders 2 towns with climate data. January nights across them vary by 1.0°. Ballard has both the coldest January nights (38°) and the hottest July afternoons (85°). Santa Ynez’s January low is 39° and its July high 83°.
Temperatures and rain come from NOAA’s 5 km grid, so each town gets its own value.
How Santa Ynez 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 Santa Ynez averaged 2.5° warmer than the 1900s. The biggest change is in January (+3.2°). The shift is larger than in 100% of U.S. towns.
Change by month1991–2020 average minus 1901–2000 average, at Santa Ynez’s spot on NOAA’s grid
How much a month can swing
A normal is an average, and real years wander around it. March swings the most: between 1991 and 2020 its average temperature ranged from 49° to 61°. December is the most reliable, staying within 6°.
Common questions about Santa Ynez’s climate
What is the coldest month in Santa Ynez?
December, with a typical high of 65° and a low of 38°.
What is the hottest month in Santa Ynez?
August, with a typical high of 84° and a low of 54°.
What is the rainiest month in Santa Ynez?
February, with 4.2 inches of rain and melted snow. The year totals 18 inches.
Temperatures and rainfall come from NOAA’s gridded climate normals for Santa Ynez itself (about a 3-mile square). Normals are 30-year averages, not a forecast. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 and 1901–2000.