February is one of the cooler months of the year in Santa Barbara, with average highs near 15.9°C and lows around 9°C (mean 12.5°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 93 mm of rainfall and 72% relative humidity across the period.
February is one of the cooler months of the year in Santa Barbara. Across 45 years of records, the warmest February in Santa Barbara was 2016 — when the month averaged 15.8°C — while the coldest was 2019 at 9.8°C. Typical February days reach 15.9°C with nights near 9°C. The long-term February temperature trend is broadly flat.
February is a relatively wet time of year in Santa Barbara, averaging 93 mm of rainfall. The wettest February on record was 1998 with 405 mm, while the driest was 2020 at 1 mm.
Relative humidity in Santa Barbara during February averages 72%. The most humid February was 2024 at 85%, and the least humid was 2016 at 62%.
February receives about 3.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Santa Barbara. The sunniest Februarys were 2020 and 2021 at 4.6 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1996 at 3.2.
Average wind speed in Santa Barbara during February is 3.1 m/s. The windiest February was 1998 at 4.5 m/s, while the calmest was 1995 at 2.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 12.6°C | 12.4°C | 12.0°C | 12.6°C | 12.6°C | 0°C |
| Avg High | 16.4°C | 15.6°C | 15.3°C | 16.2°C | 16.3°C | -0.1°C |
| Avg Low | 8.9°C | 9.1°C | 8.8°C | 9.1°C | 9.0°C | +0.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 72 mm | 131 mm | 106 mm | 70 mm | 75 mm | +3 mm |
February temperatures in Santa Barbara have fallen by about 0.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
February has ranged from a record low of 1°C (1989) to a record high of 25.5°C (1981).
Rainfall in February is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 93 mm, with a wettest year of 405 mm.
A quieter season to visit Santa Barbara
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Santa Barbara. That said, February — with days averaging 15.9°C and nights around 9°C (mean 12.5°C) and higher rainfall (93 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 17.3°C | 13.5°C | 9.7°C | 23.9°C | 5.0°C | 93 mm | 75% | 3.3 m/s | 4 |
| 2024 | 14.6°C | 12.1°C | 9.7°C | 17.9°C | 7.2°C | 235 mm | 85% | 3 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2023 | 13.3°C | 10.3°C | 7.2°C | 18.4°C | 3.0°C | 117 mm | 75% | 3.2 m/s | 4 |
| 2022 | 17.8°C | 13.5°C | 9.3°C | 23.3°C | 4.2°C | 2 mm | 62% | 2.7 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2021 | 16.7°C | 12.6°C | 8.5°C | 21.0°C | 6.3°C | 2 mm | 70% | 3.4 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2020 | 18.1°C | 13.8°C | 9.6°C | 23.1°C | 4.9°C | 1 mm | 67% | 2.7 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2019 ❄️ | 12.3°C | 9.8°C | 7.2°C | 15.9°C | 3.6°C | 166 mm | 79% | 4.1 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2018 | 17.3°C | 13.1°C | 8.9°C | 24.7°C | 3.4°C | 4 mm | 62% | 2.9 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2017 | 14.2°C | 11.8°C | 9.4°C | 18.3°C | 4.4°C | 201 mm | 84% | 3.1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2016 🔥 | 20.3°C | 15.8°C | 11.4°C | 25.1°C | 5.0°C | 12 mm | 62% | 3 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2015 | 19.1°C | 15.5°C | 11.8°C | 24.0°C | 8.3°C | 24 mm | 70% | 2.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2014 | 18.0°C | 14.1°C | 10.2°C | 24.5°C | 6.1°C | 98 mm | 66% | 3.3 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2013 | 15.8°C | 11.6°C | 7.4°C | 20.9°C | 3.9°C | 9 mm | 66% | 3 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2012 | 16.3°C | 12.3°C | 8.2°C | 22.5°C | 4.6°C | 7 mm | 67% | 3.4 m/s | 4.2 |
| 2011 | 13.7°C | 10.4°C | 7.2°C | 19.3°C | 2.4°C | 77 mm | 72% | 2.9 m/s | 4.1 |
| 2010 | 15.0°C | 12.0°C | 9.0°C | 20.5°C | 5.3°C | 106 mm | 79% | 2.9 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2009 | 14.6°C | 11.6°C | 8.6°C | 21.0°C | 4.2°C | 126 mm | 76% | 2.9 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2008 | 15.1°C | 11.8°C | 8.4°C | 20.3°C | 4.4°C | 51 mm | 75% | 3 m/s | 4 |
| 2007 | 16.0°C | 12.5°C | 8.9°C | 23.7°C | 5.1°C | 55 mm | 72% | 3.1 m/s | 4 |
| 2006 | 17.0°C | 13.1°C | 9.1°C | 24.8°C | 4.1°C | 69 mm | 63% | 2.8 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2005 | 15.0°C | 12.6°C | 10.3°C | 18.3°C | 8.5°C | 191 mm | 82% | 3 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2004 | 14.3°C | 11.1°C | 8.0°C | 17.5°C | 5.1°C | 129 mm | 75% | 3.2 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2003 | 15.7°C | 12.3°C | 8.8°C | 20.1°C | 7.1°C | 94 mm | 72% | 3.5 m/s | 3.7 |
| 2002 | 17.7°C | 13.4°C | 9.1°C | 23.5°C | 5.0°C | 9 mm | 64% | 2.7 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2001 | 13.1°C | 10.3°C | 7.5°C | 23.5°C | 3.1°C | 122 mm | 78% | 2.9 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2000 | 14.3°C | 11.8°C | 9.3°C | 19.9°C | 6.5°C | 212 mm | 82% | 3.2 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1999 | 15.3°C | 11.5°C | 7.7°C | 21.1°C | 4.4°C | 27 mm | 73% | 3.4 m/s | 4 |
| 1998 🌧️ | 13.5°C | 11.3°C | 9.0°C | 16.9°C | 6.9°C | 405 mm | 84% | 4.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1997 | 15.8°C | 12.0°C | 8.2°C | 19.5°C | 5.7°C | 6 mm | 75% | 3.6 m/s | 4 |
| 1996 | 15.5°C | 12.7°C | 10.0°C | 25.2°C | 4.3°C | 138 mm | 82% | 2.9 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1995 | 17.2°C | 14.0°C | 10.9°C | 23.7°C | 5.6°C | 39 mm | 78% | 2.1 m/s | 4 |
| 1994 | 14.7°C | 11.4°C | 8.2°C | 19.7°C | 4.9°C | 136 mm | 71% | 3.5 m/s | 3.8 |
| 1993 | 13.6°C | 11.2°C | 8.7°C | 17.8°C | 6.6°C | 193 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1992 | 16.0°C | 13.4°C | 10.7°C | 22.5°C | 6.6°C | 222 mm | 78% | 3.3 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1991 | 19.2°C | 14.9°C | 10.7°C | 22.9°C | 7.8°C | 102 mm | 63% | 2.8 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1990 | 15.1°C | 11.1°C | 7.2°C | 21.3°C | 1.8°C | 48 mm | 65% | 3.5 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1989 | 14.0°C | 10.5°C | 7.1°C | 21.0°C | 1.0°C | 55 mm | 72% | 3.4 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1988 | 18.4°C | 14.2°C | 9.9°C | 23.6°C | 5.8°C | 71 mm | 64% | 2.8 m/s | 3.9 |
| 1987 | 16.3°C | 12.3°C | 8.4°C | 21.3°C | 3.2°C | 46 mm | 67% | 3.4 m/s | 3.7 |
| 1986 | 16.1°C | 12.9°C | 9.7°C | 24.1°C | 4.2°C | 147 mm | 78% | 3.6 m/s | 3.5 |
| 1985 | 16.4°C | 12.3°C | 8.2°C | 22.8°C | 4.4°C | 38 mm | 65% | 2.8 m/s | 4.1 |
| 1984 | 16.9°C | 12.8°C | 8.6°C | 21.6°C | 5.5°C | 5 mm | 64% | 3.5 m/s | 4 |
| 1983 | 15.2°C | 12.3°C | 9.3°C | 20.4°C | 6.6°C | 179 mm | 80% | 3.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 16.7°C | 13.0°C | 9.2°C | 22.5°C | 5.7°C | 19 mm | 69% | 2.5 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 17.2°C | 13.3°C | 9.3°C | 25.5°C | 4.7°C | 88 mm | 66% | 2.9 m/s | — |
Actual recorded February data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in February is around 15.9°C with lows near 9°C (mean 12.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
February averages 93 mm of rainfall in Santa Barbara, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 405 mm in 1998.
The hottest February reached 25.5°C in 1981. The coldest dipped to 1°C in 1989.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average February temperatures have fallen by about 0.3°C. Daytime highs moved from 16.5°C to 15.9°C and overnight lows from 8.9°C to 8.9°C over the same span.
February is one of the cooler months of the year in Santa Barbara and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 15.9°C daytime highs and 9°C at night.
Yes — February is the coldest month of the year in Santa Barbara, averaging 12.5°C.
For February in Santa Barbara, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 15.9°C and lows of 9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in February averages 72% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in February is 3.1 m/s. The windiest February on record averaged 4.5 m/s (1998).
The wettest February on record was 1998 with 405 mm. On average, February sees 93 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Santa Barbara behaves each February, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for February specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
