October is one of the warmer months of the year in Santa Barbara, with average highs near 23.3°C and lows around 14.6°C (mean 19°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 19 mm of rainfall and 58% relative humidity across the period.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in Santa Barbara. Across 45 years of records, the warmest October in Santa Barbara was 2020 — when the month averaged 21.9°C — while the coldest was 1981 at 16.8°C. Typical October days reach 23.3°C with nights near 14.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
October is one of the drier months in Santa Barbara, averaging 19 mm of rainfall. The wettest October on record was 2004 with 124 mm, while the driest were 1990 and 2019 at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Santa Barbara during October averages 58%. The most humid October was 2000 at 70%, and the least humid was 1999 at 47%.
October receives about 4.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Santa Barbara. The sunniest October was 2019 at 5.2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2010 at 3.9.
Average wind speed in Santa Barbara during October is 2.7 m/s. The windiest October was 1984 at 3.8 m/s, while the calmest were 1987, 1988 and 2001 at 2.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 18.5°C | 19.2°C | 18.2°C | 19.4°C | 19.8°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg High | 22.9°C | 23.6°C | 22.4°C | 23.7°C | 24.1°C | +1.2°C |
| Avg Low | 14.1°C | 14.8°C | 14.0°C | 15.2°C | 15.5°C | +1.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 16 mm | 13 mm | 32 mm | 16 mm | 13 mm | -3 mm |
October temperatures in Santa Barbara have risen by about 1.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
October has ranged from a record low of 7.9°C (1996) to a record high of 34.9°C (2020).
Rainfall in October is one of the drier months, averaging 19 mm, with a wettest year of 124 mm.
A good time to visit Santa Barbara
October is a good time to visit Santa Barbara, with days averaging 23.3°C and nights around 14.6°C (mean 19°C, warmer than Santa Barbara's yearly average) and low rainfall. August and July are marginally more temperate, but October still suits most travellers.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 22.7°C | 18.5°C | 14.2°C | 28.6°C | 10.1°C | 36 mm | 70% | 2.8 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2024 | 25.2°C | 21.0°C | 16.7°C | 34.6°C | 10.4°C | 0 mm | 53% | 2.4 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2023 | 24.4°C | 19.9°C | 15.5°C | 30.4°C | 10.7°C | 1 mm | 59% | 2.6 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2022 | 24.1°C | 19.8°C | 15.5°C | 29.5°C | 11.0°C | 1 mm | 59% | 2.2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2021 | 21.6°C | 17.5°C | 13.4°C | 27.9°C | 9.2°C | 37 mm | 63% | 2.9 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2020 🔥 | 26.3°C | 21.9°C | 17.5°C | 34.9°C | 13.0°C | 0 mm | 52% | 2.3 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2019 | 24.0°C | 19.2°C | 14.5°C | 29.5°C | 10.5°C | 0 mm | 48% | 2.8 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2018 | 23.6°C | 19.5°C | 15.5°C | 26.8°C | 13.1°C | 10 mm | 60% | 2.5 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2017 | 25.3°C | 20.5°C | 15.7°C | 33.4°C | 11.9°C | 1 mm | 49% | 2.8 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2016 | 22.4°C | 18.6°C | 14.7°C | 29.9°C | 12.3°C | 26 mm | 63% | 2.7 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2015 | 25.6°C | 21.8°C | 17.9°C | 32.2°C | 13.8°C | 11 mm | 63% | 2.8 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2014 | 25.5°C | 21.0°C | 16.4°C | 31.7°C | 12.0°C | 19 mm | 57% | 2.6 m/s | 5 |
| 2013 | 22.2°C | 17.8°C | 13.4°C | 26.8°C | 9.7°C | 7 mm | 56% | 2.6 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2012 | 23.8°C | 19.5°C | 15.3°C | 33.2°C | 10.2°C | 7 mm | 60% | 2.9 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2011 | 23.1°C | 18.7°C | 14.3°C | 31.2°C | 10.2°C | 24 mm | 61% | 2.5 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2010 | 21.4°C | 17.8°C | 14.1°C | 29.2°C | 10.4°C | 54 mm | 70% | 2.5 m/s | 3.9 |
| 2009 | 21.8°C | 17.5°C | 13.3°C | 28.7°C | 8.0°C | 78 mm | 63% | 3.3 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2008 | 24.8°C | 20.1°C | 15.3°C | 29.7°C | 8.6°C | 5 mm | 47% | 2.8 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2007 | 22.2°C | 17.7°C | 13.2°C | 29.0°C | 9.2°C | 10 mm | 59% | 3 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2006 | 21.9°C | 17.7°C | 13.4°C | 26.0°C | 10.4°C | 7 mm | 62% | 2.5 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2005 | 21.9°C | 17.6°C | 13.2°C | 28.8°C | 11.2°C | 23 mm | 62% | 2.7 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2004 🌧️ | 21.1°C | 17.2°C | 13.4°C | 28.3°C | 9.8°C | 124 mm | 68% | 3 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2003 | 25.7°C | 21.1°C | 16.6°C | 30.6°C | 9.6°C | 17 mm | 50% | 2.4 m/s | 4.7 |
| 2002 | 21.0°C | 17.1°C | 13.1°C | 32.2°C | 10.0°C | 1 mm | 64% | 2.4 m/s | 4.3 |
| 2001 | 23.0°C | 19.1°C | 15.1°C | 30.2°C | 12.6°C | 13 mm | 61% | 2.1 m/s | 4.4 |
| 2000 | 20.5°C | 16.9°C | 13.2°C | 26.1°C | 9.5°C | 45 mm | 70% | 2.8 m/s | 4.2 |
| 1999 | 25.1°C | 20.3°C | 15.5°C | 30.5°C | 11.8°C | 1 mm | 47% | 2.4 m/s | 5 |
| 1998 | 22.0°C | 17.5°C | 13.0°C | 26.1°C | 9.9°C | 7 mm | 59% | 3.1 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1997 | 24.0°C | 19.3°C | 14.7°C | 30.5°C | 11.2°C | 2 mm | 56% | 3.3 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1996 | 22.8°C | 18.3°C | 13.8°C | 30.8°C | 7.9°C | 56 mm | 54% | 3.3 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1995 | 24.1°C | 19.7°C | 15.2°C | 29.3°C | 12.4°C | 4 mm | 56% | 2.2 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1994 | 21.9°C | 17.7°C | 13.5°C | 27.6°C | 9.4°C | 17 mm | 59% | 2.9 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1993 | 23.3°C | 19.1°C | 14.9°C | 30.6°C | 11.4°C | 6 mm | 59% | 2.5 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1992 | 23.6°C | 19.5°C | 15.5°C | 28.6°C | 12.1°C | 27 mm | 62% | 2.6 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1991 | 24.3°C | 20.2°C | 16.0°C | 33.0°C | 8.9°C | 10 mm | 53% | 2.5 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1990 | 24.8°C | 20.1°C | 15.4°C | 29.2°C | 11.9°C | 0 mm | 50% | 2.5 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1989 | 22.5°C | 18.0°C | 13.6°C | 27.6°C | 8.8°C | 10 mm | 59% | 2.9 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1988 | 23.5°C | 19.3°C | 15.1°C | 29.9°C | 11.3°C | 1 mm | 57% | 2.1 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1987 | 23.9°C | 20.0°C | 16.2°C | 33.0°C | 13.5°C | 45 mm | 62% | 2.1 m/s | 4 |
| 1986 | 23.3°C | 18.7°C | 14.2°C | 28.0°C | 11.1°C | 3 mm | 55% | 2.5 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1985 | 22.9°C | 18.2°C | 13.6°C | 30.8°C | 9.5°C | 12 mm | 55% | 2.9 m/s | 4.6 |
| 1984 | 21.8°C | 17.2°C | 12.6°C | 26.1°C | 8.9°C | 10 mm | 58% | 3.8 m/s | 4.3 |
| 1983 | 23.5°C | 19.4°C | 15.3°C | 29.4°C | 12.0°C | 25 mm | 66% | 2.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 23.2°C | 18.8°C | 14.3°C | 27.5°C | 10.2°C | 25 mm | 53% | 2.8 m/s | — |
| 1981 ❄️ | 21.4°C | 16.8°C | 12.3°C | 27.8°C | 9.0°C | 15 mm | 58% | 2.9 m/s | — |
Actual recorded October data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in October is around 23.3°C with lows near 14.6°C (mean 19°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
October averages 19 mm of rainfall in Santa Barbara, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 124 mm in 2004.
The hottest October reached 34.9°C in 2020. The coldest dipped to 7.9°C in 1996.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average October temperatures have risen by about 1.2°C. Daytime highs moved from 22.6°C to 23.6°C and overnight lows from 13.6°C to 15.1°C over the same span.
October is one of the warmer months of the year in Santa Barbara and one of the drier months, so plan for around 23.3°C daytime highs and 14.6°C at night.
Not quite — October is the 8th coolest month in Santa Barbara, averaging 19°C.
For October in Santa Barbara, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 23.3°C and lows of 14.6°C.
Relative humidity in October averages 58% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in October is 2.7 m/s. The windiest October on record averaged 3.8 m/s (1984).
The wettest October on record was 2004 with 124 mm. On average, October sees 19 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 October, 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 October specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
