SeasonMapSanta Cruz, California (Santa Cruz) weather in September
United States
September in Santa Cruz, California: warm, dry, with clean air — one of the best months to visit.
#1 of 12 months in Santa Cruz, California · #338 of 1383 destinations to visit in September · comfort 88/100 (tier A)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Santa Cruz, California in September
Santa Cruz's forum calls September one of the warmest and most reliable months — low-70s°F by day, chillier mornings and evenings in the 50s, with the coastal fog that plagues early summer mostly staying offshore. Regulars are consistent that it never gets tropical or humid here, just comfortably warm, making it a favorite pick over the foggier months of June and July.
Other months in Santa Cruz, California
Forum posters describe March as being toward the end of the rainy season, with rain typically arriving as an hour-or-two burst rather than an all-day downpour before the sun returns. Weather can swing dramatically - sunny, spring-like days can appear alongside stormy, windy ones within the same couple of days - and posters note the odd warm, summer-like day is possible in February/March but impossible to predict in advance. One quirk worth knowing: some March days actually run warmer than July days here because of summer coastal fog, though the ocean itself stays genuinely cold year-round regardless of air temperature, so swimming comfort doesn't track the air temperature the way it might elsewhere.
Add your own note from Santa Cruz, California's card on the map.
Santa Cruz, California climate normals — September
| Daytime high | 25°C / 77°F | 🌤 warm |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 11°C / 52°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 25°C / 77°F | |
| Sea temperature | 17°C / 62°F | 🧊 bracing |
| Rainfall | 5 mm / 0.2 in | ☀️ dry |
| Rainy days | 1 days | |
| Humidity | 78% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 13°C / 55°F | |
| Sunshine | 11.1 h/day | |
| Daylight | 12.4 h | |
| Wind | 19 km/h / 11 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 33 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Santa Cruz, California in September
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsBoardwalk summer season, Summer break in United States(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Santa Cruz, California's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Best weatherSanta Cruz, California's weather peaks July–September.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Santa Cruz, California in September
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Boardwalk summer season
23 May – 7 Sep · usuallySummer season opensCrowdedThe old wooden coaster and the rest of the seafront run daily from Memorial Day to Labor Day, with free bands on the beach on summer Friday evenings. Parking is the whole difficulty. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Santa Cruz, California — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Santa Cruz, California?
Santa Cruz, California in September — FAQ
- Is September a good time to visit Santa Cruz, California?
- September in Santa Cruz, California: warm, dry, with clean air — one of the best months to visit. It ranks #1 of 12 months for Santa Cruz, California on SeasonMap's comfort score (88/100).
- What is the weather like in Santa Cruz, California in September?
- In September, Santa Cruz, California averages a daily high of 25.1°C and a low of 11.3°C, with about 5.2 mm of rain over roughly 0.9 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Santa Cruz, California in September?
- Santa Cruz, California has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 33 in September.
Other months in Santa Cruz, California
Compare Santa Cruz, California in September
Warmer or cooler than Santa Cruz, California in September
Similar destinations in North America — September
Within 300 km: Monterey's Monterey Jazz Festival on 25–27 Sep, and Big Sur's Blue and humpback whales offshore around 1 Jul – 15 Oct.