Updated October 2026
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area Weather by Month
Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area is warmest in August, when the nearest NOAA climate station averages a high of 97°F and a low of 61°F, and coldest in December, with an average high of 69°F and an average low of 42°F. February is the wettest month, with about 4.6 inches of precipitation.
These figures are NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, the 30-year average for each calendar month, from the nearest long-record weather station, 12.6 miles from the park's reference point. A single station cannot describe a whole park: temperatures elsewhere in Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area can differ from these, particularly with elevation.
Warmest month
Aug
97°F avg high
Coldest month
Dec
42°F avg low
Wettest month
Feb
4.6 in avg
Longest days
Jun
14.3 h of daylight
Average weather at Santa Monica Mountains by month
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Precipitation | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 70°F | 43°F | 3.7 in | 10.0 h |
| February | 70°F | 44°F | 4.6 in | 10.8 h |
| March | 74°F | 46°F | 2.7 in | 11.7 h |
| April | 78°F | 48°F | 0.8 in | 12.9 h |
| May | 82°F | 53°F | 0.4 in | 13.8 h |
| June | 89°F | 57°F | 0.1 in | 14.3 h |
| July | 95°F | 61°F | 0.0 in | 14.1 h |
| August | 97°F | 61°F | 0.0 in | 13.3 h |
| September | 94°F | 59°F | 0.1 in | 12.2 h |
| October | 85°F | 53°F | 0.6 in | 11.1 h |
| November | 76°F | 46°F | 0.8 in | 10.2 h |
| December | 69°F | 42°F | 2.7 in | 9.7 h |
| Year total | 16.5 in |
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals from station USC00049785, 12.6 miles from the park's reference point. The station's snowfall normal is zero in all twelve months. Daylight is the monthly average, computed from the park's latitude. Each month links to how crowded Santa Monica Mountains is at that time of year.
Santa Monica Mountains weather by season
Winter: December to February
Average highs hold near 70°F in all three months, with average lows near 43°F. Together the three months average 11 inches of precipitation, about 67% of the yearly total and more than in any other season. Daylight is at its shortest, about 9.7 hours in December.
Spring: March to May
Average highs climb from 74°F in March to 82°F in May, with average lows between 46°F and 53°F. Together the three months average 3.9 inches of precipitation, about 24% of the yearly total. Daylight lengthens from about 11.7 hours in March to 13.8 in May.
Summer: June to August
Average highs climb from 89°F in June to 97°F in August, with average lows between 57°F and 61°F. The average high is 90°F or hotter in July and August. Together the three months average 0.1 inches of precipitation, about 1% of the yearly total and less than in any other season. Daylight is at its longest, about 14.3 hours in June.
Fall: September to November
Average highs fall from 94°F in September to 76°F in November, with average lows between 46°F and 59°F. The average high is 90°F or hotter in September. Together the three months average 1.5 inches of precipitation, about 9% of the yearly total. Daylight shortens from about 12.2 hours in September to 10.2 in November.
What the National Park Service says about the weather
Summers are hot and dry while winters are cool and wet.
Weather description courtesy of the National Park Service — official park site.
Today's forecast for Santa Monica Mountains
Averages describe a typical month, not this week. For current conditions and the seven-day outlook, the National Weather Service issues a forecast for the park's reference point at 34.10°N, 118.77°W. It covers that one spot, so other elevations in the park can differ from it, as they do from the averages above.
National Weather Service forecast for Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area →
Weather and crowds together
August, the warmest month, sees about 1.0× the visitors of the park's average month. May is the busiest month of the year and December the quietest. To see those crowds set against the weather for all twelve months, read the best time to visit Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. For hotels, cabins and rentals close to the park, see where to stay near Santa Monica Mountains.
Where to stay near Santa Monica Mountains
Picked a month for Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area? Compare hotels, cabins and vacation rentals near the park with live availability and prices.
Top-rated places to stay near Santa Monica Mountains
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Frequently Asked Questions
August is the warmest month at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, with an average high of 97°F and an average low of 61°F. That is the 1991–2020 average at the nearest long-record NOAA station, 12.6 miles from the park's reference point. Temperatures inside the park can differ, particularly with elevation.
December is the coldest month at Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, with an average low of 42°F and an average high of 69°F, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals.
February is the wettest month, with about 4.6 inches of precipitation. July and August are the driest, each averaging close to zero. The station records about 16.5 inches of precipitation in an average year.
The nearest long-record NOAA station, 12.6 miles from the park's reference point, shows no measurable snowfall in any month of its 1991–2020 normals.
Weather at nearby parks
Keep exploring
Sources: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (station USC00049785), daylight computed from latitude, weather description from the National Park Service, crowd levels from National Park Service Visitor Use Statistics (1982–2025). Updated 2026-10-11. Lodging results are provided by Stay22; WhenToVisitParks may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.