Santa Rosa vs Monterey: which is sunnier?
🇺🇸 United States vs 🇺🇸 United States · 230 km apart · long-term climate normals (NASA POWER, 2001–2020)
Santa Rosa and Monterey are virtually tied for annual sunshine — about 3,311 vs 3,366 hours a year. Month by month it's balanced: each has the higher Sunshine Score in 5 months, with 2 within 2 points.
Scores are the 0–100 Sunshine Score — sunshine, daytime warmth and dryness in one number, per month.
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At a glance
| Santa Rosa | Monterey | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine hours / year | 3,311 | 3,366 |
| Sunniest month | July (99/100) | August (99/100) |
| Nov–Feb average score | 39/100 | 48/100 |
| Jun–Aug average score | 98/100 | 91/100 |
| Rain / year | 931 mm | 480 mm |
| Warmest sea | 16°C / 61°F | 15°C / 59°F |
| Peak midday UV | 10 (very high) | 10 (very high) |
Santa Rosa vs Monterey month by month
| Month | Sunshine Score | Day high °C | Rain mm | Sea °C | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Rosa | Monterey | Santa Rosa | Monterey | Santa Rosa | Monterey | Santa Rosa | Monterey | |
| January | 30 | 42 | 13° | 14° | 164 | 86 | 13° | 14° |
| February | 36 | 42 | 14° | 14° | 160 | 86 | 13° | 14° |
| March | 44 | 50 | 15° | 15° | 131 | 70 | 13° | 14° |
| April | 58 | 54 | 16° | 15° | 64 | 36 | 13° | 14° |
| May | 86 | 72 | 19° | 17° | 30 | 14 | 12° | 13° |
| June | 97 | 82 | 22° | 18° | 9 | 4 | 13° | 13° |
| July | 99 | 91 | 24° | 19° | 1 | 1 | 15° | 15° |
| August | 99 | 99 | 25° | 20° | 1 | 1 | 14° | 14° |
| September | 98 | 98 | 24° | 20° | 5 | 5 | 16° | 15° |
| October | 90 | 87 | 21° | 19° | 49 | 23 | 15° | 15° |
| November | 60 | 68 | 17° | 17° | 101 | 48 | 12° | 13° |
| December | 30 | 40 | 13° | 14° | 216 | 106 | 12° | 13° |
The sunnier month by month: Jan Monterey · Feb Monterey · Mar Monterey · Apr Santa Rosa · May Santa Rosa · Jun Santa Rosa · Jul Santa Rosa · Aug even · Sep even · Oct Santa Rosa · Nov Monterey · Dec Monterey.
When to pick which
- November–February: Monterey (average score 48/100 vs 39). Daytime highs are similar (14°C vs 15°C). See the winter sun ranking.
- March–May: Santa Rosa (average score 63/100 vs 59). Daytime highs are similar (17°C vs 16°C).
- June–August: Santa Rosa (average score 98/100 vs 91). Santa Rosa is the warmer, around 24°C daytime highs vs 19°C.
- September–October: too close to call — Santa Rosa averages 94/100, Monterey 93/100. Santa Rosa is the warmer, around 23°C daytime highs vs 20°C.
Sea temperature
Santa Rosa's sea gets warmer: 16°C / 61°F at its peak vs 15°C. Swimmable water (21°C+): Santa Rosa never, Monterey never. Month-by-month sea temperatures are in the table above.
Full month-by-month guides: Santa Rosa weather by month · Monterey weather by month · Best time to visit United States.
More comparisons: Santa Rosa vs San Francisco · Santa Rosa vs Sacramento · Santa Rosa vs Reno · Monterey vs San Francisco · Monterey vs Fresno · Monterey vs San Luis Obispo · all head-to-heads