ERA5 almanac comparison — 8 years of real data
Marfa vs Santa Barbara: weather in March
Marfa edges out Santa Barbara for sun in March: 48% clear historically versus 19% (8-year ERA5 average, a 29-point gap). Santa Barbara also sees measurably more rain than Marfa this month (32% vs 7% of days). Both are viable — Marfa is the safer bet.
What you are reading: 8-year historical averages, not a forecast.
Either destination can still surprise you this specific March. For this
week’s actual forecast, each destination links to its live page below.
Marfa
TX
- Clear days, March
- 48%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 72°F
- Early March (1st–15th)
- 40%
- Late March (16th–end)
- 55%
- Rain frequency
- 7% of days
Santa Barbara
CA
- Clear days, March
- 19%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 67°F
- Early March (1st–15th)
- 9%
- Late March (16th–end)
- 28%
- Rain frequency
- 32% of days
Compare Marfa vs Santa Barbara in another month
All percentages are historical averages from the ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo, 8 full years (2018–2025). “Clear” means avg high ≥ 72 °F, precipitation < 1 mm, and a non-precipitation weather code. This is history, not a forecast. The live 7-day outlook for any destination is on its own page and may differ from the long-run average. Data from Open-Meteo.