ERA5 almanac comparison — 8 years of real data
Palm Springs Desert vs Santa Barbara: weather in March
Palm Springs Desert is the clear winner for sun in March: 59% of days historically clear versus just 19% in Santa Barbara — a 40-point gap across 8 years of ERA5 data. Santa Barbara also sees measurably more rain than Palm Springs Desert this month (32% vs 13% of days). This isn't close.
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.
Palm Springs Desert
CA
- Clear days, March
- 59%
- Sample size
- n=248 days
- Avg high
- 77°F
- Early March (1st–15th)
- 52%
- Late March (16th–end)
- 66%
- Rain frequency
- 13% 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 Palm Springs Desert 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.