Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 42 min5:48 am – 8:30 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 37 min7:17 am – 4:54 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
ClimateWarmest month September: highs 77°F, lows 53°FColdest month December: highs 62°F, lows 41°F31 in of rain a year, on about 45 dayswettest month JanuarySnow is rare6 days above 90°F, 6 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Santa Cruz station, 7 mi away
Nearby landmarksCA State Parks Trailheadtrailhead · 1.6 miCabrillo College Aptos Campuscollege · 3.1 miBean Hillpeak · 2.0 miCA State Parks Visitor Centervisitor center · 3.1 miFiver Finger Fallswaterfall · 3.1 miMaple Fallswaterfall · 3.1 miSource: USGS Geographic Names Information System
Parks and public landsThe Forest of Nisene Marks State Parkstate park · 1.7 miSeacliff State Beachstate park · 2.8 mi · 114 acresNew Brighton State Beachstate park · 3.0 mi · 67 acresPolo Grounds Parkpark · 1.6 mi · 61 acresAptos Village Parkpark · 2.3 miEllicott Slough National Wildlife Refugenational wildlife refuge · 5.3 mi · 164 acresSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes2,442 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 1970233 of magnitude 4+, 18 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 6.9 on 18 Oct 19892 mi away, The 1989 Loma Prieta, CaliforniaMost recent: magnitude 3.9 on 11 Aug 202649 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Relatively HighSanta Cruz County, CA, compared with all US countiesHigher-risk hazardsDrought Relatively HighLandslide Relatively HighEarthquake Relatively HighRiver flooding Relatively HighSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality88% of days had good air in 2025320 of 365 days measured45 moderate daysMedian index 35, worst day 71main pollutant: ozoneSource: US EPA Air Quality Index, Santa Cruz County monitors, CA
Drinking waterCentral Water Districtserves 2,726 people from ground waterNo health-based violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system serving the town
Elevation637 ft194 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalSutter Maternity and Surgery Medical Center of Santa Cruz5.6 miPost officeAptos Post Office2.2 miTown hallCapitola City Hall4.7 miPoliceCapitola Police Department4.7 miFire stationCentral Fire Protection District Station 62.3 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 mi1 school1 otherSchoolOrchard Schoolunder a mileCollegeCabrillo College Aptos Campus3.1 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportMineta San Jose International Airport SJC25 miInterstateI-28021 miUS highwayUS 10116 miAmtrakDiridon Station SJC22 miCoachGilroyLimousine Express17 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 95001 ZIP area.