You’re planning a trip to the City of Angels, or maybe you just live here and are trying to figure out if you can finally wash your car without nature mocking you. Either way, checking the 15 day weather los angeles forecast is basically a rite of passage this time of year. But here is the thing: January in LA is a total wildcard.
Right now, we are sitting in a weirdly warm pocket. While most of the country is shivering, Los Angeles is seeing highs hitting the low 80s. It feels like summer, honestly. But don't let that bright sun fool you into thinking the rest of the month is going to be a breeze. If you look at the data from the National Weather Service and recent trends, we’re actually in the middle of a shifting pattern that could bring some "chilly" (by California standards) surprises.
Why the Next Two Weeks Aren't What You Expect
Most people think Los Angeles is just constant sunshine. Wrong. January is historically one of our wettest months. While the current 15-day outlook shows a lot of clear skies for the immediate future—specifically through Friday, January 16, and Saturday, January 17—there is a cooling trend on the horizon that's going to knock those 80-degree peaks back down to reality.
By the time we hit the middle of next week, around January 21 or 22, those 80°F days will be a memory. We are looking at a drop into the high 60s. For a tourist, that’s perfect walking weather. For a local? That is "break out the heavy parka and complain on Instagram" weather.
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The Breakdown of the 15 Day Weather Los Angeles Forecast
If you’re looking at the numbers, here is how the back half of January 2026 is actually shaping up:
- The Warm Peak (Jan 15–16): We are holding steady with highs around 81°F. It is dry, the UV index is creeping up to a 3 (wear sunscreen, seriously), and humidity is hovering near 40%.
- The Transition (Jan 17–20): Clouds start rolling in. You’ll notice the "mostly sunny" labels switching to "partly cloudy." Temperatures will slide from 77°F down to about 74°F.
- The Seasonal Reset (Jan 21–25): This is where it gets interesting. A dip in the jet stream is expected to bring temperatures down to a high of 67°F. Overnight lows will hover around 49°F or 51°F.
- The Rain Wildcard: While the current probability of precipitation is low (around 5% to 10%), the end of January often sees "atmospheric river" remnants. We already had a massive soak earlier this month—LAX reported 10 inches of rain by early January, which is over 200% of the normal amount.
The La Niña Paradox
We are currently in a weak La Niña cycle. Usually, that means Southern California stays bone-dry while the Pacific Northwest gets hammered. But 2026 has been a "heresy" year, as some meteorologists call it.
Alexander Gershunov, a researcher at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, has pointed out that atmospheric rivers don't always dance to the tune of La Niña. Even though the official 15-day outlook looks mostly dry, the sheer amount of moisture we've already seen this season means the ground is saturated. Any surprise pop-up shower could lead to localized flooding or those annoying "mudslide" warnings in the canyons.
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It's kinda wild. We're supposedly in a dry cycle, yet the Prado Dam catchment and other local spots have seen double their usual intake. This is why you can't just look at a single icon on a weather app and call it a day.
Packing and Survival Tips for the 15-Day Window
If you are visiting or just trying to survive the commute, the "layering" advice is a cliché for a reason.
In the morning, it’s 50°F. You need a jacket. By 1 PM, it’s 80°F. You’re sweating in that jacket. By 6 PM, the sun drops, and the temperature plummet starts all over again. The desert-adjacent climate means we lose heat fast once the sun goes down.
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- Trust the high/low spread, not the average. An "average" of 65°F doesn't exist in reality; it's just a brief moment at 10 AM and 4 PM.
- Watch the wind. Santa Ana winds can kick up without much warning this time of year. If the humidity drops into the teens, expect static shocks and frizzy hair.
- Check the coastal vs. valley divide. If you're in Santa Monica, subtract 5–10 degrees from the Los Angeles "standard" forecast (which is usually taken at DTW or LAX). If you're in Van Nuys, add 5.
What the Data Actually Says
Historically, January averages around 66°F for a high. We are currently blowing past that. According to Almanac records and The Weather Network, we have already had several days this month that felt more like May.
However, looking at the long-range subseasonal guidance, there is a transition toward a drier but cooler pattern. The "heatwave" we're experiencing on January 15 is an anomaly. By January 30, the "normal" chill will likely return.
Honestly, the best way to handle the 15 day weather los angeles is to assume the first week is for the beach and the second week is for the museums. The atmospheric stability we're seeing right now is brittle. A single low-pressure system moving down from the Gulf of Alaska could flip the script in 48 hours.
Actionable Next Steps
- Monitor the Dew Point: If you see the dew point rising above 55°F in the next 10 days, expect that "muggy" feel and a higher chance of morning fog.
- Plan Outdoor Activities Early: The Jan 15–19 window is your best bet for hiking or outdoor dining before the temperatures take that 10-degree dive.
- Check the Burn Scars: If you live near recent fire areas, keep an eye on the 10-day rainfall probability. Even a "light rain" forecast can be problematic when the soil is this wet.
- Layer Strategically: Focus on light cotton bases with a wind-resistant outer shell for the evenings.