Right now, if you’re standing anywhere from San Diego up to the Bay Area, you’ve probably noticed something weird. It’s January. It should be gray, damp, and honestly, a bit miserable. Instead, the california weather forecast 10 day outlook looks more like a late spring postcard than the heart of winter.
It's beautiful. It's also kinda confusing.
After those massive atmospheric rivers dumped rain and snow across the state back in December and early January, things have just… stopped. We are currently sitting in a massive "ridge" of high pressure. Basically, it’s a giant invisible wall sitting off the coast, blocking all the storms and letting the sun bake the pavement.
What the Numbers Actually Say
Today, Sunday, January 18, 2026, we’re looking at a high of 60°F and a low of 43°F. The sky is mostly sunny. Wind is barely a factor, just a light 3 mph breeze coming from the northwest. If you’re heading out, the humidity is hanging around 65%.
Tomorrow is looking even better. Monday, January 19, will hit 61°F. Pure sun. Not a cloud in sight.
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Tuesday, January 20, is the peak of this little mini-summer. We're talking 64°F during the day. That’s a good 5 to 10 degrees above what we usually expect this time of year. But don’t let the daytime warmth fool you; once that sun drops behind the hills, it gets chilly fast. We’re still seeing night lows in the low 40s.
The Mid-Week Shift
By Wednesday, January 21, the clouds start creeping back in. It’ll stay dry for the most part, but the high drops to 62°F.
Then, for the rest of the week—Thursday through next Sunday—we settle into a very consistent groove:
- Highs staying right around 59°F to 61°F.
- Lows hovering at 42°F to 44°F.
- Mostly sunny to partly sunny skies.
There is virtually zero chance of rain. We’re talking 0% to 10% probabilities across the board. It's a bone-dry stretch.
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Why Is This Happening?
We are currently under the influence of a weak La Niña. Normally, La Niña means a drier-than-average winter for Southern California and "equal chances" for the north. But this year has been a bit of a wildcard. We already had our big wet start, which actually pushed 100% of the state out of drought conditions as of January 13, 2026.
That is huge.
But the Climate Prediction Center is noting that a "negative phase" of the Arctic Oscillation is keeping the cold air trapped in the eastern half of the US. While they freeze in the Midwest, we get the ridge. We get the sunshine.
The Problem With a Dry January
Honestly, as much as we love the beach weather, "snow drought" is a real term being tossed around by experts right now. Even though the reservoirs are in great shape—thanks to those early January storms that had water pouring down the Oroville Dam spillway—we need the snowpack to stay frozen.
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Warm, sunny days in late January can start melting that snow too early. If we don’t get another "cold" atmospheric river soon, the water we have now is all we get for the year.
Planning Your Next 10 Days
If you've been waiting to do any outdoor projects, now is your window.
- Garden Prep: It’s a great time to prune or clear out debris. Just keep an eye on your plants; with humidity dropping to around 59% by Tuesday, things might get a little thirstier than usual for winter.
- Travel: No mountain snow means the passes are clear. If you’re driving through the Sierra, you won’t need chains this week.
- Energy: You’ll likely save on heating during the day, but keep the blankets handy for those 42°F nights.
Don't get too comfortable, though. Long-range models suggest the Madden-Julian Oscillation (a big wave of tropical moisture) might shift our way toward the end of the month. This dry spell is a gift—use it while it lasts.
Keep your eyes on the sky around January 27. We’re seeing some early signs of cloud cover returning then, which usually signals the ridge is finally breaking down. Until then, enjoy the California sun.