Honestly, if you stepped outside in El Cajon this morning, you probably noticed that bite in the air followed by a surprisingly quick warm-up. That's the valley life for you. Right now, the current temperature in El Cajon CA is 67°F.
It’s about 10:10 AM on a Sunday, and while 67°F sounds like a dream to most of the country in January, local context matters. We’re sitting under mostly cloudy skies, but don't let the gray fool you. The humidity is hanging out at a bone-dry 32%. When the air is this dry, the sun—even when it's peek-a-boo behind clouds—hits your skin a lot harder.
What the numbers actually mean for your day
Basically, we are in the middle of a massive temperature swing. We started the morning at a chilly 42°F. By this afternoon, we are headed for a high of 80°F.
That is a 38-degree jump in a single day.
If you're planning on hitting the Magnolia Ave shops or grabbing lunch near the Parkway Plaza, you’ve probably already realized that the jacket you wore at 7:00 AM is now a nuisance. The wind is barely a factor right now, coming out of the east at just 2 mph. It’s still, it’s dry, and it’s about to get much warmer.
Is this normal for El Cajon?
Kinda, but also not really. If you look at the long-term climate data from groups like the Western Regional Climate Center, a typical January day in El Cajon usually tops out around 69°F or 70°F. Pushing toward 80°F, which is today's forecast high, puts us well above the seasonal average.
El Cajon is famous (or infamous, depending on who you ask) for its microclimate. Being tucked into the valley means we trap heat during the day but lose it rapidly once the sun dips behind the hills. While San Diego coastal spots might be hovering in the mid-60s, we're effectively baking in a natural oven.
Today's specific conditions:
- Current Temp: 67°F
- Expected High: 80°F
- UV Index: 2 (Low, but still present)
- Chance of Rain: 9% (Basically non-existent, despite the clouds)
Staying comfortable in the valley heat
You've gotta dress in layers. There is no other way to survive a day where it feels like winter at breakfast and summer at late lunch. With the current temperature in El Cajon CA climbing fast, the low humidity means you’ll dehydrate faster than you think, even if you aren't sweating.
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If you are heading out to Gillespie Field or one of the local parks, keep an eye on that 80°F peak around 2:00 PM or 3:00 PM. The air is going to feel heavy and warm before the sun sets and we plunge back down toward a low of 42°F tonight.
Check your tire pressure if you're driving; these wild 40-degree temperature swings can actually trigger those annoying "low air" sensors in your car. Grab a light long-sleeve for the evening, keep a water bottle handy, and enjoy the fact that while the rest of the world is shoveling snow, we're debating whether it's too hot for a sweater.
Make sure to bring your sunglasses if you're driving west this afternoon. The glare off the clouds combined with the dropping sun on the I-8 can be brutal when the air is this clear and dry.