Honestly, if you walked outside in Downtown LA this morning expecting that crisp January chill, you were probably disappointed—or thrilled, depending on how much you hate wearing layers. It's Friday, January 16, 2026, and the current weather of Los Angeles feels a lot more like a June afternoon than a winter morning.
Right now, it’s 69°F outside, but because the air is so dry and the sun is beating down, it actually feels like 74°F. We are currently in the middle of a "winter heat wave" that has basically turned the normal seasonal calendar upside down. While the rest of the country is digging out of snow, Angelenos are currently dealing with a south wind moving at a lazy 1 mph. It’s still, it’s bright, and it’s surprisingly warm.
Why it's so hot right now
The big story today is the high pressure system that’s been sitting over the West Coast all week. Usually, January is our "wet" month. We’re supposed to be dodging puddles. Instead, we’re looking at a high of 79°F today. That is nearly 15 degrees above the historical average for mid-January.
According to Brian Lewis, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, this spike is being driven by offshore flow—what we locals usually call the Santa Ana winds. Even when the winds aren't howling at 50 mph, that dry air from the deserts sinks and warms as it drops toward the coast. It basically acts like a giant hair dryer pointed at the L.A. Basin.
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Humidity is sitting at a bone-dry 35%. For those of us with frizzy hair, that’s great news, but it also means the air doesn't hold onto heat very well once the sun goes down.
What to expect for the rest of the day
If you're planning on being out and about, here’s the breakdown for today, January 16:
- Morning/Afternoon: Pure sunshine. The UV index is hitting a 3, which isn't summer-level "burn in ten minutes" dangerous, but it's enough to catch a tan if you're sitting at an outdoor cafe in Santa Monica.
- Evening: Things shift. While the day is sunny, the nighttime condition is expected to be cloudy.
- The Drop: We’re going from that 79°F peak down to a low of 52°F tonight.
That 27-degree swing is a classic SoCal move. You’ll see people at the Grove in t-shirts at 2:00 PM and then frantically pulling Patagonia puffers out of their trunks by 6:00 PM.
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The weirdness of the 2026 Winter
It’s been a strange start to the year. We kicked off 2026 with a moderate storm on New Year’s Day that dumped a couple of inches of rain and ruined a lot of Rose Parade plans. Since then? Bone dry.
We are currently transitioning out of a La Niña cycle. Usually, La Niña means a dry winter for us, but this specific cycle has been "wet and weird," as some local forecasters have put it. Now that we're moving toward "ENSO-neutral" conditions, the weather patterns are becoming even less predictable. One week we're worried about debris flows in the burn scars from last year’s fires, and the next week we’re hitting record highs in Pasadena.
The fire risk, thankfully, is low. Even with these Santa Ana conditions and the dry 35% humidity, the ground is still holding moisture from those late December and early January storms. So, while it's hot, we aren't seeing the Red Flag Warnings that usually accompany this kind of heat.
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Looking ahead to the weekend
Don't get too comfortable with the heat. The models are showing a pattern shift. While today is a peak, there’s a 10% chance of rain tonight as those clouds move in. It’s not much—barely a drizzle—but it’s a sign that the high-pressure ridge is starting to break down.
If you’re heading to the beach, today is the day. The south wind is negligible, and the water is... well, it’s still January-cold, but the air is perfect.
Actionable Insights for today:
- Hydrate more than usual: That 35% humidity will sneak up on you and leave you with a headache by 4:00 PM.
- The "Basin Layer" rule: Wear a light base. You will regret a heavy sweater by lunch, but you'll need a jacket the second you step into the shade or wait for a valet after dark.
- UV Protection: A UV index of 3 is high enough for skin damage during peak hours (11:00 AM – 2:00 PM). Throw on some SPF if you're doing the Hollywood Sign hike.
- Check your tire pressure: These massive temperature swings (52°F to 79°F) can actually trigger your TPMS light. Don't freak out; it’s likely just the air density changing.
Stay cool out there. This "winter" isn't going to last forever, and the long-range models suggest a much cooler, rainier end to the month.