So, you’re looking at the forecast for Big Bear Lake and wondering if you should pack the heavy parkas or just a light hoodie. Honestly, the mountains are tricky right now. It is Sunday, January 18, 2026, and if you walked outside at 3:45 AM, you’d feel a crisp 42°F on your face. It's cloudy. Quiet. A tiny 2 mph breeze is coming off the northeast. Basically, it's classic "shoulder" weather in the San Bernardino National Forest—not quite a blizzard, but definitely not a beach day in Malibu.
The Reality of the Forecast for Big Bear Lake This Week
People see "January" and assume they’re going to be buried in three feet of powder. Usually, they'd be right. But look at the numbers for today. We’re hitting a high of 58°F. That’s actually pretty warm for 6,700 feet up. You’ve got a 10% chance of rain during the day, which is basically the sky just teasing you. By tonight, it clears up, and we drop down to 39°F.
The wind is staying mellow at 5 mph from the west. If you're hitting the slopes at Snow Summit or Bear Mountain, you're looking at "spring skiing" conditions in the middle of winter. The snow is mostly machine-made right now because nature isn't cooperating as much as we’d like.
What the Next Few Days Look Like
If you're planning to head up tomorrow, Monday, January 19, things stay consistent. It'll be sunny with a high of 56°F and a low of 38°F. No rain. No snow. Just clear blue skies and an east wind around 7 mph.
Tuesday and Wednesday follow suit. We're staying in that mid-50s range for the highs and high-30s for the lows.
- Tuesday, Jan 20: Sunny, high of 55°F, low of 39°F.
- Wednesday, Jan 21: Mostly cloudy, high of 56°F, low of 40°F.
Honestly, the "real" winter vibes don't start peeking through until next Sunday, January 25. That’s when the forecast shows a 10% chance of snow at night with a low of 38°F. It’s not much, but for those of us waiting for the real deal, it’s a start.
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Why the Elevation Changes Everything
You can't just look at one number and call it a day. Big Bear Lake isn't flat. While the town center might be sitting at 58°F today, the summit of Bear Mountain (over 8,800 feet) is going to be significantly colder. This is why you see people walking around the Village in shorts while skiers are still zipped up in Gore-Tex.
The UV index is also something people totally ignore. Today it's a 2, but tomorrow it jumps to a 3. That doesn't sound like much, but at this altitude, the sun is basically a laser beam reflecting off the snow. You will get a "goggle tan" (read: sunburn) even when it's cloudy if you aren't careful.
Staying Safe on the 18, 38, or 330
Road conditions are currently clear. Since the precipitation is sitting at a measly 10% chance of rain, you don't need to worry about ice on the "Front Way" (Hwy 330/18) or the "Back Way" (Hwy 38) today.
But things change fast. By late next week, specifically Friday the 23rd and Saturday the 24th, temperatures start dipping back toward the low 50s and high 40s. While there's no major storm on the immediate horizon, California mountain weather is famous for throwing a curveball.
Actionable Advice for Your Trip
If you are coming up this week, do these three things:
- Layers are your best friend. You’ll want a shell for the 39-degree mornings and a t-shirt for the 58-degree afternoons.
- Hydrate more than you think. The humidity is hovering around 29% to 31%. You’ll dry out faster than a piece of jerky if you aren't drinking water.
- Check the wind. Monday’s 7 mph east wind might make the lake feel a bit choppier if you’re trying to fish.
Keep an eye on the thermometer. While the forecast for Big Bear Lake is looking pretty mild for the next 48 hours, those overnight freezes are still keeping the ground hard. Drive safe and enjoy the sun while it's out.