Honestly, if you're living in Orange County right now, your winter coat is probably feeling like a massive waste of closet space. We are currently smack in the middle of a "winter heat wave" that has turned January into a weird, sun-drenched fever dream.
Orange county weather tomorrow, Thursday, January 15, is basically a carbon copy of today’s peak heat, and if you were hoping for a quick return to "sweater weather," I’ve got some bad news. It’s staying hot.
The Thursday Breakdown: Just How Warm Are We Talking?
Tomorrow is going to be a heater. National Weather Service (NWS) San Diego is tracking high temperatures that are landing about 10 to 15 degrees above what we usually see this time of year.
If you are in Santa Ana, Anaheim, or Irvine, expect highs to hit 80°F to 83°F.
Coastal spots like Newport Beach or Huntington will be slightly more tolerable because of the water, but even there, you're looking at the mid-to-upper 70s. It’s the kind of day where the air feels dry, the sun feels a bit too sharp for January, and the "offshore flow" is doing all the heavy lifting.
The Hourly Feel
- 7:00 AM: Crisp but not freezing. Expect around 56°F.
- 12:00 PM: The heat ramps up fast. We’ll be hitting 78°F by noon.
- 2:00 PM: Peak heat. This is when those inland areas will nudge past 82°F.
- 6:00 PM: Sunset starts cooling things down, but it’ll linger in the 60s for a while.
The humidity is also going to be incredibly low—we’re talking 15% to 20% in the afternoon. Basically, keep your ChapStick handy because the Santa Ana winds are still playing a role here, even if they aren't screaming at 60 mph anymore.
Why the Santa Anas Aren't Sparking Fires (This Time)
Usually, when a meteorologist says "Santa Ana winds" and "80 degrees" in the same sentence, everyone in SoCal starts looking at the hills for smoke.
But this week is different.
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According to NWS meteorologist Brian Lewis, the fire risk is actually pretty low despite the "hot, dry, and windy" conditions. Why? Because we actually got a decent amount of rain recently. The "fuel moisture"—which is just a fancy way of saying how wet the brush and grass are—is high enough that a random spark isn't going to turn into a catastrophe quite as easily as it would in October.
That said, the winds are still annoying. You can expect northeast gusts tomorrow of about 10 to 15 mph, with some spots in the canyons hitting 25 mph. It’s enough to blow your patio umbrella over, but not enough to trigger a Red Flag Warning.
Comparing Tomorrow to "Normal" OC Januaries
If you feel like this is weird, you’re right.
Historically, the average high for Orange County in mid-January is around 68°F. We are blowing past that by nearly 15 degrees. Stacker data shows that the warmest January on record for the county was back in 2003, and while we might not beat the all-time monthly average, tomorrow's individual daily records are definitely under threat in places like Fullerton and Yorba Linda.
It’s a "Rex Block" situation. That's a weather pattern where a high-pressure system sits to our north and a low-pressure system sits to our south, essentially trapping the warm air over us like a lid on a pot.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Heat
People see "83 degrees" and think it’s a beach day.
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It is a beach day, but with a catch. The water temperature is still sitting at a bone-chilling 58°F to 60°F. If you dive in thinking it’s July, your body is going to go into immediate shock.
Also, the UV index is around a 3 or 4. It sounds low, but because the air is so clear and dry right now, you can still get a sneaky burn if you’re out at a park in Orange or hiking Peter’s Canyon for three hours without a hat.
Practical Advice for Tomorrow
If you're planning your day around the orange county weather tomorrow, here is the move:
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- Hydrate more than you think. This dry air sucks the moisture right out of you without the "sweat" signal you get in the summer.
- Dress in "onion layers." It’ll be 56°F when you leave the house and 82°F by the time you're grabbin' lunch.
- Check your tires. Rapid temperature swings like this can mess with your PSI.
- Water your plants. Your garden thinks it’s winter and isn't prepared for an 80-degree blast; give those outdoor pots a soak tonight.
The heat is expected to hold steady through Friday before a "gradual" cooling trend starts this weekend. We aren't looking at any rain for at least another week, so enjoy the "winter summer" while it lasts.
Check your local micro-climate app before heading out, as the difference between San Clemente and Anaheim tomorrow will be at least 8 degrees. Stick to the shade during the 2:00 PM peak if you’re sensitive to the heat, and maybe finally wash those heavy sweaters—you won't be needing them for a few days.