You’ve seen the postcards. Everyone thinks Santa Barbara is just 75 degrees and sunny every single day of the year. Honestly? That’s kinda a lie.
Especially in January.
Right now, if you’re standing on State Street, it’s actually pretty gorgeous, but don’t let the palm trees fool you into thinking it's tropical. As of Thursday night, January 15, 2026, the weather forecast for Santa Barbara is sitting at a crisp 58°F. The sky is clear, the wind is a tiny 4 mph nudge from the north, and the humidity is hanging out at 66%.
It’s "sweater weather" for locals. For tourists from Chicago? It's basically a heatwave.
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The January Reality Check
People expect winter to be a wash-out here, but today was a total stunner. We hit a high of 72°F this afternoon. That’s the "Goldilocks" zone—not too hot for a hike up Inspiration Point, but warm enough that you’d actually consider an iced latte over a hot one. Tonight is going to dip down to 53°F, so if you’re heading out to dinner at Loquita or grabbing a drink at the Funk Zone, bring the jacket. You’ll need it the second the sun drops behind the Santa Ynez mountains.
Speaking of mountains, they do something weird to our weather.
We have these things called microclimates. You might be shivering in a foggy mist in Goleta while someone three miles away in Montecito is literally getting a tan. It’s wild. Most visitors don't realize that the "Santa Barbara" weather they see on their phone is usually the reading from the airport, which is often ten degrees cooler than the actual city center because it's right on the marsh.
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Highs and Lows for Friday and Beyond
Looking ahead to Friday, January 16, things stay pretty consistent. Expect more sunshine with a high of 69°F. The mornings might start with that classic "May Gray" style marine layer—even though it’s January—but it usually burns off by 11:00 AM.
- Current Temp: 58°F (Night)
- Today's Peak: 72°F
- Tonight's Low: 53°F
- Wind: 5 mph from the West (during the day)
One thing that’s been super weird this year? The rain. Or the lack of it lately. Back in November 2025, we were breaking 127-year records. The city was basically underwater. Places like San Marcos Pass were seeing 500% of their normal rainfall. But since the calendar flipped to 2026, it’s been oddly dry. The current precipitation chance is a flat 0%.
The Ocean Isn't Your Friend Yet
If you’re thinking about jumping in the water, maybe don’t. Unless you have a thick 4/3mm wetsuit. The water temperature at Stearns Wharf is hovering around 60°F. That is "take your breath away" cold.
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Surfers are still out there, though. Leadbetter Beach is seeing small, glassy 2+ ft waves today. It’s perfect for longboarding, but the "real" swell isn't hitting until the middle of next week. If you’re a pro looking for size, wait until Wednesday the 21st when a WNW ground swell is supposed to bring head-high sets to the west-facing breaks.
What to Actually Pack
Forget the heavy parkas. You don’t need them. But don’t just pack flip-flops either. The smart way to handle the weather forecast for Santa Barbara this week is layers.
- The Base: A t-shirt for the 1:00 PM sun.
- The Mid: A flannel or light hoodie for the 4:00 PM shadows.
- The Shell: A denim jacket or light puffer for the 8:00 PM chill.
Basically, the temperature swings about 20 degrees the moment the sun disappears. It's a dry cold, but it bites if you're just wearing shorts.
One last thing: keep an eye on the wind. While it's calm right now (4-5 mph), the Santa Ana winds have been weakening over the Great Basin. This is why we're having such a mild, clear week. If those winds kick back up, the humidity drops to nothing, the fire risk goes up, and the sunsets get incredibly purple. For now, enjoy the "boring" 70-degree days. They’re the reason people pay the "sunshine tax" to live here.
Actionable Next Steps:
Check the local surf reports at Leadbetter if you're planning a morning session, as the tide is swinging wide this week with a new moon on Sunday. If you're hiking, stick to the morning hours before the UV index peaks, even though it's only a 2 right now—the California sun is deceptive at higher elevations.