So, you’re looking at the forecast for the little town of Winters, California, and wondering if you actually need that heavy parka or just a light hoodie. Most people see "California" and assume it's all sunshine and palm trees year-round. They’re usually wrong. Especially this year.
As of mid-January 2026, the weather for winters california is doing something a bit weird. We’re officially in a "La Niña Advisory" status, according to the latest brief from the Climate Prediction Center issued on January 8. Usually, La Niña means "dry and boring" for Northern California. But if you've looked out the window lately, you know that hasn't exactly been the case.
The town of Winters, tucked right at the base of the Vaca Mountains in Yolo County, is a bit of a weather anomaly itself. It gets the "gap winds" from the Putah Creek canyon that can make a 45-degree night feel like 30 real quick.
👉 See also: Rimmel Scandaleyes Eye Pencil: Why This Drugstore Legend Still Beats High-End Brands
The 2026 Forecast: Why It's Defying the "Dry" Rule
Common wisdom says La Niña years are drought years.
Honestly, that’s a simplification that gets local farmers in a tizzy. While Southern California often stays bone-dry during these cycles, Northern and Central California are basically a coin toss. This season, the "water year" that started in October 2025 has actually been pretty wet. Statewide precipitation was sitting at about 147% of average by the end of November, and December kept that momentum going with a series of atmospheric rivers.
Right now, in mid-January, we're seeing a bit of a ridge building.
For the rest of this week in Winters, expect daytime highs to hover around 60°F to 65°F. It sounds pleasant, but the overnight lows are dipping into the high 30s. If you’re heading to the downtown area for a glass of wine at Turkovich or a bite at the Buckhorn, you’ve basically got to dress for two different seasons in one day.
The Transition to "Neutral"
Scientists at NOAA are currently tracking a transition. There is about a 75% chance that this La Niña pattern will shift into what they call "ENSO-neutral" conditions between now and March.
What does that mean for your weekend plans? Uncertainty.
When the Pacific Ocean isn't being pushed around by a strong El Niño or La Niña, the jet stream gets wobbly. You might get a week of "T-shirt weather" followed immediately by a freezing cold front that drops down from the Gulf of Alaska. The National Weather Service is actually predicting a 33-40% chance of above-normal temperatures for the region through February, but that doesn't mean we won't see a "frost snap."
What to Actually Expect in Winters (The Town)
Winters has a Mediterranean climate, but the "Winters" part of its name is slightly ironic because it’s usually one of the hottest places in the valley during summer. In the actual winter months, however, the dampness from the nearby orchards and the Putah Creek waterway creates a very specific kind of "bone-chill" fog.
- Tule Fog: This is the big one. If you’re driving Highway 128 into town early in the morning, the visibility can drop to near zero. It’s thick, grey, and stays until noon.
- Rain Patterns: We don't usually get "showers." We get "events." An atmospheric river will dump two inches of rain in 24 hours, and then it’ll be sunny for ten days.
- The Wind: Because of the geography, Winters gets hit with northerly winds that can gust up to 30 mph on a perfectly clear day.
Current Reservoir and Snowpack Reality
You might hear people worrying about drought again, but the California Department of Water Resources reported on December 1, 2025, that Lake Oroville—the big player for our regional water—was at 100% of its historical average.
The snowpack in the Southern Sierra is actually doing better than the Northern Sierra right now (101% vs 20% of normal), but for a town like Winters that relies on the Berryessa gap, the local water levels are looking solid for the 2026 season.
How to Prepare for the Rest of the Season
If you're living here or just visiting the Berryessa area, don't trust the "average" temperature charts you see on travel blogs. They’ll tell you it's 58 degrees. They won't tell you about the damp 38-degree morning where the air feels like ice water.
Actionable Steps for the 2026 Winter Season:
- Watch the "Dew Point" instead of just the temperature. In Winters, when the dew point and temperature meet in the evening, the Tule fog is coming. If you have a morning commute toward Davis or Sacramento, leave 20 minutes early.
- Prune your trees now. The transition to ENSO-neutral often brings "unbalanced" storms with high wind gusts. Weak limbs on those almond or walnut trees will come down.
- Check your irrigation sensors. With the ground already saturated from the November/December storms, most lawns and orchards in Yolo County don't need a drop of extra water right now, despite the sunny 64-degree forecast for this Friday.
- Layer for the "60-30 Swing." A heavy wool coat is overkill by 2:00 PM, but you'll regret the light denim jacket by 6:00 PM.
Basically, the weather for winters california this year is a story of a weakening La Niña trying to hold on while the atmosphere starts to pivot. It’s not a "dry" winter by any stretch, but it’s not a "flood" winter either. It's just... typically, predictably unpredictable. Keep an eye on the mid-February window; that’s when the polar vortex disruptions historically send a cold blast down the coast.