If you stepped outside in Whittier this morning, you probably felt it. That weird, unseasonable warmth. It’s January 14, 2026, and while most of the country is bracing for "Arctic revenge"—fox weather's words, not mine—we are sitting here in 80-degree heat.
Honestly, the 10 day forecast whittier residents are looking at right now is a bit of a psychological roller coaster. We’re going from "do I need to turn on the AC?" to "where did I put my umbrella?" in less than a week. It’s classic Southern California, but with a few extra twists thanks to some aggressive Santa Ana winds and a brewing shift in the Pacific.
The Immediate Heat Wave: Shorts in January?
Right now, Whittier is baking under a high-pressure ridge. Today and tomorrow are looking like the peaks of this mini-summer. We're talking highs of 80°F to 84°F. That is significantly higher than our typical January average of about 66°F.
The humidity is hovering around 32%. Basically, it’s dry. Really dry. If you’re hiking up at the Whittier Hills or Turnbull Canyon, you’ve probably noticed the dust is finer and the air feels a bit tighter. The National Weather Service out of Oxnard has been tracking these offshore flows, and they’re the primary reason your skin feels like parchment paper today.
- Wednesday (Today): Sunny, high of 80°F.
- Thursday: Even warmer. Some local sensors are peaking at 82°F or 83°F.
- Friday: A slight dip to 77°F, but still gorgeous.
The Turning Point: When the Clouds Muscle In
By the weekend, the vibe shifts. You’ll start to see it Saturday. The sky won't be that piercing blue anymore; it’ll turn that familiar milky grey. Highs will stay in the mid-70s, but the "feel-like" temperature is going to drop because the sun won't be hitting your skin directly.
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Cloud cover is expected to jump from 10% to nearly 40% by Sunday. It’s the precursor to a low-pressure system moving down from the Pacific Northwest. While Northern California is getting hammered with rain and "King Tides" (those massive tides that happen when the moon is closest to Earth), we’re just getting the leftovers.
Mid-Week Cool Down
Monday and Tuesday (Jan 19-20) look like the "sweet spot" for most people. Highs around 74°F or 75°F. It’s that perfect California weather where you wear a light hoodie in the morning and take it off by noon.
But keep an eye on the wind. We’ve seen wind speeds around 11 mph lately, which is actually the windiest month for Whittier historically. It’s enough to blow the palm fronds onto your driveway, but not quite enough to knock the power out.
The Rain Question: Is the 10 Day Forecast Whittier Showing a Storm?
Here is where it gets interesting—and a little messy.
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By next Thursday, January 22, the mercury starts to tank. We’re talking a drop from 82°F at the start of the week down to 65°F. That’s a nearly 20-degree swing.
The chance of rain starts creeping up around then. Right now, models are showing about a 15% to 20% chance of precipitation for Thursday night into Friday. It’s not a "biblical mega-storm," but it’s enough to make the 605 freeway a nightmare during the morning commute.
Why the Whittier Narrows Dam Matters Right Now
When we talk about rain in Whittier, we have to talk about the Dam. You’ve probably heard the rumors or seen the LAist reports: the Whittier Narrows Dam is still under a massive "Safety Modification Study."
Federal engineers have previously classified it as one of the highest-priority risks in the country. Why? Because if a massive storm hits—the kind they call a "1-in-900-year event"—the spillway could open prematurely. This could potentially flood everything from Pico Rivera down to Long Beach.
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Now, the current 10 day forecast whittier isn't predicting that kind of catastrophe. Not even close. But it’s a reminder that our infrastructure is old. The repairs that were supposed to be done by 2025? They’re now looking like 2031. So, every time a grey cloud appears over the San Gabriel River, people get a little twitchy.
Practical Steps for the Next 10 Days
Don't let the 80-degree weather fool you into thinking winter is over. California weather is famous for its "whiplash" effect—going from extreme drought to extreme wet in a single season.
- Hydrate your plants now. These Santa Ana winds and high temps will suck the moisture right out of your soil.
- Check your wipers. If it hasn't rained in a while, your wiper blades are probably cracked from the sun. You don't want to find that out when the drizzle starts next Thursday.
- Plan your outdoor stuff early. If you’re planning on hitting the Whittier Greenway Trail, do it before Sunday. The air quality is decent right now (UV index of 2), but the heat is better than the humidity we might see later in the week.
- Watch the lows. Nighttime temperatures are staying consistently in the low 50s. It’s a huge gap. 82 in the day, 52 at night. Layer up.
Basically, enjoy the heat while it lasts, but keep your jacket within arm's reach. The end of this 10-day window is going to feel a lot more like "real" January.
For the most immediate updates, I always recommend checking the local NWS "Forecast Discussion." It’s a bit technical, but it’s where the actual meteorologists explain why they think it’s going to rain, rather than just giving you a percentage.
Stay cool—or warm—depending on which day you're reading this.