You’ve seen the postcards. Those glossy images of palm trees and endless sunshine that make everyone in the Midwest want to throw their snow shovels into a frozen lake. But if you’re actually living here or planning a trip, you know the 10 day forecast san diego is rarely that simple. Honestly, January in this city is a total mood swing. One minute you're sweating in a t-shirt at a backyard BBQ, and the next you're digging through the hall closet for that one heavy hoodie you bought three years ago.
Right now, we are looking at a weirdly warm stretch that feels more like early May than mid-January. If you check the current numbers for Saturday, January 17, 2026, we’re hitting a high of 76°F. That’s about 10 to 15 degrees above what’s actually normal for this time of year. But don't get too comfortable. The sky is "partly sunny" for now, but there’s a persistent 10% chance of rain hanging over us like a low-level threat. It’s that classic San Diego tease—just enough humidity to make your hair act up, but probably not enough to actually wash the dust off your car.
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The Santa Ana Surprise and the Cooling Trend
The reason everything feels so "off" right now is a ridge of high pressure and some offshore flow. Basically, the desert is sending us a warm hug we didn't ask for. But the 10 day forecast san diego shows this mini-summer isn't going to last.
By the time we hit Monday, January 19, the high drops to 69°F. It’s a subtle shift, but in a city where people wear parkas when it hits 60, it’s a big deal. We’re moving from "beach weather" back to "standard San Diego winter."
Here is the thing about our weather: it's all about the microclimates. If you’re hanging out in La Jolla, you might be looking at a thick marine layer and a cool breeze. Meanwhile, someone in El Cajon is probably seeing 70°F and clear skies. It’s a "choose your own adventure" situation every single morning.
Looking Ahead: Will it Actually Rain?
Everyone asks the same thing during a California winter: "Is it gonna rain?"
Looking at the back half of the week, the answer is... maybe. Sorta. The models are showing a shift starting around Friday, January 23. We’re seeing "mostly cloudy" conditions with a 20% chance of light rain. By Saturday, January 24, those chances jump up to 35% during the day and 45% at night.
- Friday, Jan 23: High of 65°F, 20% rain chance.
- Saturday, Jan 24: High of 66°F, 45% chance of showers overnight.
- Sunday, Jan 25: High of 67°F, 35% chance of light rain at night.
It’s not exactly a "batten down the hatches" storm, but it’s enough to mess up your hiking plans at Torrey Pines. The temperature is going to hover in the mid-60s, which—let’s be real—is still better than almost anywhere else in the country right now.
Why the 10 Day Forecast San Diego Always Changes
The National Weather Service is tracking a closed low pressure system off the coast. The problem is that these systems are notoriously finicky. If it phases with a short wave coming down from the Pacific Northwest, we get real rain. If it doesn't? We just get some clouds and a "I should have brought a jacket" kind of breeze.
Expert meteorologists at the San Diego NWS office are currently watching the "coastal eddy." If that eddy wins out early in the week, expect some dense fog during your morning commute on Monday and Tuesday. It’s that thick, "can’t see the hood of my car" soup that usually burns off by noon.
Practical Tips for the Next 10 Days
Don't be the person caught in a sundress when the sun goes down at 5:00 PM. The temperature gap between the daytime high of 76°F and the nighttime low of 49°F is huge. That’s a 27-degree drop.
- Layer like a pro. A light jacket is mandatory for anything after sunset.
- Watch the UV. Even with a high of 76°F, the UV index is around 3. It’s low, but if you’re out for four hours at the San Diego Rodeo this weekend, you’ll still feel it.
- Plan for the "Wall." If you're driving inland, you'll feel the temperature spike as soon as you pass La Mesa.
The most important takeaway for the 10 day forecast san diego is that we are transitioning from an unseasonably warm weekend into a much cooler, potentially damp end of the month. It’s the kind of weather that makes locals complain and tourists confused. But hey, that's just January in Southern California.
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Actionable Next Steps:
Check your windshield wipers today while it’s still sunny. If the rain actually hits next Saturday (Jan 24), you don't want to find out they're dry-rotted while you're stuck in traffic on the I-5. Also, plan any outdoor activities for this weekend to take advantage of those 75°F highs before the clouds roll in on Wednesday.