You’ve seen the postcards. Those golden-hour shots of the Santa Monica Pier where everyone looks like they’re living in a perpetual 72-degree dream. Honestly, the reality of Santa Monica current weather is a lot more interesting—and occasionally more surprising—than the filtered photos suggest.
Right now, as we move through this Friday night, January 16, 2026, the coast is doing that moody, Pacific thing it loves to do. While the inland valleys might be holding onto the day's heat, the thermometer here has settled at a crisp 63°F. It’s classic "California winter." You’ll want a hoodie, but you probably won't need the heavy parka you’d wear in Chicago.
The Weird Heat Wave Nobody Expected
If you walked outside this afternoon, you probably noticed it felt less like January and more like August. We hit a high of 79°F today. That’s significantly above the typical January average of 64°F that most travel blogs quote.
Why? Santa Ana winds.
Basically, high pressure over the Great Basin is pushing dry, warm air from the desert toward the coast. These "Devil Winds" are blowing from the north at about 7 mph right now. They’ve dropped the humidity to a bone-dry 34%, which is why your skin might feel a bit tight and the air feels unusually clear.
The sky is currently cloudy, which is a shift from the sunny conditions we saw earlier today. Even with the clouds, there’s only a 10% chance of rain. It’s mostly just "marine layer" vibes mixed with those desert winds, creating a strange atmospheric tug-of-war.
What the Water is Actually Doing
Don't let the 79-degree air fool you into thinking the Pacific is a bathtub. It’s not.
🔗 Read more: Things to do Lexington KY this weekend: Why January in the Bluegrass hits different
Current sea temperatures at the Santa Monica Pier are hovering around 61°F. That is objectively cold. If you’re planning on surfing the 1.5-foot waves tomorrow morning, you’re going to want at least a 4/3mm wetsuit. Some of the local regulars at Ocean Park are still out there in 3/2mm suits because of the warm air, but they aren't staying in for two-hour sessions.
Santa Monica Weather: The Hour-by-Hour Reality
If you’re heading out for late-night tacos or a walk near the Third Street Promenade, here is the breakdown of what to expect:
- 10:00 PM: It’s staying around 63°F. The wind is still coming from the north, keeping things feeling a bit "crisp" but not freezing.
- Midnight: We’ll likely see it dip toward 60°F. The clouds are expected to stick around, which actually acts like a blanket, keeping the heat from escaping into space too fast.
- Overnight: We are looking at a low of 54°F.
It’s a far cry from the rainy, chilly Januarys we sometimes get. Usually, this month sees about 3 inches of rain, but this year has been dominated by this dry offshore flow.
Planning Your Saturday
If you’re visiting, tomorrow looks like a carbon copy of today, though maybe a few degrees cooler as the Santa Ana event starts to peak and then fade. The UV index is currently 0 (it’s night, after all), but even during the day in January, it rarely gets above a 3 or 4. You still need sunscreen, though. The reflection off the sand is a silent killer for your nose.
📖 Related: Playa Largo Resort and Spa Key Largo: What the Photos Don’t Tell You
Air quality is another thing to watch. With the winds kicking up dust and preventing the usual ocean breeze from scrubbing the air, the AQI has been bouncing around. It was "Good" earlier today (around 23), but some sensors near the 10 freeway are showing a slight climb in particulates. If you have asthma, maybe don't do your HIIT workout right next to the traffic.
Actionable Insights for Your Visit
- Layering is everything: Since the temperature swung from nearly 80°F to the low 60s in just a few hours, you need a system. A t-shirt under a light flannel or denim jacket is the local "uniform" for a reason.
- Check the wind, not just the temp: A 65-degree day with a 15 mph onshore breeze feels like 55. A 65-degree day with Santa Ana winds feels like 75.
- The "Sundowner" effect: Watch for the temperature to plummet the second the sun dips behind the horizon. It’s not a gradual fade; it’s a cliff.
- Parking Hack: Since the weather is so nice, the Pier parking will be a nightmare. Park at the structures on 4th or 2nd Street; the first 90 minutes are usually free, and the walk is better for your soul anyway.
Don't expect the clouds to turn into a downpour tonight. Grab a light jacket, enjoy the weirdly warm desert air meeting the ocean, and remember that even a "cloudy" night in Santa Monica is better than a blizzard anywhere else.
Next Steps:
- Check the local tide charts if you're planning a beach walk tomorrow; the high tide is hitting around 7:16 AM.
- Pack a high-quality moisturizer to combat the 34% humidity brought in by the north winds.