If you just looked out the window in Mission Valley or grabbed a coffee in La Jolla, you'd think winter in Southern California was a total myth. The sun is out. The sky is that aggressive shade of blue that makes people in the Midwest want to move here immediately. But if you’ve lived through the last two weeks, you know things have been weird.
San Diego basically started 2026 by breaking records nobody wanted to break. On New Year’s Day, we didn't just get "a little rain"—we got hammered. Palomar Mountain saw over five inches, and downtown felt more like a lake than a city. Now, as we look at the San Diego two week forecast, everyone is asking the same thing: are we actually done with the chaos, or is this just the eye of the storm?
Honestly, the next 14 days look like a classic San Diego "fake out." We’re transitioning from high-intensity Santa Ana winds and mid-70s heat back into a pattern that feels a lot more like actual winter.
The Immediate Outlook: Santa Anas and T-Shirt Weather
Right now, we are sitting in a warm pocket. Tuesday and Wednesday (January 13–14) are looking spectacular if you’re a fan of dry heat. We’re talking highs of 72°F to 75°F. That’s thanks to a 1038 mb high-pressure system sitting over the Great Salt Lake, pushing those gusty Santa Ana winds through our canyons.
It feels great, but it’s deceptive.
By Thursday, the offshore flow starts to weaken. The "free heater" from the desert is turning off. You’ll notice the humidity climbing back up as the sea breeze returns. If you're planning a hike at Torrey Pines, do it before Friday. Why? Because the "cooling trend" the National Weather Service is tracking isn't just a couple of degrees—it's the start of a much cloudier, damper shift.
The Breakdown of the Next 14 Days
I like to think of this forecast in two distinct acts.
Act One: The Dry Spell (Jan 13 – Jan 18)
Expect plenty of Vitamin D. Highs will hover between 68°F and 75°F. At night, it’ll still get crisp, dropping into the low 50s, so don't ditch the hoodie just yet. The surf is also looking decent during this stretch, with 3–5 foot sets at Ocean Beach, though it might get a bit "choppy" by the afternoons when the NW winds kick in.
Act Two: The Gray Creep (Jan 19 – Jan 27)
This is where the San Diego two week forecast gets a bit moody. As we head into the following week, that high pressure moves out, and we start seeing a series of "weak but colder" weather systems. We aren't expecting another New Year's Day flood, but the chance of light rain starts ticking up around January 23. Temperatures will likely struggle to hit 65°F. It’s "San Diego cold," which basically means everyone starts wearing North Face jackets like they’re in the Arctic.
Dealing with the Post-Flood "Hangover"
We can’t talk about the forecast without acknowledging the mess we just cleaned up. The record-breaking rain on January 1st left the ground completely saturated. Even though it’s been sunny, the soil in places like Chula Vista and Escondido is still holding onto a ton of moisture.
If we do get even a "light" rain toward the end of next week, the runoff happens way faster than usual. The San Diego River in Fashion Valley is finally back in its banks, but it doesn't take much to make those low-water crossings dangerous again. Local experts are telling people to keep their irrigation systems off for at least another week. Your lawn doesn't need the water, and the city’s drainage system definitely doesn't need the extra load.
What Most People Get Wrong About January Weather Here
A lot of tourists come here in January expecting 80 degrees and tropical vibes. That’s a mistake. January is statistically our wettest month, and 2026 is proving that point with an exclamation mark.
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While we have these beautiful "Santa Ana" windows where it feels like summer, the baseline is actually quite cool. The average high is only about 66°F. This year, we’re also dealing with a "weakening" La Niña. Usually, La Niña means a drier winter for us, but as we saw on January 1st, "average" doesn't mean "always." We are seeing more variability lately—extreme wet bursts followed by extreme dry heat. It’s exhausting for your wardrobe and your plants.
Essential Tips for the Next Two Weeks
- Check the Tides: If you're heading to the beach, be aware that we still have some minor tidal overflow issues. A "Beach Hazards Statement" was recently in effect, and with the shifting winds, some local beach flooding can still happen during high tide.
- Layering is a Religion: You will be sweating at 2:00 PM and shivering by 5:30 PM. The temperature drop once the sun goes down behind the Pacific is brutal this time of year.
- Don't Trust the "Sunny" Icon: For the second week of this forecast (Jan 20 onwards), that sun icon on your phone might have a tiny cloud hiding behind it. Expect "Partly Sunny," which in San Diego speak means "mostly gray until the sun peeks out for twenty minutes."
The Bottom Line
The San Diego two week forecast tells a story of two cities. One is the sun-drenched paradise of the next few days, and the other is the cooling, cloudier reality of late January. We’re moving away from the record-breaking heat and record-breaking rain into a more "normal" winter pattern: cool, breezy, and slightly unpredictable.
If you have outdoor plans, aim for this weekend. By the time Monday, January 19th rolls around, the marine layer is going to be much more stubborn, and those light showers toward the end of the month are looking more likely.
Take advantage of the dry soil now to clear any debris from your gutters or yard drains. We’ve seen how fast things can turn underwater here, and being prepared for the next "weak" system is a lot better than being surprised by it. Keep an eye on the sky, but enjoy the 75-degree days while they’re here—they’re the reason we pay the "sunshine tax" in the first place.
Stay alert to the shifting winds near the coast, as the transition from offshore to onshore flow can bring sudden drops in temperature and increased fog visibility issues for evening commutes on the I-5. Keep those headlights on and your sunblock handy for the midday peak.