Los Angeles in January:
cool and fresh, only a little rain
Los Angeles, United States · Records from 2006 to 2025. Not a forecast. Temperature partly station-corrected
Los Angeles in January
The rainy season is on, with the occasional wet day. The Rose Parade in Pasadena is held on January 1, moved to Monday if that is a Sunday. It is also a dry-wind season, and in January 2025 Santa Ana winds fanned major wildfires.
Highs averaged 20°C and lows 10°C, an easy range for walking around all day. A 10°C gap between afternoon and night meant dressing twice: once for the day, once for after dark. 5 rain days in a typical January: noticeable, but most days stayed dry. January could skip rain entirely: 1 of 20 years had none, while 2017 had 12 rain days.
Days were short. Daylight grew from 9.9 to 10.5 hours across the month, so plan outdoor sights early. The warmest year was 2014, with highs averaging 23.5°C, 3.9°C above normal. Cold snaps happened: the record low for January was −0.6°C, set in 2007.
Date by date i
0-5/206-8/209-11/2012-20/20
| 1-2 | rain on 13% of days | 19° 8° |
|---|---|---|
| 3-9 | rain on 15% of days | 19° 10° |
| 10-16 | rain on 12% of days | 20° 9° |
| 17-23 | rain on 19% of days | 20° 10° |
| 24-30 | rain on 13% of days | 20° 10° |
| January 31 | rain on 15% of days | 19° 10° |
0-5/206-8/209-11/2012-20/20
| January 1 | rain on 10% of days | 18° 8° |
|---|---|---|
| 2-8 | rain on 15% of days | 19° 9° |
| 9-15 | rain on 12% of days | 20° 9° |
| 16-22 | rain on 18% of days | 20° 10° |
| 23-29 | rain on 15% of days | 20° 10° |
| 30-31 | rain on 13% of days | 19° 10° |
- January 1 New Year's Day
- January 18 Birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr.
1 Local public holiday or break (busier, pricier)
Day by day temperature i
Mean high Mean low Coldest to warmest high in 20 years
Your trip dates, the past 20 years
No rain1-9 mm10 mm or more Dates outside your trip are dimmed.
One row per year, one cell per day. 2014 had 0 rain days, 2017 had 12.
Los Angeles through the year
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Rainfall | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 20° | 10° | 5 days | 55mm | 15° |
| February | 20° | 10° | 5 days | 54mm | 15° |
| March | 21° | 11° | 4 days | 40mm | 15° |
| AprilGood | 23° | 12° | 2 days | 13mm | 15° |
| MayGood | 24° | 14° | 1 day | 5mm | 17° |
| June | 27° | 16° | 0 days | 1mm | 18° |
| July | 30° | 18° | 0 days | 1mm | 20° |
| August | 31° | 18° | 0 days | 0mm | 21° |
| September | 30° | 18° | 1 day | 4mm | 20° |
| October | 27° | 15° | 1 day | 9mm | 19° |
| NovemberGood | 23° | 12° | 3 days | 26mm | 17° |
| December | 19° | 10° | 5 days | 68mm | 16° |
Common questions
Does it rain a lot in Los Angeles in January?
Over the past 20 years January averaged 5 rain days (1 mm or more) out of 31. Individual years ran from 0 in the driest to 12 in the wettest.
What should I wear in Los Angeles in January?
Days averaged 20°C and nights 10°C. Pack a light layer for the evenings, sunscreen plus a hat, and a compact umbrella.
Can you swim in Los Angeles in January?
Sea surface temperature averaged 14.8°C in January, too cold for most people without a wetsuit. Year to year it ranged 14.3-15.4°C. Check local flags for waves and jellyfish on the day.
Is January a good time to visit Los Angeles?
On warmth and rain days alone, Los Angeles's easiest months were April, May and November. January ranked 11 of 12.
How many clear days does Los Angeles get in January?
About 12 clear days (under 30% cloud on average) and 6 overcast days (80% or more).