Typical January weather
Santa Cruz
California · January
61° days
40° nights
about 6 rainy days · 10 hours of daylight · ocean 56°
What to pack
- Sweater
- Umbrella
What January feels like
January is when the winter swell lights up Steamer Lane and the rail at Lighthouse Point fills with people watching. Away from the water it gets cold enough overnight to frost the Pajaro Valley fields, and the strawberry growers watch for it.
Expect about 6 days with real rain — enough to notice, not enough to plan around.
Can you swim?
The ocean runs about 56° — frigid — locals in wetsuits only.
The numbers
| Typical high | 61° |
|---|---|
| Typical low | 40° |
| Days with real rain | 6 |
| Total rain | 4.6 in |
| Water temperature | 56° |
| Sunrise / sunset (mid-month) | 7:20 am / 5:15 pm |