‹ Santa Barbara weather by month
Typical January weather
Santa Barbara
California · January
64° days
41° nights
about 5 rainy days · 10 hours of daylight · ocean 58°
What to pack
- Sweater
What January feels like
January is when the Channel Islands look close enough to swim to on the days between systems. Away from the water it gets properly cold overnight — the ranches up the Santa Ynez side see frost, and the citrus growers pay attention.
Expect about 5 days with real rain — enough to notice, not enough to plan around. The air runs dry — whatever the thermometer says, it wears easy.
Can you swim?
The ocean runs about 58° — cold — a quick dip takes resolve.
The numbers
| Typical high | 64° |
|---|---|
| Typical low | 41° |
| Days with real rain | 5 |
| Total rain | 3.8 in |
| Humidity | dry air |
| Water temperature | 58° |
| Sunrise / sunset (mid-month) | 7:04 am / 5:11 pm |