If you’re coming from a cold climate, you may wonder what Southern California feels like in the winter. By January, many states in the US are buried under a layer of snow and citizens have endured weeks of freezing temperatures. They might be itching to escape the bitter cold winter brings.
If you’re eying Southern California, you won’t see snow. You won’t need your parka, but it might not be the tropical escape you’re looking for.
In 2021, the month of January started off beautifully. We had temperatures in the high 70’s and low 80’s. People in San Diego were heading to the beach and it would have been a beautiful time to be at Disney Land (if it was open, but it was closed due to the pandemic). Anyone visiting during the first full week of January would think Southern Californians live in these temperatures all year.
Flash forward a few weeks and skies are gray. Most people are in long pants and sweatshirts, and a day at the beach would certainly be uncomfortable. Low 60’s are the norm, and I’d expect to spend most of the day indoors.
Many days in winter have periods of rain. It’s not uncommon to start the day with damp grounds and have bursts of showers throughout the day. Due to this, clouds are more frequent than blue skies.
Then there are days like today with heavy winds and burst of rain. Some people experience hail, and roads are closing because there’s so much debris from tree branches breaking. These days are not common, but they do happen infrequently. When they happen, it’s usually during winter. If you visited for a week, you’d be unlikely to experience this. If you were here for a month, you’d likely have a day were winds interrupt daily life.
If you’re simply trying to escape snow and you’re comfortable with temperatures that mimic autumn in New York, then you’d enjoy Southern California in winter. If you’re seeking sunshine in the middle of winter, the odds aren’t in your favor. Each winter, I’ve experienced a couple of weeks of sunshine and beach weather. The rest of the winter allows me to wear my flannel shirts, jeans, and sweatshirts. I feel comfortable walking to the coffee shop 90% of the time, but I wouldn’t spend the day outside.
I’d 100% recommend Southern California to avoid the snow. If you’re looking for a glowing tan and days on the beach, you’ll need to travel farther south than Southern California.