SeasonMapSanta Cruz, California (Santa Cruz) weather in January
United States
January in Santa Cruz, California: nice, soaked, with clean air — a gamble, with 10 rainy days.
#12 of 12 months in Santa Cruz, California · #1050 of 1383 destinations to visit in January · comfort 54/100 (tier D)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Santa Cruz, California in January
Other months in Santa Cruz, California
Santa Cruz's forum calls September one of the warmest and most reliable months — low-70s°F by day, chillier mornings and evenings in the 50s, with the coastal fog that plagues early summer mostly staying offshore. Regulars are consistent that it never gets tropical or humid here, just comfortably warm, making it a favorite pick over the foggier months of June and July.
Add your own note from Santa Cruz, California's card on the map.
Santa Cruz, California climate normals — January
| Daytime high | 17°C / 63°F | 😎 nice |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 6°C / 42°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 16°C / 61°F | |
| Sea temperature | 13°C / 55°F | 🥶 cold sea |
| Rainfall | 192 mm / 7.6 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 10 days | |
| Humidity | 81% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 8°C / 47°F | |
| Sunshine | 7.2 h/day | |
| Daylight | 10 h | |
| Wind | 19 km/h / 12 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 34 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Santa Cruz, California in January
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyWinter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Santa Cruz, California's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherSanta Cruz, California's weather peaks July–September.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Santa Cruz, California in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Nature
Monarch butterflies
15 Oct – 15 Feb · usuallyWildlife seasonTens of thousands of monarchs cluster in the eucalyptus grove at Natural Bridges from mid-October, hanging in a shape that looks like dead leaves until the sun hits them. Numbers swing wildly year to year. Source ↗
- Season
Winter swell season
1 Nov – 31 Mar · usuallySurf seasonRiskNorth Pacific swells light up Steamer Lane and the reefs along West Cliff, and the cliff path becomes a grandstand. This is the cold, serious half of the surf year, not the learning half.
- Nature
Gray whale migration
15 Dec – 15 Apr · usuallyWhale seasonGrays pass the bay heading south in midwinter and back north with calves into April, often within sight of the cliffs. Humpbacks work the deep canyon offshore for much of the rest of the year.
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Santa Cruz, California — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Santa Cruz, California?
Santa Cruz, California in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Santa Cruz, California?
- January in Santa Cruz, California: nice, soaked, with clean air — a gamble, with 10 rainy days. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Santa Cruz, California on SeasonMap's comfort score (54/100).
- What is the weather like in Santa Cruz, California in January?
- In January, Santa Cruz, California averages a daily high of 17.4°C and a low of 5.5°C, with about 192.2 mm of rain over roughly 10.2 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Santa Cruz, California in January?
- Santa Cruz, California has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 34 in January.
Other months in Santa Cruz, California
Compare Santa Cruz, California in January
Warmer or cooler than Santa Cruz, California in January
Similar destinations in North America — January
Within 300 km: Monterey's Monarchs at Pacific Grove around 20 Oct – 28 Feb, and Big Sur's Elephant seals at Piedras Blancas around 1 Dec – 31 May.