El Cajon weather in January

In January, El Cajon sees average daytime highs of 64°F and overnight lows near 48°F, with 2.3 in of rain across 5.6 wet days and about 10.1 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 64°F through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 50% of the time in January, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 54 min at the start of January to 10 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is El Cajon's 10th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see El Cajon's year-round climate.

Daytime high
64°
10th warmest
Overnight low
48°
2nd coldest
Rainfall
2.3 in
5.6 wet days
Daylight
10 h 06 min
6:55 AM – 4:59 PM
Cloud cover
44%
10th clearest
Wind
5 mph
5th windiest
Solar energy
3.33 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.8
out of 10

El Cajon is city in San Diego County, California, United States of America.

Density
2,774/km²
people per km²
Founded
1912

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in January

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 64°F through the month.

A typical January day in El Cajon reaches about 64°F in the afternoon and slips back to 48°F overnight — a 17°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 57°F and 74°F. Set against its neighbours, January runs on par with December and on par with February.

40°50°60°70°80°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
16447
26447
36447
46447
56447
66447
76447
86447
96447
106448
116448
126448
136448
146448
156448
166448
176448
186448
196448
206448
216448
226448
236448
246448
256448
266448
276448
286448
296448
306448
316448

El Cajon weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 10th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan64° / 48°2.35.610.16.8
Feb64° / 48°2.9710.86.3
Mar65° / 50°1.95.811.86.8
Apr68° / 53°0.93.912.87.6
May70° / 56°0.4213.78.2
Jun74° / 60°0.10.614.19.2
Jul79° / 64°0.10.713.98.9
Aug81° / 65°0.10.513.28.7
Sep80° / 64°0.20.912.28.8
Oct76° / 59°0.62.511.28.7
Nov70° / 53°0.93.310.37.9
Dec64° / 48°1.95.29.96.8

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 50% of the time in January.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 12% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 38%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16238
26238
36139
46139
56139
66139
76139
86139
96139
106139
116238
126238
136238
146238
156238
166238
176238
186238
196238
206337
216337
226337
236337
246238
256238
266238
276337
286337
296337
306337
316436

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

El Cajon gets around 2.3 in of rain over 5.6 wet days in January. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 18% and peaks near 19% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
118
219
319
419
519
619
719
819
919
1018
1118
1218
1317
1417
1517
1617
1716
1816
1916
2017
2117
2217
2317
2417
2517
2618
2718
2818
2918
3019
3119

Humidity in January

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of January feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, January lands in the dry band about 98% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)
1991
2991
3991
4982
5982
6982
7982
8982
9982
10982
11982
12982
13982
14982
15982
16982
17982
18982
19982
20982
21982
22991
23991
24991
25991
26991
27991
28991
29991
30991
31991

Wind in January

Winds average 5 mph in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 5 mph on the calmest days to 5 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
15calm
25calm
35calm
45calm
55calm
65calm
75calm
85calm
95calm
105calm
115calm
125calm
135calm
145calm
155calm
165calm
175calm
185calm
195calm
205calm
215calm
225calm
235calm
245calm
255calm
265calm
275calm
285calm
295calm
305calm
315calm

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 54 min at the start of January to 10 h 24 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 30 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 6:55 AM to 6:50 AM, and sunset from 4:47 PM to 5:13 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.96:554:47
29.96:554:48
39.96:554:49
49.96:554:49
59.96:564:50
69.96:564:51
79.96:564:52
89.96:564:52
910.06:564:53
1010.06:564:54
1110.06:564:55
1210.06:564:56
1310.06:564:56
1410.06:564:57
1510.06:554:58
1610.16:554:59
1710.16:555:00
1810.16:555:01
1910.16:555:02
2010.16:545:02
2110.26:545:03
2210.26:545:04
2310.26:545:05
2410.26:535:06
2510.26:535:07
2610.36:525:08
2710.36:525:09
2810.36:515:10
2910.36:515:11
3010.46:505:12
3110.46:505:13

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 3.33 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.14 kWh/m² to a high of 8.08 kWh/m² in June across the year — January's 3.33 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.2Moderate
23.2Moderate
33.2Moderate
43.2Moderate
53.2Moderate
63.2Moderate
73.2Moderate
83.2Moderate
93.2Moderate
103.2Moderate
113.3Moderate
123.3Moderate
133.3Moderate
143.3Moderate
153.3Moderate
163.3Moderate
173.4Moderate
183.4Moderate
193.4Moderate
203.4Moderate
213.5Moderate
223.5Moderate
233.5Moderate
243.5Moderate
253.6Moderate
263.6Moderate
273.6Moderate
283.7Moderate
293.7Moderate
303.7Moderate
313.8Moderate
Planning a trip in January

Is January a good time to visit El Cajon?

Our two travel scores rate January for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

6.8
Sightseeing
9th-best month of the year
2.2
Beach & pool
11th-best month of the year

January is a reasonable time to visit El Cajon for sightseeing.

What to pack for El Cajon in January

From January's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In January, El Cajon sees daytime highs around 64°F and nights near 48°F. Little to plan around — just the basics. About 6 days see rain.

Sea temperature near El Cajon in January

The nearest coast averages about 60°F in January — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 15 mi away) is warmest in August at about 70°F and coldest in February near 59°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 13 to Sep 28 — about 2.6 months when the water holds above 68°F.

60°65°70°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan60Cool
Feb59Cool
Mar60Cool
Apr61Cool
May63Cool
Jun65Cool
Jul68Refreshing
Aug70Refreshing
Sep69Refreshing
Oct67Cool
Nov64Cool
Dec61Cool

UV index in El Cajon in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 4 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in El Cajon peaks around June 22 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 17 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJun 22UV 11Dec 17UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan4Moderate
Feb5Moderate
Mar5High
Apr8Very high
May8Very high
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug11Extreme
Sep9Very high
Oct6High
Nov4Moderate
Dec3Moderate

Air quality in El Cajon in January

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where January falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in El Cajon is worst in September — around 26 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.4× the cleanest month (May, 8 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateSep 1625 µg/m³May 168 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Good
Feb12Moderate
Mar12Moderate
Apr11Good
May8Good
Jun11Good
Jul11Good
Aug15Moderate
Sep26Moderate
Oct14Moderate
Nov12Moderate
Dec16Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is El Cajon?

El Cajon sits at 32.8°N, 117.0°W, 436 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Bostonia, 1.9 mi away.

Topography around El Cajon

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of El Cajon.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around El Cajon has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 709 ft around an average of 548 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,720 ft; within 50 miles, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 6,450 ft.

The land around El Cajon is covered by artificial surfaces (79%) within 2 miles, artificial surfaces (34%) and shrubs (30%) within 10 miles, and shrubs (28%) and water (27%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
709 ft
10 miles
2,720 ft
50 miles
6,450 ft
treesshrubsgrasslandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
January weather nearby: Bostonia 1.9 mi · Casa de Oro-Mount Helix 1.9 mi · Winter Gardens 3.1 mi · Santee 3.1 mi · Rancho San Diego 3.7 mi · La Mesa 3.7 mi · Spring Valley 4.3 mi · Lakeside 5.0 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for El Cajon (32.7948°, -116.9625°, elevation 436 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).