Birmingham, AL weather in January
January in Birmingham: cool, with frequent rain. Highs 55°F, lows 35°F, rain on about 11 days. It is one of the coolest months in Birmingham.
- Normal high
- 55°F
- Normal low
- 35°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 5.0 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 54°F | 56°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 35°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 35% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:51 am / 4:50 pm | 6:44 am / 5:17 pm |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 10.6 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am39°Fdew point 33°F
- 9 am43°Fdew point 34°F
- Noon50°Fdew point 34°F
- 3 pm52°Fdew point 33°F
- 6 pm47°Fdew point 34°F
- 9 pm44°Fdew point 34°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Birmingham Airport (5 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 42% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 50%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F5 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Muggy daysdaily mean dew point 65°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below15 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 5.0 in; a dry January brings about 3.2 in and a wet one about 6.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.4 in.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202017: average high 62°F
- Coolest January2014: average high 48°F
- Wettest January1996: 9.6 in
- Driest January2018: 1.4 in
- Highest reading78°F (January 13, 2017)
- Lowest reading7°F (January 7, 2014)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
January compared with December and February
| December | January | February | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 57°F | 55°F | 59°F |
| Normal low | 38°F | 35°F | 38°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 11 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 7 | 5 | 9 |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 10.2 h | 11.0 h |
Highs change by -2°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Montgomery, AL85 mi · high 60°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Murfreesboro, TN162 mi · high 48°F · 12 wet days
How Birmingham ranks in January
- Normal high159th warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 6 in Alabama
- Wet days240th driest of 378
- Comfortable days123rd most of 339
What to pack for Birmingham in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 35°F, highs near 55°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 11 days
Heating and cooling
January has 631 heating degree days and 2 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 13% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Birmingham in January?
The normal high is 55°F and the normal low is 35°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was 7°F (most recently on January 7, 2014).
Does it rain a lot in Birmingham in January?
About 11 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 5.0 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (9.6 in); the driest was in 2018 (1.4 in).
Does it snow in Birmingham in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 0.4 in.
Is January a good time to visit Birmingham?
January ranks 9th of 12 months on our comfort score for Birmingham (47 out of 100). It has about 5 comfortable days. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Birmingham Airport (USW00013876), 4.5 mi NE of the city center, 615 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Birmingham International Airport (722280-13876), 4.5 mi NE of the city center, 616 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.