Tuscaloosa, AL weather in January
January in Tuscaloosa: cool, with frequent rain. Highs 56°F, lows 36°F, about 11 wet days. It is one of the coolest months in Tuscaloosa.
- Normal high
- 56°F
- Normal low
- 36°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 5.4 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 56°F | 57°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 36°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 35% | 34% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:53 am / 4:53 pm | 6:46 am / 5:20 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 34°F
- 9 am44°Fdew point 36°F
- Noon51°Fdew point 36°F
- 3 pm54°Fdew point 35°F
- 6 pm49°Fdew point 36°F
- 9 pm45°Fdew point 36°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Tuscaloosa Muni Airport (3 mi away); average wind 6 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°F7 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
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in January
Normal precipitation is 5.4 in; a dry January brings about 3.6 in and a wet one about 7.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more. Snow is very rare.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 64°F
- Coolest January1994: average high 50°F
- Wettest January2019: 9.9 in
- Driest January2018: 1.2 in
- Highest reading80°F (January 17, 2017)
- Lowest reading9°F (January 30, 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 | 58°F | 56°F | 60°F |
| Normal low | 38°F | 36°F | 39°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 11 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 8 | 7 | 11 |
| 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: Mobile, AL176 mi · high 62°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Murfreesboro, TN194 mi · high 48°F · 12 wet days
How Tuscaloosa ranks in January
- Normal high150th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 6 in Alabama
- Wet days241st driest of 378
- Comfortable days110th most of 339
What to pack for Tuscaloosa in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 36°F, highs near 56°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 11 days
- A hat and gloves – about 15 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 600 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 Tuscaloosa in January?
The normal high is 56°F and the normal low is 36°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was 9°F (most recently on January 30, 2014).
Does it rain a lot in Tuscaloosa in January?
About 11 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 5.4 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2019 (9.9 in); the driest was in 2018 (1.2 in).
Does it snow in Tuscaloosa in January?
Snow is very rare: the 1991-2020 normal for January rounds to 0.0 in.
Is January a good time to visit Tuscaloosa?
January ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Tuscaloosa (50 out of 100). It has about 7 comfortable days. The best months are March and April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Tuscaloosa Muni Airport (USW00093806), 2.7 mi W of the city center, 150 ft (75 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall and snow depth: Tuscaloosa Oliver Dam (USC00018385), 1.4 mi W of the city center, 152 ft (73 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Birmingham Airport (USW00013876), 54 mi ENE of the city center, 615 ft (390 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Tuscaloosa Municipal Arpt (722286-93806), 2.7 mi W of the city center, 149 ft (76 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.