Denali Park, AK weather in January
January in Denali Park: very cold and snowy. Highs 10°F, lows -6°F, rain or snow on about 8 days and about 9.6 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Denali Park. Pack for serious cold.
- Normal high
- 10°F
- Normal low
- -6°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 0.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 9.6 in
- snow on the ground 31 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 10°F | 14°F |
| Normal low | -6°F | -3°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 29% | 26% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 10:40 am / 3:17 pm | 9:35 am / 4:42 pm |
| Daylight | 4.6 h | 7.1 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Alaska Time).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°Fnot available
- 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 snow8 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in2 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below31 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more31 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 0.6 in; a dry January brings about 0.3 in and a wet one about 0.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 9.6 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202014: average high 31°F
- Coolest January2012: average high -10°F
- Wettest January2000: 1.7 in
- Driest January1995: 0.08 in
- Highest reading52°F (January 27, 2014)
- Lowest reading-43°F (January 31, 1999)
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 | 14°F | 10°F | 20°F |
| Normal low | -2°F | -6°F | -1°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | – | 0 |
| Daylight | 4.6 h | 5.7 h | 8.7 h |
Highs change by -4°F from December and +10°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Anchorage, AK177 mi · high 23°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: Fairbanks, AK84 mi · high 1°F · 9 wet days
How Denali Park ranks in January
- Normal high377th warmest of 378 cities; 7th of 8 in Alaska
- Wet days151st driest of 378
What to pack for Denali Park in January
- A warm jacket – lows near -6°F, highs near 10°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 8 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 31 days
- A hat and gloves – about 31 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1947 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Denali Park in January?
The normal high is 10°F and the normal low is -6°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -43°F (January 31, 1999).
Does it rain a lot in Denali Park in January?
About 8 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.6 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2000 (1.7 in); the driest was in 1995 (0.08 in).
Does it snow in Denali Park in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 9.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 31 days.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Mckinley Park (USC00505778), 2.0 mi WSW of the city center, 2,070 ft (340 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Nenana Municipal Airport (702600-26435), 57 mi N of the city center, 361 ft (1,369 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).