Ketchikan, AK weather in January
January in Ketchikan: cold, with rain on most days and some snow. Highs 40°F, lows 32°F, about 22 wet days and about 7.0 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Ketchikan. Keep rain gear handy.
- Normal high
- 40°F
- Normal low
- 32°F
- Wet days
- 22
- 16.2 in total
- Snowfall
- 7.0 in
- snow on the ground 6 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 39°F | 40°F |
| Normal low | 31°F | 32°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 71% | 68% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 8:13 am / 3:26 pm | 7:40 am / 4:19 pm |
| Daylight | 7.2 h | 8.7 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Alaska Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am35°Fdew point 31°F
- 9 am35°Fdew point 32°F
- Noon37°Fdew point 32°F
- 3 pm37°Fdew point 32°F
- 6 pm36°Fdew point 32°F
- 9 pm35°Fdew point 32°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Ketchikan Intl Airport (3 mi away); average wind 8 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 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 snow22 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in17 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below15 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more6 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 16.2 in; a dry January brings about 12.6 in and a wet one about 19.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 11 days bring half an inch or more, and about 6 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 7.0 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202010: average high 45°F
- Coolest January1996: average high 32°F
- Wettest January2015: 31.0 in
- Driest January1995: 2.8 in
- Highest reading59°F (January 15, 2018)
- Lowest reading-2°F (January 19, 2012)
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 | 40°F | 40°F | 41°F |
| Normal low | 33°F | 32°F | 32°F |
| Wet days | 22 | 22 | 17 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 7.2 h | 7.8 h | 9.7 h |
Highs change by 0°F from December and +1°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Cooler: Juneau, AK230 mi · high 33°F · 20 wet days
How Ketchikan ranks in January
- Normal high259th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 8 in Alaska
- Wet days378th driest of 378
- Comfortable days270th most of 339
What to pack for Ketchikan in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 32°F, highs near 40°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 22 days
- Waterproof boots – about 7.0 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 15 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 911 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 13% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Ketchikan in January?
The normal high is 40°F and the normal low is 32°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -2°F (January 19, 2012).
Does it rain a lot in Ketchikan in January?
About 22 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 16.2 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (31.0 in); the driest was in 1995 (2.8 in).
Does it snow in Ketchikan in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 7.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 6 days.
Is January a good time to visit Ketchikan?
January ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Ketchikan (22 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are July and August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Ketchikan Intl Airport (USW00025325), 2.8 mi WNW of the city center, 76 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Annette Island Airport (USW00025308), 21 mi S of the city center, 109 ft (69 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Ketchikan Intl Airport (703950-25325), 3.2 mi WNW of the city center, 84 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).