Seward, AK weather in January
January in Seward: cold and snowy. Highs 31°F, lows 21°F, rain or snow on about 14 days and about 17.2 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Seward. Pack for serious cold.
- Normal high
- 31°F
- Normal low
- 21°F
- Wet days
- 14
- 6.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 17.2 in
- snow on the ground 31 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 32°F | 32°F |
| Normal low | 22°F | 22°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 45% | 47% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 10:00 am / 4:01 pm | 9:14 am / 5:08 pm |
| Daylight | 6.0 h | 7.9 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 (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)0 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain (temperature and rain only)0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow14 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in10 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below26 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 6.5 in; a dry January brings about 3.6 in and a wet one about 8.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 17.2 in, with about 6 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202016: average high 41°F
- Coolest January2020: average high 19°F
- Wettest January2001: 22.3 in
- Driest January2020: 0.6 in
- Highest reading61°F (January 27, 2014)
- Lowest reading-7°F (January 1, 1997)
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 | 33°F | 31°F | 34°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 21°F | 24°F |
| Wet days | 16 | 14 | 14 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 6.0 h | 6.8 h | 9.2 h |
Highs change by -2°F from December and +3°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Drier: Anchorage, AK79 mi · high 23°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: Anchorage, AK79 mi · high 23°F · 8 wet days
How Seward ranks in January
- Normal high333rd warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 8 in Alaska
- Wet days336th driest of 378
What to pack for Seward in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 21°F, highs near 31°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 14 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 31 days
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1203 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 Seward in January?
The normal high is 31°F and the normal low is 21°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -7°F (January 1, 1997).
Does it rain a lot in Seward in January?
About 14 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 6.5 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2001 (22.3 in); the driest was in 2020 (0.6 in).
Does it snow in Seward in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 17.2 in, and snow covers the ground on about 31 days.
Is January a good time to visit Seward?
January ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Seward (20 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best months are June, July and August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Seward Airport (USW00026438), 1.9 mi NNE of the city center, 22 ft (67 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Seward 19N (USC00508377), 18 mi N of the city center, 518 ft (429 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour, cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).