Sitka, AK weather in January
January in Sitka: cold, with rain on most days. Highs 41°F, lows 32°F, about 21 wet days. This is the depth of winter in Sitka. Keep rain gear handy.
- Normal high
- 41°F
- Normal low
- 32°F
- Wet days
- 21
- 8.2 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 40°F | 41°F |
| Normal low | 33°F | 32°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 68% | 66% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 8:39 am / 3:30 pm | 8:02 am / 4:27 pm |
| Daylight | 6.8 h | 8.4 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 am36°Fdew point 30°F
- 9 am36°Fdew point 30°F
- Noon38°Fdew point 31°F
- 3 pm38°Fdew point 31°F
- 6 pm37°Fdew point 31°F
- 9 pm36°Fdew point 30°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Sitka Airport (1 mi away); average wind 9 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 snow21 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in15 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below14 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in January
Normal precipitation is 8.2 in; a dry January brings about 5.7 in and a wet one about 9.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 6 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202014: average high 46°F
- Coolest January1996: average high 34°F
- Wettest January1999: 15.3 in
- Driest January1991: 4.4 in
- Highest reading63°F (January 14, 2018)
- Lowest reading5°F (January 17, 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 | 42°F | 41°F | 41°F |
| Normal low | 33°F | 32°F | 32°F |
| Wet days | 22 | 21 | 17 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 6.8 h | 7.5 h | 9.5 h |
Highs change by -1°F from December and 0°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Drier: Skagway, AK166 mi · high 31°F · 13 wet days
- Cooler: Juneau, AK93 mi · high 33°F · 20 wet days
How Sitka ranks in January
- Normal high246th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 8 in Alaska
- Wet days377th driest of 378
- Comfortable days271st most of 339
What to pack for Sitka in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 32°F, highs near 41°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 21 days
Heating and cooling
January has 885 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 12% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Sitka in January?
The normal high is 41°F and the normal low is 32°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was 5°F (January 17, 2012).
Does it rain a lot in Sitka in January?
About 21 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 8.2 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1999 (15.3 in); the driest was in 1991 (4.4 in).
Is January a good time to visit Sitka?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Sitka (24 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are June, July and August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Sitka Airport (USW00025333), 1.4 mi WSW of the city center, 14 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Sitka Rocky Gutierrez Arpt (703710-25333), 1.4 mi WSW of the city center, 20 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: snowfall, snow depth and cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).