Bakersfield, CA weather in January
Expect cool weather with some rain in Bakersfield in January, with highs near 59°F and lows near 41°F. Rain falls on about 6 days. It is one of the coolest months in Bakersfield.
- Normal high
- 59°F
- Normal low
- 41°F
- Wet days
- 6
- 1.2 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 57°F | 61°F |
| Normal low | 40°F | 42°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 21% | 20% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:05 am / 4:54 pm | 6:56 am / 5:22 pm |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 10.4 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Pacific Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am43°Fdew point 38°F
- 9 am47°Fdew point 40°F
- Noon54°Fdew point 41°F
- 3 pm57°Fdew point 41°F
- 6 pm52°Fdew point 42°F
- 9 pm48°Fdew point 41°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Bakersfield Airport (5 mi away); average wind 5 mph; clear or few clouds in 56% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 40%.
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 snow6 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below4 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 1.2 in; a dry January brings about 0.5 in and a wet one about 1.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.1 in.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202014: average high 68°F
- Coolest January1992: average high 51°F
- Wettest January1999: 3.9 in
- Driest January2003: 0.01 in
- Highest reading82°F (January 2, 2012)
- Lowest reading23°F (January 14, 2007)
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 | 59°F | 59°F | 64°F |
| Normal low | 40°F | 41°F | 43°F |
| Wet days | 6 | 6 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 6 | 7 | 13 |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 10.1 h | 10.9 h |
Highs change by 0°F from December and +5°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Santa Clarita, CA73 mi · high 70°F · 6 wet days
- Drier: Furnace Creek, CA142 mi · high 67°F · 2 wet days
- Cooler: Big Bear Lake, CA143 mi · high 46°F · 7 wet days
How Bakersfield ranks in January
- Normal high119th warmest of 378 cities; 39th of 60 in California
- Wet days75th driest of 378
- Comfortable days118th most of 339
Frost in January
The last spring frost typically comes around Jan 17; in 1 year in 10 it comes after Feb 18. All frost dates for Bakersfield.
Heating and cooling
January has 481 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 11% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Bakersfield in January?
The normal high is 59°F and the normal low is 41°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was 23°F (most recently on January 14, 2007).
Does it rain a lot in Bakersfield in January?
About 6 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.2 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1999 (3.9 in); the driest was in 2003 (0.01 in).
Does it snow in Bakersfield in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 0.1 in.
Is January a good time to visit Bakersfield?
January ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Bakersfield (53 out of 100). It has about 7 comfortable days. The best months are March and April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Bakersfield Airport (USW00023155), 4.7 mi NNW of the city center, 489 ft (85 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Meadows Field Airport (723840-23155), 4.7 mi NNW of the city center, 490 ft (86 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.