Big Bear Lake, CA weather in January
Big Bear Lake is chilly and snowy in January: highs average 46°F and nights drop to about 24°F. There are about 7 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 13.4 in. This is the depth of winter in Big Bear Lake. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 46°F
- Normal low
- 24°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 4.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 13.4 in
- normal snowfall
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 46°F | 46°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 23°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 21% | 20% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:53 am / 4:48 pm | 6:45 am / 5:16 pm |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 10.5 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Pacific Time).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow7 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below28 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 4.5 in; a dry January brings about 0.6 in and a wet one about 5.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 13.4 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202003: average high 57°F
- Coolest January2001: average high 39°F
- Wettest January1993: 21.1 in
- Driest January2020: 0.1 in
- Highest reading66°F (January 29, 2003)
- Lowest reading-7°F (January 3, 1993)
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 | 46°F | 46°F | 46°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 24°F | 24°F |
| Wet days | 5 | 7 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 10.2 h | 11.0 h |
Highs change by 0°F from December and 0°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: San Bernardino, CA24 mi · high 67°F · 7 wet days
- Drier: Palm Springs, CA35 mi · high 71°F · 3 wet days
How Big Bear Lake ranks in January
- Normal high214th warmest of 378 cities; 58th of 60 in California
- Wet days84th driest of 378
What to pack for Big Bear Lake in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 24°F, highs near 46°F
- Waterproof boots – about 13.4 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 28 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 935 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 15% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Big Bear Lake in January?
The normal high is 46°F and the normal low is 24°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -7°F (January 3, 1993).
Does it rain a lot in Big Bear Lake in January?
About 7 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.5 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1993 (21.2 in); the driest was in 2020 (0.1 in).
Does it snow in Big Bear Lake in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 13.4 in.
Is January a good time to visit Big Bear Lake?
January ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Big Bear Lake (40 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best month is September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and frost dates: Big Bear Lake (USC00040741), 0.3 mi W of the city center, 6,753 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: snow depth, humidity and wind by hour, cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).