Chico, CA weather in January
In January, Chico sees highs around 57°F and lows around 38°F: cool, with frequent rain. Rain falls on about 12 days. It is one of the coolest months in Chico.
- Normal high
- 57°F
- Normal low
- 38°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 4.5 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 56°F | 59°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 39°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 36% | 36% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:28 am / 4:53 pm | 7:16 am / 5:25 pm |
| Daylight | 9.4 h | 10.2 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 am41°Fdew point 36°F
- 9 am44°Fdew point 38°F
- Noon52°Fdew point 39°F
- 3 pm56°Fdew point 38°F
- 6 pm50°Fdew point 39°F
- 9 pm45°Fdew point 38°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Red Bluff Muni Airport (37 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 56% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 41%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F5 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 snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below5 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in January
Normal precipitation is 4.5 in; a dry January brings about 1.5 in and a wet one about 6.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Snow is very rare.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202014: average high 70°F
- Coolest January2008: average high 52°F
- Wettest January2010: 9.4 in
- Driest January2014: 0.01 in
- Highest reading81°F (January 17, 2014)
- Lowest reading22°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 | 57°F | 57°F | 62°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 38°F | 40°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 12 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 4 | 5 | 10 |
| Daylight | 9.4 h | 9.7 h | 10.7 h |
Highs change by 0°F from December and +5°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Salinas, CA211 mi · high 62°F · 9 wet days
- Drier: Reno, NV109 mi · high 48°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Incline Village, NV105 mi · high 40°F · 11 wet days
How Chico ranks in January
- Normal high139th warmest of 378 cities; 48th of 60 in California
- Wet days300th driest of 378
- Comfortable days130th most of 339
What to pack for Chico in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 38°F, highs near 57°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 12 days
Heating and cooling
January has 550 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 Chico in January?
The normal high is 57°F and the normal low is 38°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was 22°F (most recently on January 17, 2012).
Does it rain a lot in Chico in January?
About 12 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 2010 (9.4 in); the driest was in 2014 (0.01 in).
Does it snow in Chico in January?
Snow is very rare: the 1991-2020 normal for January rounds to 0.0 in.
Is January a good time to visit Chico?
January ranks 8th of 12 months on our comfort score for Chico (46 out of 100). It has about 5 comfortable days. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Orland (USC00046506), 19 mi W of the city center, 254 ft (56 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Chico Univ Farm (USC00041715), 2.7 mi SSE of the city center, 185 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Red Bluff Muni Airport (USW00024216), 37 mi NW of the city center, 353 ft (155 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Red Bluff Municipal Arpt (725910-24216), 37 mi NW of the city center, 355 ft (157 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.