Lancaster, CA weather in January
January in Lancaster: cool and mostly dry. Highs 59°F, lows 31°F, about 5 wet days. It is one of the coolest months in Lancaster.
- Normal high
- 59°F
- Normal low
- 31°F
- Wet days
- 5
- 1.5 in total
- Muggy days
- 0
- dew point 65°F+
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 57°F | 60°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 32°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 16% | 16% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 6:59 am / 4:52 pm | 6:51 am / 5:20 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).
A typical January day
- 6 am34°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 am42°Fdew point 28°F
- Noon54°Fdew point 28°F
- 3 pm57°Fdew point 27°F
- 6 pm49°Fdew point 28°F
- 9 pm42°Fdew point 28°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Lancaster Wm J Fox Fld (5 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 75% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 22%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F8 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 snow5 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below18 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in January
Normal precipitation is 1.5 in; a dry January brings about 0.2 in and a wet one about 1.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Snow is very rare.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202003: average high 66°F
- Coolest January1993: average high 52°F
- Wettest January1993: 7.5 in
- Driest January2003: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading78°F (January 31, 2003)
- Lowest reading3°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 | 58°F | 59°F | 62°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 31°F | 35°F |
| Wet days | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| Comfortable days | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 10.1 h | 10.9 h |
Highs change by +1°F from December and +3°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Santa Clarita, CA31 mi · high 70°F · 6 wet days
- Cooler: Big Bear Lake, CA77 mi · high 46°F · 7 wet days
How Lancaster ranks in January
- Normal high113th warmest of 378 cities; 36th of 60 in California
- Wet days38th driest of 378
- Comfortable days101st most of 339
What to pack for Lancaster in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 31°F, highs near 59°F
- Layers – afternoons near 59°F but nights near 31°F
- A hat and gloves – about 18 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 620 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 Lancaster in January?
The normal high is 59°F and the normal low is 31°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was 3°F (January 14, 2007).
Does it rain a lot in Lancaster in January?
About 5 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.5 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1993 (7.5 in); the driest was in 2003, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Lancaster in January?
Snow is very rare: the 1991-2020 normal for January rounds to 0.0 in.
Is January a good time to visit Lancaster?
January ranks 7th of 12 months on our comfort score for Lancaster (56 out of 100). It has about 8 comfortable days. The best months are March and April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Lancaster Wm J Fox Fld (USW00003159), 5.2 mi NW of the city center, 2,338 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Palmdale (USC00046624), 8.0 mi SSE of the city center, 2,612 ft (260 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: General William J. Fox Airfield Airport (723816-03159), 5.2 mi NW of the city center, 2,338 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.