Yosemite Valley, CA weather in January
January in Yosemite Valley: chilly, with some rain and some snow. Highs 48°F, lows 29°F, about 9 wet days and about 9.7 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Yosemite Valley.
- Normal high
- 48°F
- Normal low
- 29°F
- Wet days
- 9
- 7.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 9.7 in
- snow on the ground 10 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 46°F | 49°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 29°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 28% | 28% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:13 am / 4:50 pm | 7:03 am / 5:20 pm |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 10.3 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 snow9 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below25 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more10 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 7.0 in; a dry January brings about 1.9 in and a wet one about 10.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 9.7 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202014: average high 57°F
- Coolest January2017: average high 41°F
- Highest reading68°F (January 27, 2015)
- Lowest reading-7°F (January 1, 2009)
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 | 48°F | 51°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 29°F | 30°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 9.9 h | 10.8 h |
Highs change by +2°F from December and +3°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Fresno, CA70 mi · high 55°F · 8 wet days
- Drier: Furnace Creek, CA174 mi · high 67°F · 2 wet days
- Cooler: Mammoth Lakes, CA34 mi · high 41°F · 8 wet days
How Yosemite Valley ranks in January
- Normal high200th warmest of 378 cities; 57th of 60 in California
- Wet days162nd driest of 378
What to pack for Yosemite Valley in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 29°F, highs near 48°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 9 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 10 days
- A hat and gloves – about 25 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 837 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 Yosemite Valley in January?
The normal high is 48°F and the normal low is 29°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -7°F (January 1, 2009).
Does it rain a lot in Yosemite Valley in January?
About 9 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 7.0 in.
Does it snow in Yosemite Valley in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 9.7 in, and snow covers the ground on about 10 days.
Is January a good time to visit Yosemite Valley?
January ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Yosemite Valley (38 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Yosemite Park Hq (USC00049855), 0.8 mi NW of the city center, 4,018 ft (52 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Hetch Hetchy (USC00043939), 19 mi NW of the city center, 3,870 ft (96 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour, cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).