Boulder, CO weather in January
In January, Boulder sees highs around 47°F and lows around 22°F: chilly and snowy. Expect about 6 wet days. Snowfall averages about 11.3 in. It is one of the coldest months in Boulder. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 47°F
- Normal low
- 22°F
- Wet days
- 6
- 0.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 11.3 in
- snow on the ground 13 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 46°F | 47°F |
| Normal low | 21°F | 21°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 18% | 21% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:23 am / 4:46 pm | 7:10 am / 5:18 pm |
| Daylight | 9.4 h | 10.1 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Mountain Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am25°Fdew point 13°F
- 9 am31°Fdew point 15°F
- Noon40°Fdew point 16°F
- 3 pm41°Fdew point 16°F
- 6 pm32°Fdew point 16°F
- 9 pm29°Fdew point 15°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Denver Intl Airport (35 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 36% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 48%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F1 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 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below27 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more13 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 0.8 in; a dry January brings about 0.4 in and a wet one about 1.1 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 11.3 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202003: average high 54°F
- Coolest January1993: average high 39°F
- Wettest January1996: 2.2 in
- Driest January2020: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading73°F (January 20, 2005)
- Lowest reading-12°F (January 13, 1997)
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 | 47°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 21°F | 22°F | 22°F |
| Wet days | 5 | 6 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Daylight | 9.4 h | 9.7 h | 10.7 h |
Highs change by +1°F from December and +1°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Cooler: Estes Park, CO28 mi · high 40°F · 6 wet days
How Boulder ranks in January
- Normal high206th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 17 in Colorado
- Wet days56th driest of 378
- Comfortable days190th most of 339
What to pack for Boulder in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 22°F, highs near 47°F
- Layers – afternoons near 47°F but nights near 22°F
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 13 days
- A hat and gloves – about 27 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 953 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 16% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Boulder in January?
The normal high is 47°F and the normal low is 22°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -12°F (January 13, 1997).
Does it rain a lot in Boulder in January?
About 6 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.8 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (2.2 in); the driest was in 2020, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Boulder in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 11.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 13 days.
Is January a good time to visit Boulder?
January ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Boulder (42 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Boulder (USC00050848), 1.6 mi S of the city center, 5,484 ft (165 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Denver Intl Airport (USW00003017), 35 mi ESE of the city center, 5,414 ft (95 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Aurora Buckley Fld ANGB (USW00023036), 35 mi SE of the city center, 5,663 ft (344 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Denver International Airport (725650-03017), 35 mi ESE of the city center, 5,404 ft (85 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.