Denver, CO weather in January
January in Denver: chilly and mostly dry, with some snow. Highs 47°F, lows 18°F, about 5 wet days and about 6.4 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Denver.
- Normal high
- 47°F
- Normal low
- 18°F
- Wet days
- 5
- 0.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 6.4 in
- snow on the ground 10 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 46°F | 46°F |
| Normal low | 17°F | 18°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 16% | 17% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:21 am / 4:45 pm | 7:08 am / 5:18 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 (Mountain Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am26°Fdew point 14°F
- 9 am31°Fdew point 15°F
- Noon40°Fdew point 16°F
- 3 pm41°Fdew point 16°F
- 6 pm33°Fdew point 16°F
- 9 pm29°Fdew point 16°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Aurora Buckley Fld ANGB (13 mi away); average wind 8 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 snow5 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in2 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below30 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 0.5 in; a dry January brings about 0.2 in and a wet one about 0.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 6.4 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202003: average high 53°F
- Coolest January2007: average high 35°F
- Wettest January2019: 1.2 in
- Driest January2003: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading74°F (January 28, 2015)
- Lowest reading-12°F (January 7, 2017)
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 | 18°F | 18°F | 19°F |
| Wet days | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 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, CO52 mi · high 40°F · 6 wet days
How Denver ranks in January
- Normal high210th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 17 in Colorado
- Wet days43rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days196th most of 339
What to pack for Denver in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 18°F, highs near 47°F
- Layers – afternoons near 47°F but nights near 18°F
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 10 days
- A hat and gloves – about 30 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1022 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 Denver in January?
The normal high is 47°F and the normal low is 18°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -12°F (most recently on January 7, 2017).
Does it rain a lot in Denver in January?
About 5 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.5 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2019 (1.2 in); the driest was in 2003, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Denver in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 6.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 10 days.
Is January a good time to visit Denver?
January ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Denver (41 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: Denver-Stapleton (USW00023062), 6.3 mi ENE of the city center, 5,286 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Aurora Buckley Fld ANGB (USW00023036), 13 mi E of the city center, 5,663 ft (387 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Buckley Air Force Base (724695-23036), 13 mi E of the city center, 5,663 ft (387 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.