Estes Park, CO weather in January
In January, Estes Park sees highs around 40°F and lows around 21°F: cold and snowy. Rain or snow falls on about 6 days. Snowfall averages about 15.1 in. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 40°F
- Normal low
- 21°F
- Wet days
- 6
- 0.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 15.1 in
- snow on the ground 14 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 40°F | 40°F |
| Normal low | 20°F | 20°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 22% | 24% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:25 am / 4:46 pm | 7:12 am / 5:18 pm |
| Daylight | 9.3 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).
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 snow6 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in2 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below27 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more14 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 0.3 in and a wet one about 1.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 15.1 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202003: average high 47°F
- Coolest January2008: average high 35°F
- Wettest January2017: 2.3 in
- Driest January2003: 0.08 in
- Highest reading67°F (January 28, 2015)
- Lowest reading-21°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 | 40°F | 40°F | 40°F |
| Normal low | 20°F | 21°F | 20°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 6 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.3 h | 9.7 h | 10.7 h |
Highs change by 0°F from December and 0°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Boulder, CO28 mi · high 47°F · 6 wet days
- Cooler: Breckenridge, CO68 mi · high 30°F · 13 wet days
How Estes Park ranks in January
- Normal high248th warmest of 378 cities; 12th of 17 in Colorado
- Wet days78th driest of 378
What to pack for Estes Park in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 21°F, highs near 40°F
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 14 days
- A hat and gloves – about 27 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1070 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Estes Park in January?
The normal high is 40°F and the normal low is 21°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -21°F (most recently on January 13, 1997).
Does it rain a lot in Estes Park 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 2017 (2.3 in); the driest was in 2003 (0.08 in).
Does it snow in Estes Park in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 15.1 in, and snow covers the ground on about 14 days.
Is January a good time to visit Estes Park?
January ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Estes Park (36 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, snowfall and snow depth: Buckhorn Mtn 1 E (USC00051060), 20 mi NE of the city center, 7,400 ft (129 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain and frost dates: Estes Park 3 Sse (USC00052761), 2.0 mi S of the city center, 7,812 ft (283 ft higher 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).