Vail, CO weather in January
January in Vail: very cold and snowy. Highs 29°F, lows 7°F, rain or snow on about 12 days and about 35.3 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Vail. Pack for serious cold.
- Normal high
- 29°F
- Normal low
- 7°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 2.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 35.3 in
- snow on the ground 30 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 27°F | 30°F |
| Normal low | 6°F | 7°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 38% | 39% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:26 am / 4:51 pm | 7:14 am / 5:23 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).
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 snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below31 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more30 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 2.0 in; a dry January brings about 1.4 in and a wet one about 2.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 35.3 in, with about 10 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202003: average high 34°F
- Coolest January2008: average high 24°F
- Wettest January1996: 4.2 in
- Driest January2015: 0.6 in
- Highest reading48°F (January 16, 2000)
- Lowest reading-18°F (January 15, 2013)
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 | 28°F | 29°F | 33°F |
| Normal low | 7°F | 7°F | 9°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 12 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.4 h | 9.7 h | 10.7 h |
Highs change by +1°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Boulder, CO64 mi · high 47°F · 6 wet days
- Drier: Boulder, CO64 mi · high 47°F · 6 wet days
How Vail ranks in January
- Normal high356th warmest of 378 cities; 17th of 17 in Colorado
- Wet days313th driest of 378
What to pack for Vail in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 7°F, highs near 29°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 30 days
- A hat and gloves – about 31 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1471 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 Vail in January?
The normal high is 29°F and the normal low is 7°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -18°F (January 15, 2013).
Does it rain a lot in Vail in January?
About 12 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.0 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (4.2 in); the driest was in 2015 (0.6 in).
Does it snow in Vail in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 35.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 30 days.
Is January a good time to visit Vail?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Vail (21 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best months are June and August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and frost dates: Vail (USC00058575), 1.1 mi E of the city center, 8,304 ft (125 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snow depth: Dillon 1 E (USC00052281), 18 mi E of the city center, 9,065 ft (886 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).