Atlanta, GA weather in January
January in Atlanta: chilly, with frequent rain. Highs 54°F, lows 36°F, about 11 wet days and about 1.0 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Atlanta.
- Normal high
- 54°F
- Normal low
- 36°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 4.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.0 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 54°F | 55°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 36°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 37% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:42 am / 5:39 pm | 7:34 am / 6:07 pm |
| Daylight | 10.0 h | 10.5 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am39°Fdew point 32°F
- 9 am40°Fdew point 32°F
- Noon47°Fdew point 33°F
- 3 pm52°Fdew point 33°F
- 6 pm49°Fdew point 32°F
- 9 pm45°Fdew point 33°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Atlanta Hartsfield Intl Airport (9 mi away); average wind 9 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F5 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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below13 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 4.6 in; a dry January brings about 3.3 in and a wet one about 5.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.0 in.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202017: average high 61°F
- Coolest January2010: average high 47°F
- Wettest January1996: 8.3 in
- Driest January2003: 2.0 in
- Highest reading78°F (January 31, 2002)
- Lowest reading6°F (January 7, 2014)
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 | 56°F | 54°F | 58°F |
| Normal low | 38°F | 36°F | 39°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 11 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 6 | 5 | 8 |
| Daylight | 9.9 h | 10.2 h | 11.0 h |
Highs change by -2°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Macon, GA76 mi · high 59°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Gatlinburg, TN145 mi · high 47°F · 15 wet days
How Atlanta ranks in January
- Normal high161st warmest of 378 cities; 7th of 8 in Georgia
- Wet days280th driest of 378
- Comfortable days133rd most of 339
What to pack for Atlanta in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 36°F, highs near 54°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
Heating and cooling
January has 627 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Atlanta in January?
The normal high is 54°F and the normal low is 36°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was 6°F (most recently on January 7, 2014).
Does it rain a lot in Atlanta in January?
About 11 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.6 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (8.3 in); the driest was in 2003 (2.0 in).
Does it snow in Atlanta in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 1.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is January a good time to visit Atlanta?
January ranks 10th of 12 months on our comfort score for Atlanta (46 out of 100). It has about 5 comfortable days. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Atlanta Hartsfield Intl Airport (USW00013874), 8.8 mi SSW of the city center, 1,010 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Intl Airport (722190-13874), 8.8 mi SSW of the city center, 1,011 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).