Rockford, IL weather in January
Rockford is very cold and snowy in January: highs average 29°F and nights drop to about 15°F. Expect about 10 wet days. Snowfall averages about 10.9 in. This is the depth of winter in Rockford. Pack for serious cold.
- Normal high
- 29°F
- Normal low
- 15°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 1.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 10.9 in
- snow on the ground 20 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 30°F | 29°F |
| Normal low | 16°F | 14°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 32% | 31% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:25 am / 4:34 pm | 7:10 am / 5:08 pm |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 10.0 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am19°Fdew point 14°F
- 9 am20°Fdew point 15°F
- Noon25°Fdew point 17°F
- 3 pm27°Fdew point 18°F
- 6 pm24°Fdew point 17°F
- 9 pm22°Fdew point 16°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Rockford Gtr Rockford Airport (5 mi away); average wind 10 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 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 snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below29 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more20 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 1.6 in; a dry January brings about 0.9 in and a wet one about 2.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 10.9 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 40°F
- Coolest January1994: average high 21°F
- Wettest January2005: 3.3 in
- Driest January2003: 0.3 in
- Highest reading63°F (January 7, 2008)
- Lowest reading-31°F (January 31, 2019)
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 | 34°F | 29°F | 33°F |
| Normal low | 20°F | 15°F | 18°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 9.5 h | 10.6 h |
Highs change by -5°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Springfield, IL173 mi · high 36°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Rochester, MN209 mi · high 23°F · 9 wet days
How Rockford ranks in January
- Normal high353rd warmest of 378 cities; 7th of 8 in Illinois
- Wet days216th driest of 378
- Comfortable days282nd most of 339
What to pack for Rockford in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 15°F, highs near 29°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 20 days
- A hat and gloves – about 29 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1339 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 18% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Rockford in January?
The normal high is 29°F and the normal low is 15°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -31°F (January 31, 2019).
Does it rain a lot in Rockford in January?
About 10 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.6 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2005 (3.3 in); the driest was in 2003 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Rockford in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 10.9 in, and snow covers the ground on about 20 days.
Is January a good time to visit Rockford?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Rockford (26 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Rockford Gtr Rockford Airport (USW00094822), 5.4 mi S of the city center, 730 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Greater Rockford Airport (725430-94822), 5.4 mi S of the city center, 725 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).