Springfield, IL weather in January
In January, Springfield sees highs around 36°F and lows around 20°F: cold, with some rain and some snow. Rain or snow falls on about 10 days. Snowfall averages about 6.7 in. It is one of the coldest months in Springfield.
- Normal high
- 36°F
- Normal low
- 20°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 2.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 6.7 in
- snow on the ground 11 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 37°F | 37°F |
| Normal low | 22°F | 20°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 30% | 30% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:19 am / 4:44 pm | 7:07 am / 5:16 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 (Central Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am25°Fdew point 19°F
- 9 am26°Fdew point 20°F
- Noon31°Fdew point 22°F
- 3 pm33°Fdew point 23°F
- 6 pm30°Fdew point 22°F
- 9 pm28°Fdew point 21°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Springfield Capital Airport (4 mi away); average wind 11 mph; clear or few clouds in 49% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 47%.
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 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below27 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more11 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 1.1 in and a wet one about 2.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 6.7 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 46°F
- Coolest January2010: average high 28°F
- Wettest January2005: 5.5 in
- Driest January2018: 0.5 in
- Highest reading69°F (January 7, 2008)
- Lowest reading-21°F (January 5, 1999)
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 | 41°F | 36°F | 41°F |
| Normal low | 25°F | 20°F | 24°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Daylight | 9.4 h | 9.7 h | 10.7 h |
Highs change by -5°F from December and +5°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Evansville, IN169 mi · high 42°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Aurora, IL152 mi · high 31°F · 9 wet days
How Springfield ranks in January
- Normal high293rd warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 8 in Illinois
- Wet days197th driest of 378
- Comfortable days226th most of 339
What to pack for Springfield in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 20°F, highs near 36°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 11 days
- A hat and gloves – about 27 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1150 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 Springfield in January?
The normal high is 36°F and the normal low is 20°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -21°F (January 5, 1999).
Does it rain a lot in Springfield in January?
About 10 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 2005 (5.6 in); the driest was in 2018 (0.5 in).
Does it snow in Springfield in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 6.7 in, and snow covers the ground on about 11 days.
Is January a good time to visit Springfield?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Springfield (30 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Springfield Capital Airport (USW00093822), 3.7 mi NW of the city center, 594 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport (724390-93822), 3.7 mi NW of the city center, 590 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.