Indianapolis, IN weather in January
January in Indianapolis: cold, with frequent rain and some snow. Highs 36°F, lows 21°F, rain or snow on about 12 days and about 8.8 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Indianapolis.
- Normal high
- 36°F
- Normal low
- 21°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 3.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 8.8 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 | 23°F | 21°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 40% | 37% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 8:05 am / 5:30 pm | 7:53 am / 6:02 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 (Eastern Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am26°Fdew point 21°F
- 9 am26°Fdew point 21°F
- Noon31°Fdew point 23°F
- 3 pm33°Fdew point 23°F
- 6 pm31°Fdew point 23°F
- 9 pm29°Fdew point 23°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Indianapolis (9 mi away); average wind 11 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 snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below26 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 3.1 in; a dry January brings about 1.9 in and a wet one about 4.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 8.8 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 48°F
- Coolest January1994: average high 30°F
- Wettest January2005: 9.4 in
- Driest January2001: 0.7 in
- Highest reading68°F (January 7, 2008)
- Lowest reading-27°F (January 19, 1994)
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 | 36°F | 41°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 21°F | 24°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 12 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Daylight | 9.4 h | 9.7 h | 10.7 h |
Highs change by -4°F from December and +5°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Louisville, KY114 mi · high 44°F · 11 wet days
- Drier: Aurora, IL178 mi · high 31°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Joliet, IL158 mi · high 31°F · 11 wet days
How Indianapolis ranks in January
- Normal high291st warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 6 in Indiana
- Wet days317th driest of 378
- Comfortable days222nd most of 339
What to pack for Indianapolis in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 21°F, highs near 36°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 11 days
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1131 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 Indianapolis in January?
The normal high is 36°F and the normal low is 21°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -27°F (January 19, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Indianapolis in January?
About 12 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.1 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2005 (9.4 in); the driest was in 2001 (0.7 in).
Does it snow in Indianapolis in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 8.8 in, and snow covers the ground on about 11 days.
Is January a good time to visit Indianapolis?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Indianapolis (29 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 and humidity and wind by hour: Indianapolis (USW00093819), 8.6 mi SW of the city center, 790 ft (72 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Indianapolis International Airport (724380-93819), 8.1 mi WSW of the city center, 792 ft (74 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).