South Bend, IN weather in January
South Bend is cold and snowy in January: highs average 31°F and nights drop to about 17°F. There are about 17 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 21.6 in. This is the depth of winter in South Bend. Pack for serious cold.
- Normal high
- 31°F
- Normal low
- 17°F
- Wet days
- 17
- 2.7 in total
- Snowfall
- 21.6 in
- snow on the ground 20 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 33°F | 31°F |
| Normal low | 19°F | 16°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 53% | 49% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 8:12 am / 5:25 pm | 7:57 am / 5:58 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 (Eastern Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am23°Fdew point 18°F
- 9 am23°Fdew point 18°F
- Noon27°Fdew point 20°F
- 3 pm29°Fdew point 21°F
- 6 pm27°Fdew point 20°F
- 9 pm26°Fdew point 20°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport (4 mi away); average wind 11 mph; clear or few clouds in 30% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 65%.
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 snow17 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below28 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 2.7 in; a dry January brings about 1.6 in and a wet one about 3.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 21.6 in, with about 7 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 42°F
- Coolest January1994: average high 24°F
- Wettest January2008: 5.3 in
- Driest January2001: 0.8 in
- Highest reading65°F (January 7, 2008)
- Lowest reading-21°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 | 36°F | 31°F | 35°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 17°F | 19°F |
| Wet days | 15 | 17 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 9.6 h | 10.6 h |
Highs change by -5°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Dayton, OH171 mi · high 36°F · 12 wet days
- Drier: Fort Wayne, IN70 mi · high 33°F · 13 wet days
- Cooler: Green Bay, WI215 mi · high 26°F · 11 wet days
How South Bend ranks in January
- Normal high335th warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 6 in Indiana
- Wet days353rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days286th most of 339
What to pack for South Bend in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 17°F, highs near 31°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 17 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 20 days
- A hat and gloves – about 28 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1268 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 South Bend in January?
The normal high is 31°F and the normal low is 17°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -21°F (January 19, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in South Bend in January?
About 17 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.7 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2008 (5.3 in); the driest was in 2001 (0.8 in).
Does it snow in South Bend in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 21.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 20 days.
Is January a good time to visit South Bend?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for South Bend (25 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, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: South Bend Michiana Rgnl Airport (USW00014848), 3.8 mi WNW of the city center, 773 ft (81 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: South Bend Regional Airport (725350-14848), 3.8 mi WNW of the city center, 772 ft (80 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.