Topeka, KS weather in January
Topeka is cold and mostly dry in January, with some snow: highs average 40°F and nights drop to about 20°F. There are about 6 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 4.6 in. This is the depth of winter in Topeka.
- Normal high
- 40°F
- Normal low
- 20°F
- Wet days
- 6
- 0.9 in total
- Snowfall
- 4.6 in
- snow on the ground 7 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 40°F | 42°F |
| Normal low | 21°F | 21°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 19% | 19% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:41 am / 5:10 pm | 7:30 am / 5:42 pm |
| Daylight | 9.5 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 am27°Fdew point 20°F
- Noon35°Fdew point 22°F
- 3 pm38°Fdew point 22°F
- 6 pm34°Fdew point 22°F
- 9 pm30°Fdew point 21°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Topeka Muni Airport (3 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 62% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 36%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F1 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 snow6 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in2 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below28 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more7 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 0.9 in; a dry January brings about 0.5 in and a wet one about 1.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 4.6 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 53°F
- Coolest January2010: average high 31°F
- Wettest January2005: 2.5 in
- Driest January2012: 0.02 in
- Highest reading78°F (January 28, 2015)
- Lowest reading-10°F (January 2, 2001)
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 | 44°F | 40°F | 46°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 20°F | 24°F |
| Wet days | 6 | 6 | 6 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Daylight | 9.5 h | 9.8 h | 10.8 h |
Highs change by -4°F from December and +6°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Tulsa, OK201 mi · high 49°F · 6 wet days
- Cooler: Omaha, NE153 mi · high 34°F · 7 wet days
How Topeka ranks in January
- Normal high249th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 3 in Kansas
- Wet days61st driest of 378
- Comfortable days197th most of 339
What to pack for Topeka in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 20°F, highs near 40°F
- Waterproof boots – about 4.6 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 28 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1079 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 17% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Topeka in January?
The normal high is 40°F and the normal low is 20°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -10°F (January 2, 2001).
Does it rain a lot in Topeka in January?
About 6 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.9 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2005 (2.5 in); the driest was in 2012 (0.02 in).
Does it snow in Topeka in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 4.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 7 days.
Is January a good time to visit Topeka?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Topeka (36 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best months are April, May and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Topeka Muni Airport (USW00013996), 3.2 mi ENE of the city center, 876 ft (72 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Philip Billard Municipal Airport (724560-13996), 3.2 mi ENE of the city center, 880 ft (68 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.