Lexington, KY weather in January
In January, Lexington sees highs around 42°F and lows around 25°F: chilly, with frequent rain and some snow. Rain or snow falls on about 13 days. Snowfall averages about 4.7 in. It is one of the coldest months in Lexington.
- Normal high
- 42°F
- Normal low
- 25°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 3.4 in total
- Snowfall
- 4.7 in
- snow on the ground 4 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 43°F | 43°F |
| Normal low | 27°F | 25°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 42% | 41% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:54 am / 5:28 pm | 7:43 am / 5:59 pm |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 10.3 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 am30°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 am31°Fdew point 25°F
- Noon36°Fdew point 26°F
- 3 pm39°Fdew point 27°F
- 6 pm36°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 pm34°Fdew point 26°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Lexington Bluegrass Airport (8 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 40% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 57%.
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 snow13 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below23 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more4 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 3.4 in; a dry January brings about 2.4 in and a wet one about 4.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 4.7 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 51°F
- Coolest January1994: average high 33°F
- Wettest January1999: 5.8 in
- Driest January2003: 0.9 in
- Highest reading75°F (January 11, 2020)
- Lowest reading-20°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 | 46°F | 42°F | 47°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 25°F | 28°F |
| Wet days | 13 | 13 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 2 | 1 | 2 |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 9.9 h | 10.8 h |
Highs change by -4°F from December and +5°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Knoxville, TN147 mi · high 48°F · 12 wet days
- Cooler: Dayton, OH119 mi · high 36°F · 12 wet days
How Lexington ranks in January
- Normal high239th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 3 in Kentucky
- Wet days322nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days194th most of 339
What to pack for Lexington in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 25°F, highs near 42°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 13 days
- Waterproof boots – about 4.7 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 23 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 966 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 Lexington in January?
The normal high is 42°F and the normal low is 25°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -20°F (January 19, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Lexington in January?
About 13 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.4 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1999 (5.8 in); the driest was in 2003 (1.0 in).
Does it snow in Lexington in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 4.7 in, and snow covers the ground on about 4 days.
Is January a good time to visit Lexington?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Lexington (34 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: Lexington Bluegrass Airport (USW00093820), 8.0 mi W of the city center, 980 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Blue Grass Airport (724220-93820), 8.4 mi W of the city center, 962 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.