Bar Harbor, ME weather in January
Expect cold weather with frequent rain in Bar Harbor in January, with highs near 33°F and lows near 15°F. Rain falls on about 12 days. It is one of the coldest months in Bar Harbor. Dress for deep cold.
- Normal high
- 33°F
- Normal low
- 15°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 4.5 in total
- Daylight
- 9.3 h
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 34°F | 33°F |
| Normal low | 17°F | 15°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 41% | 36% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:08 am / 4:03 pm | 6:52 am / 4:40 pm |
| Daylight | 8.9 h | 9.8 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)0 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain (temperature and rain only)0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below29 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in January
Normal precipitation is 4.5 in; a dry January brings about 3.3 in and a wet one about 6.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 38°F
- Coolest January2003: average high 25°F
- Wettest January1992: 8.9 in
- Driest January2004: 0.8 in
- Highest reading57°F (January 9, 2008)
- Lowest reading-21°F (January 20, 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 | 38°F | 33°F | 35°F |
| Normal low | 22°F | 15°F | 18°F |
| Wet days | 14 | 12 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 8.9 h | 9.3 h | 10.5 h |
Highs change by -5°F from December and +2°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Quincy, MA204 mi · high 38°F · 12 wet days
- Cooler: Stowe, VT221 mi · high 26°F · 12 wet days
How Bar Harbor ranks in January
- Normal high317th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 5 in Maine
- Wet days314th driest of 378
What to pack for Bar Harbor in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 15°F, highs near 33°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 12 days
- A hat and gloves – about 29 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1277 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 Bar Harbor in January?
The normal high is 33°F and the normal low is 15°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -21°F (January 20, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Bar Harbor in January?
About 12 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.5 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1992 (8.9 in); the driest was in 2004 (0.8 in).
Is January a good time to visit Bar Harbor?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Bar Harbor (24 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best months are June, August and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Acadia NP (USC00170100), 2.9 mi WSW of the city center, 470 ft (416 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: snowfall, snow depth, humidity and wind by hour, cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).