Portland, ME weather in January
Expect cold, snowy weather in Portland in January, with highs near 32°F and lows near 16°F. Rain or snow falls on about 11 days. Snowfall averages about 18.6 in. It is one of the coldest months in Portland. Dress for deep cold.
- Normal high
- 32°F
- Normal low
- 16°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 3.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 18.6 in
- snow on the ground 23 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 34°F | 32°F |
| Normal low | 18°F | 15°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 39% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:14 am / 4:14 pm | 6:58 am / 4:50 pm |
| Daylight | 9.0 h | 9.9 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 am20°Fdew point 13°F
- 9 am22°Fdew point 13°F
- Noon28°Fdew point 15°F
- 3 pm30°Fdew point 16°F
- 6 pm27°Fdew point 15°F
- 9 pm24°Fdew point 14°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Portland Intl Jetport (2 mi away); average wind 8 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below29 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more23 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 3.5 in; a dry January brings about 2.9 in and a wet one about 4.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 18.6 in, with about 5 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202020: average high 38°F
- Coolest January2004: average high 23°F
- Wettest January1999: 6.0 in
- Driest January2004: 0.3 in
- Highest reading67°F (January 6, 2007)
- Lowest reading-18°F (January 27, 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 | 32°F | 35°F |
| Normal low | 22°F | 16°F | 17°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 11 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.0 h | 9.4 h | 10.5 h |
Highs change by -6°F from December and +3°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Quincy, MA104 mi · high 38°F · 12 wet days
- Cooler: Stowe, VT133 mi · high 26°F · 12 wet days
How Portland ranks in January
- Normal high318th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 5 in Maine
- Wet days286th driest of 378
- Comfortable days292nd most of 339
What to pack for Portland in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 16°F, highs near 32°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 23 days
- A hat and gloves – about 29 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1271 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 Portland in January?
The normal high is 32°F and the normal low is 16°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -18°F (January 27, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Portland in January?
About 11 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.5 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1999 (6.0 in); the driest was in 2004 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Portland in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 18.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 23 days.
Is January a good time to visit Portland?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Portland (24 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Portland Intl Jetport (USW00014764), 2.4 mi WSW of the city center, 45 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Portland International Jetport Airport (726060-14764), 2.8 mi WSW of the city center, 44 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).