Climateby Month

Quincy, MA weather in January

NOAA 1991-2020 normals and daily records · Quincy all year

Quincy is cold and snowy in January: highs average 38°F and nights drop to about 22°F. There are about 12 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 14.3 in. This is the depth of winter in Quincy. Expect snow on the ground at times.

Normal high
38°F
Normal low
22°F
Wet days
12
3.4 in total
Snowfall
14.3 in
snow on the ground 15 days

How January changes from start to finish

Normal values at the start and end of January
January 1January 31
Normal high39°F38°F
Normal low24°F21°F
Chance of a wet day39%37%
Sunrise / sunset7:12 am / 4:22 pm6:58 am / 4:56 pm
Daylight9.2 h10.0 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

  1. 6 am27°Fdew point 18°F
  2. 9 am29°Fdew point 18°F
  3. Noon33°Fdew point 19°F
  4. 3 pm35°Fdew point 19°F
  5. 6 pm33°Fdew point 19°F
  6. 9 pm31°Fdew point 19°F

NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Boston Logan Intl Airport (8 mi away); average wind 12 mph; clear or few clouds in 29% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 56%.

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 snow12 of 31
  • Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
  • Freezing nightslow 32°F or below26 of 31
  • Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more15 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 2.6 in and a wet one about 4.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 14.3 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.

How January varies from year to year

  • Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 45°F
  • Coolest January2004: average high 28°F
  • Wettest January1996: 7.4 in
  • Driest January2004: 1.0 in
  • Highest reading70°F (January 12, 2020)
  • Lowest reading-8°F (January 16, 2004)

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

DecemberJanuaryFebruary
Normal high43°F38°F40°F
Normal low27°F22°F23°F
Wet days121211
Comfortable days100
Daylight9.2 h9.5 h10.6 h

Highs change by -5°F from December and +2°F into February.

Nearby alternatives in January

How Quincy ranks in January

  • Normal high276th warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 9 in Massachusetts
  • Wet days304th driest of 378
  • Comfortable days228th most of 339

What to pack for Quincy in January

  • A warm jacket – lows near 22°F, highs near 38°F
  • A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
  • Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 15 days
  • A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights

Heating and cooling

January has 1091 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 Quincy in January?

The normal high is 38°F and the normal low is 22°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -8°F (January 16, 2004).

Does it rain a lot in Quincy in January?

About 12 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 1996 (7.4 in); the driest was in 2004 (1.0 in).

Does it snow in Quincy in January?

Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 14.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 15 days.

Is January a good time to visit Quincy?

January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Quincy (29 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are May and June.

Where the numbers come from

  • Temperature, snow depth and frost dates: Hingham (USC00193624), 4.9 mi ESE of the city center, 35 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
  • Rain, snowfall, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Boston Logan Intl Airport (USW00014739), 7.5 mi N of the city center, 12 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
  • Daily humidity and wind: Gen E L Logan International Airport (725090-14739), 7.5 mi N of the city center, 11 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.