Worcester, MA weather in January
In January, Worcester sees highs around 32°F and lows around 17°F: cold and snowy. Rain or snow falls on about 12 days. Snowfall averages about 18.2 in. It is one of the coldest months in Worcester. Dress for deep cold.
- Normal high
- 32°F
- Normal low
- 17°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 3.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 18.2 in
- snow on the ground 14 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 34°F | 32°F |
| Normal low | 19°F | 17°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 41% | 37% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:16 am / 4:25 pm | 7:01 am / 4:59 pm |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 10.0 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
- 6 am27°Fdew point 18°F
- 9 am29°Fdew point 18°F
- Noon33°Fdew point 19°F
- 3 pm35°Fdew point 19°F
- 6 pm33°Fdew point 19°F
- 9 pm31°Fdew point 19°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Boston Logan Intl Airport (41 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
- 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 below28 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more14 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 2.5 in and a wet one about 4.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 18.2 in, with about 5 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 39°F
- Coolest January2004: average high 22°F
- Wettest January2005: 5.8 in
- Driest January2004: 1.4 in
- Highest reading66°F (January 12, 2020)
- Lowest reading-12°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
| December | January | February | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 38°F | 32°F | 35°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 17°F | 19°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 12 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 9.5 h | 10.6 h |
Highs change by -6°F from December and +3°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Providence, RI36 mi · high 38°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Stowe, VT159 mi · high 26°F · 12 wet days
How Worcester ranks in January
- Normal high321st warmest of 378 cities; 9th of 9 in Massachusetts
- Wet days307th driest of 378
- Comfortable days255th most of 339
What to pack for Worcester in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 17°F, highs near 32°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 14 days
- A hat and gloves – about 28 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1249 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 Worcester in January?
The normal high is 32°F and the normal low is 17°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -12°F (most recently on January 16, 2004).
Does it rain a lot in Worcester in January?
About 12 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 2005 (5.8 in); the driest was in 2004 (1.4 in).
Does it snow in Worcester in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 18.2 in, and snow covers the ground on about 14 days.
Is January a good time to visit Worcester?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Worcester (25 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and frost dates: Worcester Rgnl Airport (USW00094746), 3.7 mi W of the city center, 1,000 ft (516 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snow depth: Northbridge 2 (USC00195524), 12 mi SSE of the city center, 315 ft (169 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Boston Logan Intl Airport (USW00014739), 41 mi E of the city center, 12 ft (472 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Orange Municipal Airport (725085-54756), 33 mi NW of the city center, 544 ft (60 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.