Ann Arbor, MI weather in January
In January, Ann Arbor sees highs around 32°F and lows around 16°F: cold and snowy. Expect about 18 wet days. Snowfall averages about 18.3 in. It is one of the coldest months in Ann Arbor. Dress for deep cold.
- Normal high
- 32°F
- Normal low
- 16°F
- Wet days
- 18
- 3.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 18.3 in
- snow on the ground 21 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 33°F | 32°F |
| Normal low | 18°F | 15°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 58% | 55% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 8:03 am / 5:13 pm | 7:49 am / 5:47 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 am23°Fdew point 17°F
- 9 am23°Fdew point 18°F
- Noon28°Fdew point 20°F
- 3 pm30°Fdew point 20°F
- 6 pm28°Fdew point 19°F
- 9 pm26°Fdew point 19°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Detroit Willow Run Airport (10 mi away); average wind 11 mph; clear or few clouds in 34% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 63%.
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 snow18 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below28 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more21 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 3.0 in; a dry January brings about 2.0 in and a wet one about 4.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 18.3 in, with about 6 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 41°F
- Coolest January1994: average high 25°F
- Wettest January1999: 5.0 in
- Driest January2003: 0.9 in
- Highest reading62°F (January 7, 2008)
- Lowest reading-22°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 | 36°F | 32°F | 35°F |
| Normal low | 22°F | 16°F | 18°F |
| Wet days | 17 | 18 | 14 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 9.5 h | 10.6 h |
Highs change by -4°F from December and +3°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Columbus, OH164 mi · high 37°F · 15 wet days
- Drier: Dearborn, MI28 mi · high 32°F · 13 wet days
How Ann Arbor ranks in January
- Normal high327th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 8 in Michigan
- Wet days361st driest of 378
- Comfortable days293rd most of 339
What to pack for Ann Arbor in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 16°F, highs near 32°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 18 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 21 days
- A hat and gloves – about 28 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1269 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 Ann Arbor in January?
The normal high is 32°F and the normal low is 16°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -22°F (January 19, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Ann Arbor in January?
About 18 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.0 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1999 (5.0 in); the driest was in 2003 (0.9 in).
Does it snow in Ann Arbor in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 18.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 21 days.
Is January a good time to visit Ann Arbor?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Ann Arbor (24 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Ann Arbor U Of Mich (USC00200230), 3.7 mi ENE of the city center, 813 ft (68 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Detroit Willow Run Airport (USW00014853), 10 mi ESE of the city center, 777 ft (104 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Toledo Express Airport (USW00094830), 47 mi S of the city center, 669 ft (212 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Willow Run Airport (725376-14853), 11 mi ESE of the city center, 708 ft (173 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.