Grand Rapids, MI weather in January
Expect cold, snowy weather in Grand Rapids in January, with highs near 31°F and lows near 19°F. Rain or snow falls on about 17 days. Snowfall averages about 22.6 in. It is one of the coldest months in Grand Rapids. Dress for deep cold.
- Normal high
- 31°F
- Normal low
- 19°F
- Wet days
- 17
- 2.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 22.6 in
- snow on the ground 23 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 32°F | 31°F |
| Normal low | 21°F | 17°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 54% | 50% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 8:13 am / 5:18 pm | 7:58 am / 5:53 pm |
| Daylight | 9.1 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 am23°Fdew point 18°F
- 9 am23°Fdew point 18°F
- Noon27°Fdew point 20°F
- 3 pm28°Fdew point 20°F
- 6 pm27°Fdew point 20°F
- 9 pm25°Fdew point 19°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Grand Rapids (8 mi away); average wind 11 mph; clear or few clouds in 19% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 75%.
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 snow17 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 more23 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 2.5 in; a dry January brings about 1.4 in and a wet one about 3.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 22.6 in, with about 7 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 39°F
- Coolest January1994: average high 22°F
- Wettest January2005: 4.7 in
- Driest January2001: 0.8 in
- Highest reading63°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 | 31°F | 34°F |
| Normal low | 25°F | 19°F | 20°F |
| Wet days | 16 | 17 | 13 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.1 h | 9.4 h | 10.6 h |
Highs change by -5°F from December and +3°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Indianapolis, IN222 mi · high 36°F · 12 wet days
- Drier: Milwaukee, WI113 mi · high 31°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Green Bay, WI159 mi · high 26°F · 11 wet days
How Grand Rapids ranks in January
- Normal high337th warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 8 in Michigan
- Wet days354th driest of 378
- Comfortable days296th most of 339
What to pack for Grand Rapids in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 19°F, highs near 31°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 17 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 23 days
- A hat and gloves – about 28 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1246 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 Grand Rapids in January?
The normal high is 31°F and the normal low is 19°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -22°F (January 19, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Grand Rapids in January?
About 17 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.5 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2005 (4.7 in); the driest was in 2001 (0.8 in).
Does it snow in Grand Rapids in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 22.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 23 days.
Is January a good time to visit Grand Rapids?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Grand Rapids (23 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, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Grand Rapids (USW00094860), 7.9 mi SE of the city center, 778 ft (138 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Lansing Capital City Airport (USW00014836), 57 mi ESE of the city center, 841 ft (201 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Gerald R Ford International Airport (726350-94860), 9.2 mi SE of the city center, 788 ft (148 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.