Lansing, MI weather in January
In January, Lansing sees highs around 31°F and lows around 17°F: cold and snowy. Rain or snow falls on about 14 days. Snowfall averages about 14.3 in. It is one of the coldest months in Lansing. Dress for deep cold.
- Normal high
- 31°F
- Normal low
- 17°F
- Wet days
- 14
- 2.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 14.3 in
- snow on the ground 22 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 32°F | 31°F |
| Normal low | 20°F | 16°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 46% | 40% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 8:08 am / 5:14 pm | 7:53 am / 5:49 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 am22°Fdew point 17°F
- 9 am22°Fdew point 17°F
- Noon26°Fdew point 19°F
- 3 pm28°Fdew point 19°F
- 6 pm26°Fdew point 19°F
- 9 pm24°Fdew point 18°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Lansing Capital City Airport (4 mi away); average wind 10 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 snow14 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in5 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below28 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more22 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 2.1 in; a dry January brings about 1.1 in and a wet one about 2.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 14.3 in, with about 5 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 38°F
- Coolest January1994: average high 23°F
- Wettest January2005: 4.4 in
- Driest January2003: 0.2 in
- Highest reading62°F (January 7, 2008)
- Lowest reading-18°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 | 23°F | 17°F | 18°F |
| Wet days | 14 | 14 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.1 h | 9.5 h | 10.6 h |
Highs change by -5°F from December and +3°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Cleveland, OH170 mi · high 36°F · 18 wet days
- Drier: Warren, MI80 mi · high 32°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Green Bay, WI213 mi · high 26°F · 11 wet days
How Lansing ranks in January
- Normal high342nd warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 8 in Michigan
- Wet days337th driest of 378
- Comfortable days297th most of 339
What to pack for Lansing in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 17°F, highs near 31°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 14 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 22 days
- A hat and gloves – about 28 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1274 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 Lansing in January?
The normal high is 31°F and the normal low is 17°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -18°F (January 19, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Lansing in January?
About 14 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.1 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2005 (4.4 in); the driest was in 2003 (0.2 in).
Does it snow in Lansing in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 14.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 22 days.
Is January a good time to visit Lansing?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Lansing (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, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Lansing Capital City Airport (USW00014836), 3.5 mi NNW of the city center, 841 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Capital City Airport (725390-14836), 3.8 mi NW of the city center, 857 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.