Columbia, MO weather in January
Columbia is cold in January, with some rain and some snow: highs average 40°F and nights drop to about 23°F. There are about 8 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 6.0 in. This is the depth of winter in Columbia.
- Normal high
- 40°F
- Normal low
- 23°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 2.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 6.0 in
- snow on the ground 8 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 40°F | 41°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 23°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 27% | 26% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:28 am / 4:57 pm | 7:16 am / 5:29 pm |
| Daylight | 9.5 h | 10.2 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am26°Fdew point 21°F
- 9 am28°Fdew point 22°F
- Noon34°Fdew point 23°F
- 3 pm37°Fdew point 24°F
- 6 pm33°Fdew point 23°F
- 9 pm30°Fdew point 23°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Columbia Rgnl Airport (11 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 50% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 47%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F1 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 snow8 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below26 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more8 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 1.0 in and a wet one about 2.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 6.0 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 50°F
- Coolest January2010: average high 31°F
- Wettest January2005: 5.9 in
- Driest January2009: 0.3 in
- Highest reading77°F (January 28, 2013)
- Lowest reading-11°F (January 7, 2014)
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 | 44°F | 40°F | 45°F |
| Normal low | 27°F | 23°F | 26°F |
| Wet days | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Daylight | 9.5 h | 9.8 h | 10.8 h |
Highs change by -4°F from December and +5°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Branson, MO167 mi · high 48°F · 7 wet days
- Drier: Lee's Summit, MO110 mi · high 38°F · 5 wet days
- Cooler: Peoria, IL189 mi · high 34°F · 10 wet days
How Columbia ranks in January
- Normal high263rd warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 7 in Missouri
- Wet days149th driest of 378
- Comfortable days209th most of 339
What to pack for Columbia in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 23°F, highs near 40°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 8 days
- Waterproof boots – about 6.0 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1054 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 Columbia in January?
The normal high is 40°F and the normal low is 23°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -11°F (most recently on January 7, 2014).
Does it rain a lot in Columbia in January?
About 8 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 (5.9 in); the driest was in 2009 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Columbia in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 6.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 8 days.
Is January a good time to visit Columbia?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Columbia (33 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Columbia Rgnl Airport (USW00003945), 11 mi SE of the city center, 893 ft (186 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Columbia U Of M (USC00231801), 1.0 mi SE of the city center, 770 ft (63 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Columbia Regional Airport (724450-03945), 11 mi SE of the city center, 893 ft (186 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.