Independence, MO weather in January
January in Independence: cold, with some rain and some snow. Highs 38°F, lows 19°F, rain or snow on about 7 days and about 3.6 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Independence.
- Normal high
- 38°F
- Normal low
- 19°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 1.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 3.6 in
- snow on the ground 8 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 38°F | 39°F |
| Normal low | 20°F | 20°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 22% | 21% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:36 am / 5:05 pm | 7:25 am / 5:37 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 am27°Fdew point 20°F
- 9 am28°Fdew point 21°F
- Noon35°Fdew point 22°F
- 3 pm38°Fdew point 22°F
- 6 pm35°Fdew point 22°F
- 9 pm32°Fdew point 22°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Kansas City Downtown Airport (10 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 61% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 37%.
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 snow7 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below28 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 1.5 in; a dry January brings about 0.6 in and a wet one about 2.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 3.6 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 29°F
- Wettest January2005: 3.5 in
- Driest January2009: 0.1 in
- Highest reading74°F (January 29, 2013)
- Lowest reading-14°F (January 30, 2019)
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 | 42°F | 38°F | 43°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 19°F | 23°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 7 | 6 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 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: Springfield, MO143 mi · high 44°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: Des Moines, IA179 mi · high 31°F · 8 wet days
How Independence ranks in January
- Normal high277th warmest of 378 cities; 6th of 7 in Missouri
- Wet days90th driest of 378
- Comfortable days216th most of 339
What to pack for Independence in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 19°F, highs near 38°F
- Waterproof boots – about 3.6 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 28 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1134 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 Independence in January?
The normal high is 38°F and the normal low is 19°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -14°F (January 30, 2019).
Does it rain a lot in Independence in January?
About 7 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.5 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2005 (3.5 in); the driest was in 2009 (0.1 in).
Does it snow in Independence in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 3.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 8 days.
Is January a good time to visit Independence?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Independence (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 and frost dates: Independence (USC00234154), 2.4 mi SE of the city center, 985 ft (50 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Kansas City Downtown Airport (USW00013988), 9.9 mi WNW of the city center, 742 ft (293 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: C.r. Wheeler Downtown Arpt (724463-13988), 9.6 mi WNW of the city center, 742 ft (293 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.