Kansas City, MO weather in January
Expect cold, mostly dry weather with some snow in Kansas City in January, with highs near 40°F and lows near 22°F. Rain or snow falls on about 5 days. Snowfall averages about 4.9 in. It is one of the coldest months in Kansas City.
- Normal high
- 40°F
- Normal low
- 22°F
- Wet days
- 5
- 1.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 4.9 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 | 16% | 15% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:37 am / 5:06 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 (2 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 snow5 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in2 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 1.0 in; a dry January brings about 0.3 in and a wet one about 1.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 4.9 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 52°F
- Coolest January2010: average high 31°F
- Wettest January2001: 4.4 in
- Driest January2014: 0.06 in
- Highest reading76°F (January 28, 2015)
- Lowest reading-7°F (January 1, 2018)
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 | 22°F | 26°F |
| Wet days | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 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, MO185 mi · high 48°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Omaha, NE166 mi · high 34°F · 7 wet days
How Kansas City ranks in January
- Normal high257th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 7 in Missouri
- Wet days33rd driest of 378
- Comfortable days210th most of 339
What to pack for Kansas City in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 22°F, highs near 40°F
- Waterproof boots – about 4.9 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1052 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 Kansas City in January?
The normal high is 40°F and the normal low is 22°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -7°F (January 1, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in Kansas City in January?
About 5 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.0 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2001 (4.4 in); the driest was in 2014 (0.06 in).
Does it snow in Kansas City in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 4.9 in, and snow covers the ground on about 8 days.
Is January a good time to visit Kansas City?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Kansas City (36 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Kansas City Downtown Airport (USW00013988), 1.8 mi NW of the city center, 742 ft (156 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Kansas City Intl Airport (USW00003947), 16 mi NNW of the city center, 1,005 ft (107 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: C.r. Wheeler Downtown Arpt (724463-13988), 2.0 mi NNW of the city center, 742 ft (156 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.