Big Sky, MT weather in January
Expect cold weather with frequent rain in Big Sky in January, with highs near 30°F and lows near 9°F. Rain falls on about 13 days. It is one of the coldest months in Big Sky. Dress for deep cold.
- Normal high
- 30°F
- Normal low
- 9°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 1.8 in total
- Daylight
- 9.2 h
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 28°F | 32°F |
| Normal low | 8°F | 8°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 45% | 39% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 8:04 am / 4:53 pm | 7:47 am / 5:30 pm |
| Daylight | 8.8 h | 9.7 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Mountain Time).
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow13 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below31 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain in January
Normal precipitation is 1.8 in; a dry January brings about 1.3 in and a wet one about 2.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202015: average high 34°F
- Coolest January2008: average high 24°F
- Wettest January1993: 2.4 in
- Driest January2005: 0.6 in
- Highest reading54°F (January 31, 2003)
- Lowest reading-39°F (January 29, 1991)
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 | 28°F | 30°F | 34°F |
| Normal low | 9°F | 9°F | 9°F |
| Wet days | 14 | 13 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 8.8 h | 9.2 h | 10.4 h |
Highs change by +2°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Billings, MT143 mi · high 37°F · 7 wet days
- Drier: Billings, MT143 mi · high 37°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: West Yellowstone, MT45 mi · high 23°F · 15 wet days
How Big Sky ranks in January
- Normal high347th warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 6 in Montana
- Wet days325th driest of 378
What to pack for Big Sky in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 9°F, highs near 30°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain on about 13 days
- A hat and gloves – about 31 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1421 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Big Sky in January?
The normal high is 30°F and the normal low is 9°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -39°F (January 29, 1991).
Does it rain a lot in Big Sky in January?
About 13 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.8 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1993 (2.4 in); the driest was in 2005 (0.6 in).
Is January a good time to visit Big Sky?
January ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Big Sky (23 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best months are June, July and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature and rain: Big Sky 2WNW (USC00240775), 2.1 mi ESE of the city center, 6,590 ft (630 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour, cloud cover and daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).