Billings, MT weather in January
In January, Billings sees highs around 37°F and lows around 14°F: cold and snowy. There are about 7 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 10.6 in. It is one of the coldest months in Billings. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 37°F
- Normal low
- 14°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 0.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 10.6 in
- snow on the ground 16 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 36°F | 38°F |
| Normal low | 14°F | 16°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 22% | 22% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:55 am / 4:39 pm | 7:36 am / 5:18 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).
A typical January day
- 6 am23°Fdew point 13°F
- 9 am24°Fdew point 13°F
- Noon30°Fdew point 15°F
- 3 pm33°Fdew point 16°F
- 6 pm29°Fdew point 15°F
- 9 pm26°Fdew point 15°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Billings Logan Intl Airport (3 mi away); average wind 13 mph; clear or few clouds in 34% 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°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 snow7 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in2 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below29 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more16 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 0.6 in; a dry January brings about 0.3 in and a wet one about 0.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 10.6 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 52°F
- Coolest January2017: average high 26°F
- Wettest January2015: 1.1 in
- Driest January2006: 0.05 in
- Highest reading70°F (January 31, 1992)
- Lowest reading-33°F (January 12, 1997)
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 | 37°F | 37°F | 41°F |
| Normal low | 16°F | 14°F | 17°F |
| Wet days | 6 | 7 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Daylight | 8.7 h | 9.2 h | 10.4 h |
Highs change by 0°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Cooler: Big Sky, MT143 mi · high 30°F · 13 wet days
How Billings ranks in January
- Normal high285th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 6 in Montana
- Wet days87th driest of 378
- Comfortable days237th most of 339
What to pack for Billings in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 14°F, highs near 37°F
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 16 days
- A hat and gloves – about 29 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1226 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 16% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Billings in January?
The normal high is 37°F and the normal low is 14°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -33°F (January 12, 1997).
Does it rain a lot in Billings in January?
About 7 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.6 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2015 (1.1 in); the driest was in 2006 (0.05 in).
Does it snow in Billings in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 10.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 16 days.
Is January a good time to visit Billings?
January ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Billings (36 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature and frost dates: Billings WTP (USC00240802), 1.2 mi SE of the city center, 3,097 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall, snow depth, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Billings Logan Intl Airport (USW00024033), 2.6 mi NW of the city center, 3,581 ft (459 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Billings Logan International Airport (726770-24033), 2.7 mi NW of the city center, 3,590 ft (468 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.