Missoula, MT weather in January
January in Missoula: cold, with frequent rain and some snow. Highs 32°F, lows 18°F, about 13 days with rain or snow and about 9.9 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Missoula. Pack for serious cold.
- Normal high
- 32°F
- Normal low
- 18°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 1.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 9.9 in
- snow on the ground 20 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 30°F | 33°F |
| Normal low | 17°F | 20°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 41% | 40% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 8:21 am / 4:57 pm | 8:01 am / 5:37 pm |
| Daylight | 8.6 h | 9.6 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 19°F
- 9 am23°Fdew point 19°F
- Noon27°Fdew point 21°F
- 3 pm30°Fdew point 22°F
- 6 pm28°Fdew point 21°F
- 9 pm26°Fdew point 21°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Missoula Intl Airport (6 mi away); average wind 4 mph.
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 snow13 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below30 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more20 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 0.6 in and a wet one about 1.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 9.9 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20201994: average high 41°F
- Coolest January2017: average high 22°F
- Wettest January1996: 2.1 in
- Driest January2007: 0.3 in
- Highest reading56°F (January 18, 1994)
- Lowest reading-24°F (January 31, 1996)
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 | 31°F | 32°F | 37°F |
| Normal low | 18°F | 18°F | 21°F |
| Wet days | 13 | 13 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 8.6 h | 9.0 h | 10.3 h |
Highs change by +1°F from December and +5°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Boise, ID249 mi · high 39°F · 11 wet days
- Drier: Great Falls, MT134 mi · high 35°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: West Yellowstone, MT207 mi · high 23°F · 15 wet days
How Missoula ranks in January
- Normal high331st warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 6 in Montana
- Wet days320th driest of 378
- Comfortable days304th most of 339
What to pack for Missoula in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 18°F, highs near 32°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 13 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 20 days
- A hat and gloves – about 30 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1246 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 Missoula in January?
The normal high is 32°F and the normal low is 18°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -24°F (January 31, 1996).
Does it rain a lot in Missoula in January?
About 13 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 1996 (2.1 in); the driest was in 2007 (0.3 in).
Does it snow in Missoula in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 9.9 in, and snow covers the ground on about 20 days.
Is January a good time to visit Missoula?
January ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Missoula (26 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are May and June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and humidity and wind by hour: Missoula Intl Airport (USW00024153), 5.7 mi NW of the city center, 3,192 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Missoula 2 Ne (USC00245735), 2.2 mi NE of the city center, 3,420 ft (212 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Missoula International Airport (727730-24153), 5.8 mi NW of the city center, 3,195 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).