Reno, NV weather in January
Reno is chilly in January, with some rain and some snow: highs average 48°F and nights drop to about 26°F. Rain or snow falls on about 7 days. Snowfall averages about 7.0 in. This is the depth of winter in Reno.
- Normal high
- 48°F
- Normal low
- 26°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 1.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 7.0 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 46°F | 49°F |
| Normal low | 25°F | 27°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 22% | 23% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:19 am / 4:45 pm | 7:07 am / 5:17 pm |
| Daylight | 9.4 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 (Pacific Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am28°Fdew point 22°F
- 9 am32°Fdew point 24°F
- Noon41°Fdew point 24°F
- 3 pm46°Fdew point 24°F
- 6 pm40°Fdew point 24°F
- 9 pm35°Fdew point 24°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Reno Tahoe Intl Airport (4 mi away); average wind 5 mph; clear or few clouds in 30% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 57%.
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 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below26 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 1.3 in; a dry January brings about 0.1 in and a wet one about 1.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 7.0 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202003: average high 55°F
- Coolest January1993: average high 36°F
- Wettest January2017: 5.6 in
- Driest January1991: 0.01 in
- Highest reading71°F (January 31, 2003)
- Lowest reading-3°F (January 3, 1993)
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 | 47°F | 48°F | 52°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 26°F | 29°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 7 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| Daylight | 9.4 h | 9.8 h | 10.7 h |
Highs change by +1°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Chico, CA109 mi · high 57°F · 12 wet days
- Cooler: Incline Village, NV21 mi · high 40°F · 11 wet days
How Reno ranks in January
- Normal high198th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 3 in Nevada
- Wet days97th driest of 378
- Comfortable days218th most of 339
What to pack for Reno in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 26°F, highs near 48°F
- Waterproof boots – about 7.0 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 871 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 15% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Reno in January?
The normal high is 48°F and the normal low is 26°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -3°F (January 3, 1993).
Does it rain a lot in Reno in January?
About 7 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.3 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2017 (5.6 in); the driest was in 1991 (0.01 in).
Does it snow in Reno in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 7.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is January a good time to visit Reno?
January ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Reno (40 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: Reno Tahoe Intl Airport (USW00023185), 3.9 mi SE of the city center, 4,410 ft (95 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall: Reno WFO (USC00266791), 2.8 mi NNE of the city center, 4,987 ft (482 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snow depth: Sparks (USC00267697), 4.7 mi ENE of the city center, 4,357 ft (148 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Reno/Tahoe International Airport (724880-23185), 2.9 mi ESE of the city center, 4,405 ft (100 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.