Albuquerque, NM weather in January
Expect chilly, mostly dry weather in Albuquerque in January, with highs near 48°F and lows near 26°F. Rain or snow falls on about 4 days. Snowfall averages about 1.4 in. It is one of the coldest months in Albuquerque.
- Normal high
- 48°F
- Normal low
- 26°F
- Wet days
- 4
- 0.4 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.4 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 46°F | 51°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 28°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 12% | 12% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:14 am / 5:05 pm | 7:06 am / 5:33 pm |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 10.5 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 am30°Fdew point 19°F
- 9 am33°Fdew point 19°F
- Noon42°Fdew point 19°F
- 3 pm47°Fdew point 18°F
- 6 pm43°Fdew point 18°F
- 9 pm38°Fdew point 19°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Albuquerque Intl Airport (4 mi away); average wind 7 mph; clear or few clouds in 43% 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°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 snow4 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in1 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 0.4 in; a dry January brings about 0.1 in and a wet one about 0.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 1.4 in.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202003: average high 56°F
- Coolest January2007: average high 41°F
- Wettest January2005: 1.4 in
- Driest January2003: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading69°F (January 5, 1994)
- Lowest reading3°F (January 15, 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 | 47°F | 48°F | 54°F |
| Normal low | 27°F | 26°F | 30°F |
| Wet days | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 10.1 h | 10.9 h |
Highs change by +1°F from December and +6°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Las Cruces, NM192 mi · high 59°F · 3 wet days
- Cooler: Santa Fe, NM58 mi · high 43°F · 3 wet days
How Albuquerque ranks in January
- Normal high188th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 4 in New Mexico
- Wet days13th driest of 378
- Comfortable days239th most of 339
What to pack for Albuquerque in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 26°F, highs near 48°F
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 856 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 Albuquerque 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 15, 1997).
Does it rain a lot in Albuquerque in January?
About 4 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.4 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2005 (1.4 in); the driest was in 2003, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Albuquerque in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 1.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is January a good time to visit Albuquerque?
January ranks 9th of 12 months on our comfort score for Albuquerque (44 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Albuquerque Intl Airport (USW00023050), 3.6 mi SE of the city center, 5,310 ft (355 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Albuquerque Intl Sunport Airport (723650-23050), 3.6 mi SE of the city center, 5,310 ft (355 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.