Santa Fe, NM weather in January
Santa Fe is chilly and mostly dry in January, with some snow: highs average 43°F and nights drop to about 18°F. Expect about 3 wet days. Snowfall averages about 3.7 in. This is the depth of winter in Santa Fe.
- Normal high
- 43°F
- Normal low
- 18°F
- Wet days
- 3
- 0.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 3.7 in
- snow on the ground 3 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 41°F | 45°F |
| Normal low | 17°F | 19°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 12% | 12% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:13 am / 5:01 pm | 7:04 am / 5:29 pm |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 10.4 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 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 snow3 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in2 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below30 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more3 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 0.1 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 3.7 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202003: average high 53°F
- Coolest January2007: average high 37°F
- Wettest January2005: 1.9 in
- Driest January2003: no measurable precipitation
- Highest reading64°F (January 17, 2000)
- Lowest reading-8°F (January 4, 2013)
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 | 43°F | 43°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 18°F | 18°F | 21°F |
| Wet days | 4 | 3 | 4 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 10.1 h | 10.9 h |
Highs change by 0°F from December and +5°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Albuquerque, NM58 mi · high 48°F · 4 wet days
- Cooler: Taos, NM54 mi · high 37°F · 4 wet days
How Santa Fe ranks in January
- Normal high236th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 4 in New Mexico
- Wet days9th driest of 378
- Comfortable days310th most of 339
What to pack for Santa Fe in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 18°F, highs near 43°F
- Layers – afternoons near 43°F but nights near 18°F
- Waterproof boots – about 3.7 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 30 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1071 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 17% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Santa Fe in January?
The normal high is 43°F and the normal low is 18°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -8°F (January 4, 2013).
Does it rain a lot in Santa Fe in January?
About 3 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 2005 (1.9 in); the driest was in 2003, with no measurable precipitation.
Does it snow in Santa Fe in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 3.7 in, and snow covers the ground on about 3 days.
Is January a good time to visit Santa Fe?
January ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Santa Fe (39 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Santa Fe 2 (USC00298085), 5.1 mi SSW of the city center, 6,756 ft (241 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Santa Fe Municipal Airport (723656-23049), 10 mi WSW of the city center, 6,287 ft (710 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).