Taos, NM weather in January
Taos is cold and snowy in January: highs average 37°F and nights drop to about 8°F. There are about 4 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 12.7 in. This is the depth of winter in Taos. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 37°F
- Normal low
- 8°F
- Wet days
- 4
- 0.7 in total
- Snowfall
- 12.7 in
- snow on the ground 14 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 36°F | 39°F |
| Normal low | 7°F | 11°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 15% | 14% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:14 am / 4:57 pm | 7:04 am / 5:27 pm |
| Daylight | 9.7 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 snow4 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in3 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below31 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more14 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 0.7 in; a dry January brings about 0.3 in and a wet one about 0.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 12.7 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202003: average high 49°F
- Coolest January1992: average high 22°F
- Wettest January2017: 1.8 in
- Driest January1998: 0.04 in
- Highest reading63°F (January 16, 2000)
- Lowest reading-25°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 | 38°F | 37°F | 42°F |
| Normal low | 9°F | 8°F | 14°F |
| Wet days | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.7 h | 10.0 h | 10.9 h |
Highs change by -1°F from December and +5°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Santa Fe, NM54 mi · high 43°F · 3 wet days
- Cooler: Breckenridge, CO214 mi · high 30°F · 13 wet days
How Taos ranks in January
- Normal high284th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 4 in New Mexico
- Wet days31st driest of 378
- Comfortable days311th most of 339
What to pack for Taos in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 8°F, highs near 37°F
- Layers – afternoons near 37°F but nights near 8°F
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 14 days
- A hat and gloves – about 31 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1322 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 18% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Taos in January?
The normal high is 37°F and the normal low is 8°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -25°F (January 4, 2013).
Does it rain a lot in Taos in January?
About 4 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 0.7 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2017 (1.8 in); the driest was in 1998 (0.04 in).
Does it snow in Taos in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 12.7 in, and snow covers the ground on about 14 days.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Cerro (USC00291630), 23 mi N of the city center, 7,650 ft (681 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Taos (USC00298668), 1.4 mi SSW of the city center, 6,965 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Las Vegas Municipal Arpt (723677-23054), 57 mi SSE of the city center, 6,870 ft (99 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).