Albany, NY weather in January
Albany is cold and snowy in January: highs average 33°F and nights drop to about 16°F. Expect about 13 wet days. Snowfall averages about 15.6 in. This is the depth of winter in Albany. Pack for serious cold.
- Normal high
- 33°F
- Normal low
- 16°F
- Wet days
- 13
- 2.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 15.6 in
- snow on the ground 18 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 34°F | 33°F |
| Normal low | 19°F | 15°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 42% | 38% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:25 am / 4:31 pm | 7:10 am / 5:06 pm |
| Daylight | 9.1 h | 9.9 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am21°Fdew point 15°F
- 9 am23°Fdew point 15°F
- Noon27°Fdew point 16°F
- 3 pm29°Fdew point 17°F
- 6 pm27°Fdew point 16°F
- 9 pm25°Fdew point 16°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Albany Airport (7 mi away); average wind 9 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 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below28 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more18 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 2.6 in; a dry January brings about 1.9 in and a wet one about 3.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 15.6 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 40°F
- Coolest January2004: average high 22°F
- Wettest January1999: 4.8 in
- Driest January2001: 1.0 in
- Highest reading71°F (January 6, 2007)
- Lowest reading-23°F (January 27, 1994)
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 | 33°F | 36°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 16°F | 18°F |
| Wet days | 13 | 13 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.1 h | 9.5 h | 10.6 h |
Highs change by -5°F from December and +3°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Bridgeport, CT106 mi · high 38°F · 11 wet days
- Drier: Stamford, CT111 mi · high 37°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Lake Placid, NY113 mi · high 23°F · 19 wet days
How Albany ranks in January
- Normal high314th warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 10 in New York
- Wet days326th driest of 378
- Comfortable days259th most of 339
What to pack for Albany in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 16°F, highs near 33°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 13 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 18 days
- A hat and gloves – about 28 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1260 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 Albany in January?
The normal high is 33°F and the normal low is 16°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -23°F (January 27, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Albany in January?
About 13 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.6 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1999 (4.8 in); the driest was in 2001 (1.0 in).
Does it snow in Albany in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 15.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 18 days.
Is January a good time to visit Albany?
January ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Albany (26 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are May and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Albany Airport (USW00014735), 6.8 mi NNW of the city center, 312 ft (169 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Albany International Airport (725180-14735), 6.9 mi NNW of the city center, 280 ft (137 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).