Niagara Falls, NY weather in January
Expect cold, snowy weather in Niagara Falls in January, with highs near 32°F and lows near 19°F. Rain or snow falls on about 18 days. Snowfall averages about 22.3 in. It is one of the coldest months in Niagara Falls. Dress for deep cold.
- Normal high
- 32°F
- Normal low
- 19°F
- Wet days
- 18
- 2.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 22.3 in
- snow on the ground 19 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 34°F | 31°F |
| Normal low | 22°F | 18°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 58% | 56% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:47 am / 4:51 pm | 7:32 am / 5:26 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 am24°Fdew point 18°F
- 9 am25°Fdew point 19°F
- Noon28°Fdew point 20°F
- 3 pm29°Fdew point 20°F
- 6 pm26°Fdew point 19°F
- 9 pm25°Fdew point 19°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Niagara Falls Intl Airport (6 mi away); average wind 12 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 snow18 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below27 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more19 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 3.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 22.3 in, with about 6 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 41°F
- Coolest January2004: average high 24°F
- Wettest January1998: 4.2 in
- Driest January2016: 1.2 in
- Highest reading68°F (January 13, 2005)
- Lowest reading-10°F (January 6, 1996)
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 | 37°F | 32°F | 33°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 19°F | 20°F |
| Wet days | 16 | 18 | 15 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.1 h | 9.4 h | 10.5 h |
Highs change by -5°F from December and +1°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Morgantown, WV244 mi · high 40°F · 16 wet days
- Drier: Warren, MI204 mi · high 32°F · 11 wet days
How Niagara Falls ranks in January
- Normal high323rd warmest of 378 cities; 7th of 10 in New York
- Wet days362nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days230th most of 339
What to pack for Niagara Falls in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 19°F, highs near 32°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 18 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 19 days
- A hat and gloves – about 27 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1223 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 Niagara Falls in January?
The normal high is 32°F and the normal low is 19°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -10°F (most recently on January 6, 1996).
Does it rain a lot in Niagara Falls in January?
About 18 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 1998 (4.2 in); the driest was in 2016 (1.2 in).
Does it snow in Niagara Falls in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 22.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 19 days.
Is January a good time to visit Niagara Falls?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Niagara Falls (25 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature: Buffalo (USW00014733), 19 mi ESE of the city center, 693 ft (78 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Niagara Falls (USC00305840), 4.3 mi E of the city center, 588 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Niagara Falls Intl Airport (USW00004724), 5.7 mi E of the city center, 585 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Niagara Falls Intl Airport (725287-04724), 6.1 mi E of the city center, 585 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).