Rochester, NY weather in January
January in Rochester: cold and snowy. Highs 33°F, lows 19°F, about 20 days with rain or snow and about 27.4 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Rochester. Pack for serious cold.
- Normal high
- 33°F
- Normal low
- 19°F
- Wet days
- 20
- 2.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 27.4 in
- snow on the ground 21 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 35°F | 33°F |
| Normal low | 22°F | 18°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 63% | 60% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:42 am / 4:45 pm | 7:26 am / 5:20 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 19°F
- 3 pm29°Fdew point 19°F
- 6 pm27°Fdew point 19°F
- 9 pm26°Fdew point 19°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Rochester Gtr Intl Airport (4 mi away); average wind 11 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 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 snow20 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below27 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more21 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 2.5 in; a dry January brings about 1.8 in and a wet one about 3.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 27.4 in, with about 8 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 43°F
- Coolest January1994: average high 23°F
- Wettest January1998: 5.6 in
- Driest January2014: 1.2 in
- Highest reading69°F (January 13, 2013)
- Lowest reading-17°F (January 16, 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 | 39°F | 33°F | 35°F |
| Normal low | 25°F | 19°F | 20°F |
| Wet days | 18 | 20 | 16 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.1 h | 9.4 h | 10.5 h |
Highs change by -6°F from December and +2°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Allentown, PA207 mi · high 38°F · 11 wet days
- Drier: Saratoga Springs, NY193 mi · high 32°F · 12 wet days
- Cooler: Lake Placid, NY197 mi · high 23°F · 19 wet days
How Rochester ranks in January
- Normal high311th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 10 in New York
- Wet days372nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days242nd most of 339
What to pack for Rochester in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 19°F, highs near 33°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 20 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 21 days
- A hat and gloves – about 27 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1203 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 Rochester in January?
The normal high is 33°F and the normal low is 19°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -17°F (January 16, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Rochester in January?
About 20 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 (5.6 in); the driest was in 2014 (1.2 in).
Does it snow in Rochester in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 27.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 21 days.
Is January a good time to visit Rochester?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Rochester (25 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Rochester Gtr Intl Airport (USW00014768), 4.0 mi SW of the city center, 533 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Greater Rochester International Airport (725290-14768), 4.0 mi SW of the city center, 540 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).