Syracuse, NY weather in January
Syracuse is cold and snowy in January: highs average 32°F and nights drop to about 17°F. Expect about 19 wet days. Snowfall averages about 34.0 in. This is the depth of winter in Syracuse. Pack for serious cold.
- Normal high
- 32°F
- Normal low
- 17°F
- Wet days
- 19
- 2.6 in total
- Snowfall
- 34.0 in
- snow on the ground 23 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 33°F | 31°F |
| Normal low | 19°F | 15°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 62% | 58% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:36 am / 4:40 pm | 7:20 am / 5:15 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 am23°Fdew point 17°F
- 9 am23°Fdew point 17°F
- Noon27°Fdew point 18°F
- 3 pm29°Fdew point 18°F
- 6 pm26°Fdew point 18°F
- 9 pm25°Fdew point 18°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Syracuse Hancock Intl Airport (5 mi away); average wind 10 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 snow19 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below28 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more23 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 1.7 in and a wet one about 3.1 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 34.0 in, with about 9 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 42°F
- Coolest January2004: average high 22°F
- Wettest January1999: 5.3 in
- Driest January2008: 1.4 in
- Highest reading70°F (January 8, 2008)
- Lowest reading-21°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 | 37°F | 32°F | 34°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 17°F | 18°F |
| Wet days | 19 | 19 | 17 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.1 h | 9.4 h | 10.5 h |
Highs change by -5°F from December and +2°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Allentown, PA172 mi · high 38°F · 11 wet days
- Drier: Saratoga Springs, NY119 mi · high 32°F · 12 wet days
- Cooler: Lake Placid, NY138 mi · high 23°F · 19 wet days
How Syracuse ranks in January
- Normal high330th warmest of 378 cities; 9th of 10 in New York
- Wet days370th driest of 378
- Comfortable days243rd most of 339
What to pack for Syracuse in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 17°F, highs near 32°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 19 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 23 days
- A hat and gloves – about 28 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1268 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 Syracuse in January?
The normal high is 32°F and the normal low is 17°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -21°F (January 16, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Syracuse in January?
About 19 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 (5.3 in); the driest was in 2008 (1.4 in).
Does it snow in Syracuse in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 34.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 23 days.
Is January a good time to visit Syracuse?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Syracuse (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: Syracuse Hancock Intl Airport (USW00014771), 4.9 mi NNE of the city center, 413 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Syracuse Hancock International Airport (725190-14771), 4.9 mi NNE of the city center, 410 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).