Asheville, NC weather in January
In January, Asheville sees highs around 48°F and lows around 29°F: chilly, with frequent rain and some snow. Expect about 12 wet days. Snowfall averages about 3.8 in. It is one of the coldest months in Asheville.
- Normal high
- 48°F
- Normal low
- 29°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 3.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 3.8 in
- snow on the ground 3 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 48°F | 49°F |
| Normal low | 29°F | 29°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 36% | 37% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:39 am / 5:27 pm | 7:30 am / 5:56 pm |
| Daylight | 9.8 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 (Eastern Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am32°Fdew point 27°F
- 9 am34°Fdew point 27°F
- Noon42°Fdew point 27°F
- 3 pm46°Fdew point 27°F
- 6 pm41°Fdew point 27°F
- 9 pm37°Fdew point 28°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Asheville Rgnl Airport (12 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 57% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 38%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F1 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 snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below20 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more3 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 3.3 in; a dry January brings about 2.0 in and a wet one about 4.2 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 3.8 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 54°F
- Coolest January2010: average high 41°F
- Wettest January2013: 8.2 in
- Driest January2004: 1.0 in
- Highest reading78°F (January 30, 2002)
- Lowest reading-6°F (January 19, 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 | 51°F | 48°F | 52°F |
| Normal low | 32°F | 29°F | 32°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 12 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 10.1 h | 10.9 h |
Highs change by -3°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Concord, NC112 mi · high 53°F · 10 wet days
- Drier: Raleigh, NC220 mi · high 52°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: Fayetteville, WV187 mi · high 41°F · 16 wet days
How Asheville ranks in January
- Normal high199th warmest of 378 cities; 10th of 10 in North Carolina
- Wet days299th driest of 378
- Comfortable days193rd most of 339
What to pack for Asheville in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 29°F, highs near 48°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – about 3.8 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 20 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 831 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 Asheville in January?
The normal high is 48°F and the normal low is 29°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -6°F (January 19, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Asheville in January?
About 12 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.3 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2013 (8.2 in); the driest was in 2004 (1.0 in).
Does it snow in Asheville in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 3.8 in, and snow covers the ground on about 3 days.
Is January a good time to visit Asheville?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Asheville (39 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best months are April, May and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Asheville (USW00013872), 0.4 mi SSW of the city center, 2,238 ft (111 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Asheville Rgnl Airport (USW00003812), 12 mi S of the city center, 2,117 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Asheville Regional Airport (723150-03812), 12 mi S of the city center, 2,118 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.