Charlotte, NC weather in January
Charlotte is chilly in January, with frequent rain: highs average 52°F and nights drop to about 32°F. There are about 10 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 1.6 in. This is the depth of winter in Charlotte.
- Normal high
- 52°F
- Normal low
- 32°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 3.5 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.6 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 52°F | 54°F |
| Normal low | 32°F | 32°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 33% | 33% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:31 am / 5:21 pm | 7:23 am / 5:50 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 am36°Fdew point 29°F
- 9 am39°Fdew point 30°F
- Noon47°Fdew point 30°F
- 3 pm51°Fdew point 29°F
- 6 pm47°Fdew point 29°F
- 9 pm43°Fdew point 30°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Charlotte Douglas Airport (6 mi away); average wind 6 mph; clear or few clouds in 34% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 55%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F4 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 snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below17 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 3.5 in; a dry January brings about 2.3 in and a wet one about 4.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.6 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 58°F
- Coolest January2014: average high 47°F
- Wettest January1993: 6.2 in
- Driest January2004: 0.9 in
- Highest reading79°F (January 29, 2002)
- Lowest reading5°F (January 30, 2014)
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 | 55°F | 52°F | 57°F |
| Normal low | 35°F | 32°F | 35°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 5 | 4 | 7 |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 10.1 h | 10.9 h |
Highs change by -3°F from December and +5°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Columbia, SC85 mi · high 60°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Gatlinburg, TN154 mi · high 47°F · 15 wet days
How Charlotte ranks in January
- Normal high166th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 10 in North Carolina
- Wet days227th driest of 378
- Comfortable days142nd most of 339
What to pack for Charlotte in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 32°F, highs near 52°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
- A hat and gloves – about 17 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 712 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 15% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Charlotte in January?
The normal high is 52°F and the normal low is 32°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was 5°F (January 30, 2014).
Does it rain a lot in Charlotte in January?
About 10 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.5 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1993 (6.2 in); the driest was in 2004 (0.9 in).
Does it snow in Charlotte in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 1.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is January a good time to visit Charlotte?
January ranks 10th of 12 months on our comfort score for Charlotte (44 out of 100). It has about 4 comfortable days. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Charlotte Douglas Airport (USW00013881), 6.3 mi W of the city center, 728 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Charlotte/Douglas International Airport (723140-13881), 6.3 mi W of the city center, 730 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.