Durham, NC weather in January
In January, Durham sees highs around 52°F and lows around 32°F: chilly, with frequent rain. Expect about 10 wet days. Snowfall averages about 2.6 in. It is one of the coldest months in Durham.
- Normal high
- 52°F
- Normal low
- 32°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 3.4 in total
- Snowfall
- 2.6 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 52°F | 53°F |
| Normal low | 32°F | 32°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 33% | 32% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:26 am / 5:12 pm | 7:16 am / 5:41 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 am38°Fdew point 30°F
- Noon46°Fdew point 30°F
- 3 pm50°Fdew point 29°F
- 6 pm45°Fdew point 29°F
- 9 pm41°Fdew point 30°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Raleigh Durham Intl Airport (10 mi away); average wind 6 mph; clear or few clouds in 49% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 44%.
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 below18 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more2 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 3.4 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 2.6 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 January2003: average high 46°F
- Wettest January1998: 7.5 in
- Driest January2004: 1.2 in
- Highest reading80°F (January 30, 2002)
- Lowest reading1°F (January 28, 2000)
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 | 56°F |
| Normal low | 34°F | 32°F | 34°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 5 | 4 | 6 |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 10.0 h | 10.9 h |
Highs change by -3°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Wilmington, NC134 mi · high 57°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Fayetteville, WV187 mi · high 41°F · 16 wet days
How Durham ranks in January
- Normal high169th warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 10 in North Carolina
- Wet days218th driest of 378
- Comfortable days136th most of 339
What to pack for Durham 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 18 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 718 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Durham in January?
The normal high is 52°F and the normal low is 32°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was 1°F (January 28, 2000).
Does it rain a lot in Durham in January?
About 10 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.4 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1998 (7.5 in); the driest was in 2004 (1.2 in).
Does it snow in Durham in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 2.6 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is January a good time to visit Durham?
January ranks 10th of 12 months on our comfort score for Durham (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 and humidity and wind by hour: Raleigh Durham Intl Airport (USW00013722), 9.6 mi SE of the city center, 416 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Pope AFB (USW00013714), 57 mi S of the city center, 218 ft (177 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Raleigh-Durham International Airport (723060-13722), 9.6 mi SE of the city center, 395 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.