Nags Head, NC weather in January
Nags Head is chilly in January, with some rain: highs average 51°F and nights drop to about 36°F. Expect about 8 wet days. Snowfall averages about 0.7 in. This is the depth of winter in Nags Head.
- Normal high
- 51°F
- Normal low
- 36°F
- Wet days
- 8
- 3.8 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.7 in
- normal snowfall
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 52°F | 51°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 35°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 24% | 25% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:13 am / 4:59 pm | 7:03 am / 5:28 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 am45°Fdew point 38°F
- 9 am47°Fdew point 39°F
- Noon50°Fdew point 39°F
- 3 pm50°Fdew point 39°F
- 6 pm47°Fdew point 39°F
- 9 pm46°Fdew point 39°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Cape Hatteras Airport (50 mi away); average wind 9 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F3 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 snow8 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below11 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more0 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 3.8 in; a dry January brings about 2.0 in and a wet one about 5.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.7 in.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 58°F
- Coolest January2003: average high 45°F
- Wettest January2014: 9.7 in
- Driest January2020: 1.3 in
- Highest reading74°F (January 31, 2002)
- Lowest reading9°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 | 55°F | 51°F | 53°F |
| Normal low | 40°F | 36°F | 37°F |
| Wet days | 7 | 8 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 10.0 h | 10.9 h |
Highs change by -4°F from December and +2°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Wilmington, NC178 mi · high 57°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Ocean City, MD167 mi · high 45°F · 11 wet days
How Nags Head ranks in January
- Normal high176th warmest of 378 cities; 8th of 10 in North Carolina
- Wet days129th driest of 378
- Comfortable days165th most of 339
What to pack for Nags Head in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 36°F, highs near 51°F
Heating and cooling
January has 677 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 Nags Head in January?
The normal high is 51°F and the normal low is 36°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was 9°F (January 19, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Nags Head in January?
About 8 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.8 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2014 (9.7 in); the driest was in 2020 (1.3 in).
Does it snow in Nags Head in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 0.7 in.
Is January a good time to visit Nags Head?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Nags Head (44 out of 100). It has about 3 comfortable days. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Manteo Airport (USW00013766), 5.1 mi WSW of the city center, 13 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Cape Hatteras Airport (USW00093729), 50 mi S of the city center, 11 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Billy Mitchell Airport (723139-93729), 50 mi S of the city center, 12 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).