Cincinnati, OH weather in January
Cincinnati is cold in January, with frequent rain and some snow: highs average 41°F and nights drop to about 24°F. Expect about 11 wet days. Snowfall averages about 7.7 in. This is the depth of winter in Cincinnati.
- Normal high
- 41°F
- Normal low
- 24°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 2.9 in total
- Snowfall
- 7.7 in
- snow on the ground 8 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 41°F | 42°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 23°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 36% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:57 am / 5:25 pm | 7:45 am / 5:57 pm |
| Daylight | 9.5 h | 10.2 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 am29°Fdew point 23°F
- 9 am29°Fdew point 24°F
- Noon35°Fdew point 25°F
- 3 pm38°Fdew point 25°F
- 6 pm36°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 pm32°Fdew point 25°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Cincinnati Lunken Airport (5 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 39% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 56%.
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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below24 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more8 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 2.9 in; a dry January brings about 1.9 in and a wet one about 3.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 7.7 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 51°F
- Coolest January1994: average high 32°F
- Wettest January2005: 5.8 in
- Driest January2011: 1.0 in
- Highest reading72°F (January 22, 1999)
- Lowest reading-22°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 | 45°F | 41°F | 45°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 24°F | 26°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 11 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Daylight | 9.5 h | 9.8 h | 10.7 h |
Highs change by -4°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Bowling Green, KY180 mi · high 46°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Fishers, IN99 mi · high 33°F · 12 wet days
How Cincinnati ranks in January
- Normal high245th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 6 in Ohio
- Wet days268th driest of 378
- Comfortable days200th most of 339
What to pack for Cincinnati in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 24°F, highs near 41°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – about 7.7 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 24 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1020 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 Cincinnati in January?
The normal high is 41°F and the normal low is 24°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -22°F (January 19, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Cincinnati in January?
About 11 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.9 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2005 (5.8 in); the driest was in 2011 (1.0 in).
Does it snow in Cincinnati in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 7.7 in, and snow covers the ground on about 8 days.
Is January a good time to visit Cincinnati?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Cincinnati (32 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best months are April, May and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Cincinnati Lunken Airport (USW00093812), 5.2 mi E of the city center, 490 ft (62 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Cincinnati Northern Ky Airport (USW00093814), 9.4 mi WSW of the city center, 869 ft (317 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Cina Muni Apt/Lukn Fd Apt (724297-93812), 5.3 mi E of the city center, 475 ft (77 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.