Cleveland, OH weather in January
January in Cleveland: cold and snowy. Highs 36°F, lows 22°F, about 18 wet days and about 18.4 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Cleveland. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 36°F
- Normal low
- 22°F
- Wet days
- 18
- 3.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 18.4 in
- snow on the ground 17 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 37°F | 36°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 22°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 55% | 54% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:53 am / 5:07 pm | 7:39 am / 5:41 pm |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 10.0 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 am30°Fdew point 23°F
- 9 am28°Fdew point 21°F
- Noon31°Fdew point 22°F
- 3 pm32°Fdew point 22°F
- 6 pm31°Fdew point 22°F
- 9 pm30°Fdew point 21°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Cleveland Burke Airport (1 mi away); average wind 14 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 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 snow18 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below26 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more17 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 3.0 in; a dry January brings about 2.0 in and a wet one about 3.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 18.4 in, with about 6 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 45°F
- Coolest January2009: average high 27°F
- Wettest January2005: 5.9 in
- Driest January2016: 1.4 in
- Highest reading70°F (January 11, 2020)
- Lowest reading-20°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 | 40°F | 36°F | 39°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 22°F | 24°F |
| Wet days | 16 | 18 | 14 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 9.6 h | 10.6 h |
Highs change by -4°F from December and +3°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Huntington, WV216 mi · high 43°F · 13 wet days
- Drier: Detroit, MI90 mi · high 32°F · 13 wet days
- Cooler: Lansing, MI170 mi · high 31°F · 14 wet days
How Cleveland ranks in January
- Normal high294th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 6 in Ohio
- Wet days357th driest of 378
- Comfortable days231st most of 339
What to pack for Cleveland in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 22°F, highs near 36°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 18 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 17 days
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1114 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 Cleveland in January?
The normal high is 36°F and the normal low is 22°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -20°F (January 19, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Cleveland in January?
About 18 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.0 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2005 (5.9 in); the driest was in 2016 (1.4 in).
Does it snow in Cleveland in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 18.4 in, and snow covers the ground on about 17 days.
Is January a good time to visit Cleveland?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Cleveland (26 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are May, June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Cleveland (USW00014820), 10 mi SW of the city center, 763 ft (109 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Cleveland Burke Airport (USW00004853), 1.4 mi NNE of the city center, 584 ft (70 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Cleveland-Hopkins International Airport (725240-14820), 10 mi SW of the city center, 777 ft (123 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).