Columbus, OH weather in January
Columbus is cold in January, with frequent rain and some snow: highs average 37°F and nights drop to about 22°F. Rain or snow falls on about 15 days. Snowfall averages about 9.5 in. This is the depth of winter in Columbus.
- Normal high
- 37°F
- Normal low
- 22°F
- Wet days
- 15
- 3.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 9.5 in
- snow on the ground 11 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 38°F | 38°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 22°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 46% | 45% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:53 am / 5:17 pm | 7:41 am / 5:49 pm |
| Daylight | 9.4 h | 10.1 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 am27°Fdew point 21°F
- 9 am28°Fdew point 22°F
- Noon32°Fdew point 23°F
- 3 pm34°Fdew point 23°F
- 6 pm32°Fdew point 23°F
- 9 pm30°Fdew point 23°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Columbus Port Columbus Intl Airport (7 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 23% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 70%.
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 snow15 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below25 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more11 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 3.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 9.5 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 48°F
- Coolest January1994: average high 29°F
- Wettest January2005: 8.9 in
- Driest January2016: 1.1 in
- Highest reading71°F (January 11, 2020)
- 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 | 42°F | 37°F | 41°F |
| Normal low | 27°F | 22°F | 24°F |
| Wet days | 13 | 15 | 12 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Daylight | 9.4 h | 9.7 h | 10.7 h |
Highs change by -5°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Huntington, WV111 mi · high 43°F · 13 wet days
- Drier: Cincinnati, OH100 mi · high 41°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Dearborn, MI163 mi · high 32°F · 13 wet days
How Columbus ranks in January
- Normal high280th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 6 in Ohio
- Wet days342nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days212th most of 339
What to pack for Columbus in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 22°F, highs near 37°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 15 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 11 days
- A hat and gloves – about 25 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1099 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 Columbus in January?
The normal high is 37°F and the normal low is 22°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -22°F (January 19, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Columbus in January?
About 15 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 (9.0 in); the driest was in 2016 (1.1 in).
Does it snow in Columbus in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 9.5 in, and snow covers the ground on about 11 days.
Is January a good time to visit Columbus?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Columbus (30 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Columbus Port Columbus Intl Airport (USW00014821), 6.6 mi ENE of the city center, 810 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Wright Patterson AFB (USW00013840), 56 mi W of the city center, 823 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Port Columbus International Airport (724280-14821), 6.8 mi ENE of the city center, 810 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.