Dayton, OH weather in January
In January, Dayton sees highs around 36°F and lows around 20°F: cold, with frequent rain and some snow. There are about 12 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 8.3 in. It is one of the coldest months in Dayton.
- Normal high
- 36°F
- Normal low
- 20°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 3.2 in total
- Snowfall
- 8.3 in
- snow on the ground 11 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 37°F | 37°F |
| Normal low | 22°F | 20°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 38% | 37% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:57 am / 5:22 pm | 7:45 am / 5:54 pm |
| Daylight | 9.4 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 am26°Fdew point 22°F
- 9 am27°Fdew point 22°F
- Noon32°Fdew point 24°F
- 3 pm34°Fdew point 24°F
- 6 pm32°Fdew point 24°F
- 9 pm29°Fdew point 23°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Wright Patterson AFB (9 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 snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below26 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 3.2 in; a dry January brings about 2.2 in and a wet one about 4.0 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 8.3 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 January2014: average high 29°F
- Wettest January2005: 8.5 in
- Driest January2001: 1.1 in
- Highest reading70°F (January 11, 2020)
- Lowest reading-18°F (January 20, 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 | 41°F | 36°F | 40°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 20°F | 23°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 12 | 10 |
| 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: Lexington, KY119 mi · high 42°F · 13 wet days
- Cooler: South Bend, IN171 mi · high 31°F · 17 wet days
How Dayton ranks in January
- Normal high287th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 6 in Ohio
- Wet days315th driest of 378
- Comfortable days219th most of 339
What to pack for Dayton in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 20°F, highs near 36°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 11 days
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1141 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 Dayton in January?
The normal high is 36°F and the normal low is 20°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -18°F (most recently on January 20, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Dayton in January?
About 12 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.2 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2005 (8.5 in); the driest was in 2001 (1.1 in).
Does it snow in Dayton in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 8.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 11 days.
Is January a good time to visit Dayton?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Dayton (29 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best months are April, May and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Dayton Mcd (USC00332067), 0.3 mi N of the city center, 720 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Dayton Intl Airport (USW00093815), 10 mi N of the city center, 1,000 ft (260 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Wright Patterson AFB (USW00013840), 9.1 mi NE of the city center, 823 ft (83 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: J.m.cox Dayton International Airport (724290-93815), 10 mi N of the city center, 993 ft (253 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.