Salem, OR weather in January
In January, Salem sees highs around 48°F and lows around 36°F: chilly, with rain on most days. There are about 18 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 0.5 in. It is one of the coldest months in Salem. Pack rain gear.
- Normal high
- 48°F
- Normal low
- 36°F
- Wet days
- 18
- 6.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.5 in
- normal snowfall
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 47°F | 50°F |
| Normal low | 35°F | 36°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 61% | 57% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:50 am / 4:41 pm | 7:32 am / 5:18 pm |
| Daylight | 8.8 h | 9.8 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Pacific Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am39°Fdew point 36°F
- 9 am40°Fdew point 36°F
- Noon45°Fdew point 38°F
- 3 pm46°Fdew point 38°F
- 6 pm43°Fdew point 38°F
- 9 pm41°Fdew point 37°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Salem Mcnary Fld (3 mi away); average wind 7 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 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 in13 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 6.1 in; a dry January brings about 3.3 in and a wet one about 8.3 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 0.5 in.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202018: average high 52°F
- Coolest January2013: average high 42°F
- Wettest January2006: 13.4 in
- Driest January2005: 1.4 in
- Highest reading64°F (January 24, 2015)
- Lowest reading13°F (January 11, 1993)
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 | 47°F | 48°F | 52°F |
| Normal low | 35°F | 36°F | 36°F |
| Wet days | 19 | 18 | 16 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Daylight | 8.8 h | 9.2 h | 10.4 h |
Highs change by +1°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Drier: Bend, OR104 mi · high 43°F · 9 wet days
- Cooler: Bend, OR104 mi · high 43°F · 9 wet days
How Salem ranks in January
- Normal high189th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 6 in Oregon
- Wet days360th driest of 378
- Comfortable days321st most of 339
What to pack for Salem in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 36°F, highs near 48°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 18 days
Heating and cooling
January has 710 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 Salem in January?
The normal high is 48°F and the normal low is 36°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was 13°F (most recently on January 11, 1993).
Does it rain a lot in Salem in January?
About 18 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 6.1 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2006 (13.4 in); the driest was in 2005 (1.4 in).
Does it snow in Salem in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 0.5 in.
Is January a good time to visit Salem?
January ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Salem (33 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Salem Mcnary Fld (USW00024232), 3.1 mi SSE of the city center, 205 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall: Corvallis State Univ (USC00351862), 23 mi SSW of the city center, 225 ft (68 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snow depth: Silverton (USC00357823), 14 mi ENE of the city center, 408 ft (251 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Mcnary Field Airport (726940-24232), 3.1 mi SSE of the city center, 208 ft (51 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).