Allentown, PA weather in January
Expect cold weather with frequent rain and some snow in Allentown in January, with highs near 38°F and lows near 22°F. Rain or snow falls on about 11 days. Snowfall averages about 9.8 in. It is one of the coldest months in Allentown.
- Normal high
- 38°F
- Normal low
- 22°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 3.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 9.8 in
- snow on the ground 10 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 39°F | 39°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 21°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 38% | 36% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:25 am / 4:45 pm | 7:12 am / 5:18 pm |
| Daylight | 9.3 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 am26°Fdew point 19°F
- 9 am28°Fdew point 20°F
- Noon34°Fdew point 21°F
- 3 pm36°Fdew point 21°F
- 6 pm32°Fdew point 20°F
- 9 pm30°Fdew point 20°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Allentown Intl Airport (4 mi away); average wind 8 mph; clear or few clouds in 44% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 49%.
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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below27 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more10 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 3.3 in; a dry January brings about 2.4 in and a wet one about 3.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 9.8 in, with about 2 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 46°F
- Coolest January1994: average high 29°F
- Wettest January1996: 7.3 in
- Driest January2008: 1.3 in
- Highest reading70°F (January 6, 2007)
- Lowest reading-15°F (January 21, 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 | 43°F | 38°F | 42°F |
| Normal low | 27°F | 22°F | 23°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 11 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Daylight | 9.3 h | 9.7 h | 10.7 h |
Highs change by -5°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Dover, DE100 mi · high 44°F · 10 wet days
- Cooler: Albany, NY167 mi · high 33°F · 13 wet days
How Allentown ranks in January
- Normal high273rd warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 4 in Pennsylvania
- Wet days296th driest of 378
- Comfortable days225th most of 339
What to pack for Allentown in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 22°F, highs near 38°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 10 days
- A hat and gloves – about 27 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1082 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 Allentown in January?
The normal high is 38°F and the normal low is 22°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -15°F (January 21, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Allentown in January?
About 11 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.3 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (7.3 in); the driest was in 2008 (1.3 in).
Does it snow in Allentown in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 9.8 in, and snow covers the ground on about 10 days.
Is January a good time to visit Allentown?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Allentown (29 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Allentown Intl Airport (USW00014737), 3.6 mi NE of the city center, 390 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Lehigh Valley International Airport (725170-14737), 3.6 mi NE of the city center, 385 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.