Pittsburgh, PA weather in January
In January, Pittsburgh sees highs around 36°F and lows around 21°F: cold and snowy. There are about 17 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 13.3 in. It is one of the coldest months in Pittsburgh. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 36°F
- Normal low
- 21°F
- Wet days
- 17
- 3.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 13.3 in
- snow on the ground 14 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 37°F | 37°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 21°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 52% | 53% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:43 am / 5:03 pm | 7:30 am / 5:36 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 am27°Fdew point 21°F
- 9 am27°Fdew point 21°F
- Noon32°Fdew point 22°F
- 3 pm33°Fdew point 22°F
- 6 pm32°Fdew point 22°F
- 9 pm30°Fdew point 22°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Pittsburgh Allegheny Co Airport (7 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 27% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 69%.
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 snow17 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 more14 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 2.1 in and a wet one about 3.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 13.3 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 46°F
- Coolest January2003: average high 28°F
- Wettest January2005: 6.1 in
- Driest January2001: 1.4 in
- Highest reading72°F (January 31, 2002)
- 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 | 41°F | 36°F | 40°F |
| Normal low | 27°F | 21°F | 23°F |
| Wet days | 15 | 17 | 14 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 1 | 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: Charleston, WV169 mi · high 44°F · 15 wet days
- Drier: Gettysburg, PA152 mi · high 38°F · 10 wet days
How Pittsburgh ranks in January
- Normal high288th warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 4 in Pennsylvania
- Wet days355th driest of 378
- Comfortable days215th most of 339
What to pack for Pittsburgh in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 21°F, highs near 36°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 17 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 14 days
- A hat and gloves – about 25 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1120 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 18% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Pittsburgh in January?
The normal high is 36°F and the normal low is 21°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -22°F (January 19, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Pittsburgh in January?
About 17 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 (6.1 in); the driest was in 2001 (1.4 in).
Does it snow in Pittsburgh in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 13.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 14 days.
Is January a good time to visit Pittsburgh?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Pittsburgh (29 out of 100). It has about 1 comfortable day. The best months are May and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Pittsburgh Intl Airport (USW00094823), 12 mi WNW of the city center, 1,203 ft (438 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Emsworth L/D Ohio Rvr (USC00362574), 6.6 mi NW of the city center, 717 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Pittsburgh Allegheny Co Airport (USW00014762), 7.1 mi SSE of the city center, 1,248 ft (483 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Pittsburgh International Airport (725200-94823), 12 mi WNW of the city center, 1,119 ft (354 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.