Newport, RI weather in January
Newport is cold and snowy in January: highs average 40°F and nights drop to about 21°F. Expect about 11 wet days. Snowfall averages about 10.0 in. This is the depth of winter in Newport. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 40°F
- Normal low
- 21°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 4.2 in total
- Snowfall
- 10.0 in
- snow on the ground 10 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 41°F | 40°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 20°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 35% | 33% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:11 am / 4:25 pm | 6:57 am / 4:59 pm |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 10.0 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 18°F
- 9 am29°Fdew point 19°F
- Noon34°Fdew point 20°F
- 3 pm36°Fdew point 20°F
- 6 pm32°Fdew point 20°F
- 9 pm30°Fdew point 20°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Providence T F Green Airport (17 mi away); average wind 10 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 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 in7 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 4.2 in; a dry January brings about 3.3 in and a wet one about 5.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 10.0 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202020: average high 47°F
- Coolest January2004: average high 31°F
- Wettest January1998: 7.3 in
- Driest January2020: 1.5 in
- Highest reading69°F (January 13, 2020)
- Lowest reading-11°F (January 22, 2005)
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 | 45°F | 40°F | 43°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 21°F | 22°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 11 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 9.6 h | 10.6 h |
Highs change by -5°F from December and +3°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Cooler: Worcester, MA59 mi · high 32°F · 12 wet days
How Newport ranks in January
- Normal high252nd warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 2 in Rhode Island
- Wet days259th driest of 378
- Comfortable days262nd most of 339
What to pack for Newport in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 21°F, highs near 40°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 1069 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 Newport in January?
The normal high is 40°F and the normal low is 21°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -11°F (January 22, 2005).
Does it rain a lot in Newport in January?
About 11 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.2 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1998 (7.3 in); the driest was in 2020 (1.5 in).
Does it snow in Newport in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 10.0 in, and snow covers the ground on about 10 days.
Is January a good time to visit Newport?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Newport (31 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Kingston (USC00374266), 12 mi W of the city center, 117 ft (89 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates: Newport State Airport (USW00014787), 3.4 mi NNE of the city center, 172 ft (144 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Providence T F Green Airport (USW00014765), 17 mi NNW of the city center, 60 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Theodore F Green State Airport (725070-14765), 17 mi NNW of the city center, 51 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).