Providence, RI weather in January
Providence is cold and snowy in January: highs average 38°F and nights drop to about 22°F. Rain or snow falls on about 11 days. Snowfall averages about 10.3 in. This is the depth of winter in Providence. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 38°F
- Normal low
- 22°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 4.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 10.3 in
- snow on the ground 8 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 40°F | 38°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 22°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 38% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:13 am / 4:25 pm | 6:58 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 (7 mi away); average wind 10 mph; clear or few clouds in 29% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 56%.
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 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below26 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more8 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 4.0 in; a dry January brings about 3.0 in and a wet one about 4.9 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 10.3 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 45°F
- Coolest January2004: average high 29°F
- Wettest January1996: 7.0 in
- Driest January2020: 1.3 in
- Highest reading70°F (January 12, 2020)
- Lowest reading-6°F (January 16, 2004)
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 | 41°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 22°F | 24°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 11 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 9.5 h | 10.6 h |
Highs change by -5°F from December and +3°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Cooler: Worcester, MA36 mi · high 32°F · 12 wet days
How Providence ranks in January
- Normal high274th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 2 in Rhode Island
- Wet days290th driest of 378
- Comfortable days246th most of 339
What to pack for Providence 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 – about 10.3 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1079 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 Providence in January?
The normal high is 38°F and the normal low is 22°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -6°F (January 16, 2004).
Does it rain a lot in Providence in January?
About 11 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.0 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1996 (7.0 in); the driest was in 2020 (1.3 in).
Does it snow in Providence in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 10.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 8 days.
Is January a good time to visit Providence?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Providence (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 and humidity and wind by hour: Providence T F Green Airport (USW00014765), 7.1 mi S of the city center, 60 ft (51 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Boston Logan Intl Airport (USW00014739), 42 mi NNE of the city center, 12 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Theodore F Green State Airport (725070-14765), 7.0 mi S of the city center, 51 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.