Knoxville, TN weather in January
In January, Knoxville sees highs around 48°F and lows around 26°F: chilly, with frequent rain. Expect about 12 wet days. Snowfall averages about 1.7 in. It is one of the coldest months in Knoxville.
- Normal high
- 48°F
- Normal low
- 26°F
- Wet days
- 12
- 5.2 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.7 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 48°F | 49°F |
| Normal low | 28°F | 27°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 38% | 37% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:46 am / 5:32 pm | 7:36 am / 6:01 pm |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 10.4 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 am35°Fdew point 29°F
- 9 am35°Fdew point 29°F
- Noon42°Fdew point 30°F
- 3 pm46°Fdew point 30°F
- 6 pm43°Fdew point 30°F
- 9 pm40°Fdew point 30°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Knoxville Mcghee Tyson Airport (11 mi away); average wind 7 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F2 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 snow12 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in9 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below22 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more2 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 5.2 in; a dry January brings about 3.4 in and a wet one about 6.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 2 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.7 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 56°F
- Coolest January1994: average high 40°F
- Wettest January2013: 13.0 in
- Driest January2018: 2.2 in
- Highest reading75°F (January 31, 2002)
- Lowest reading-7°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 | 51°F | 48°F | 53°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 26°F | 29°F |
| Wet days | 11 | 12 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 3 | 2 | 4 |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 10.0 h | 10.9 h |
Highs change by -3°F from December and +5°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Athens, GA142 mi · high 55°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Lexington, KY147 mi · high 42°F · 13 wet days
How Knoxville ranks in January
- Normal high193rd warmest of 378 cities; 4th of 7 in Tennessee
- Wet days302nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days183rd most of 339
What to pack for Knoxville in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 26°F, highs near 48°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 12 days
- A hat and gloves – about 22 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 863 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 16% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Knoxville in January?
The normal high is 48°F and the normal low is 26°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -7°F (January 19, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Knoxville in January?
About 12 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 5.2 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2013 (13.0 in); the driest was in 2018 (2.2 in).
Does it snow in Knoxville in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 1.7 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is January a good time to visit Knoxville?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Knoxville (38 out of 100). It has about 2 comfortable days. The best months are April and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Knoxville Exp Stn (USC00404946), 4.8 mi SSW of the city center, 830 ft (69 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall, snow depth and humidity and wind by hour: Knoxville Mcghee Tyson Airport (USW00013891), 11 mi SSW of the city center, 962 ft (63 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Mc Ghee Tyson Airport (723260-13891), 11 mi SSW of the city center, 970 ft (71 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).