Memphis, TN weather in January
January in Memphis: chilly, with frequent rain. Highs 51°F, lows 33°F, about 10 days with rain or snow and about 0.5 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Memphis.
- Normal high
- 51°F
- Normal low
- 33°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 4.1 in total
- Snowfall
- 0.5 in
- snow on the ground 1 day
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 51°F | 52°F |
| Normal low | 34°F | 34°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 34% | 33% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:08 am / 4:58 pm | 6:59 am / 5:27 pm |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 10.5 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am38°Fdew point 31°F
- 9 am40°Fdew point 31°F
- Noon46°Fdew point 32°F
- 3 pm48°Fdew point 32°F
- 6 pm44°Fdew point 32°F
- 9 pm42°Fdew point 32°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Memphis Intl Airport (7 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 29% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 59%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F4 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 snow10 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in6 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below15 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more1 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 4.1 in; a dry January brings about 2.9 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 0.5 in.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 59°F
- Coolest January1994: average high 45°F
- Wettest January2013: 9.7 in
- Driest January2003: 0.9 in
- Highest reading79°F (January 31, 2002)
- Lowest reading7°F (January 17, 2018)
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 | 53°F | 51°F | 56°F |
| Normal low | 36°F | 33°F | 37°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 10 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 4 | 4 | 7 |
| Daylight | 9.8 h | 10.1 h | 10.9 h |
Highs change by -2°F from December and +5°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Jackson, MS197 mi · high 57°F · 10 wet days
- Drier: Branson, MO205 mi · high 48°F · 7 wet days
- Cooler: Springfield, MO231 mi · high 44°F · 8 wet days
How Memphis ranks in January
- Normal high175th warmest of 378 cities; 2nd of 7 in Tennessee
- Wet days212th driest of 378
- Comfortable days149th most of 339
What to pack for Memphis in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 33°F, highs near 51°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
Heating and cooling
January has 711 heating degree days and 1 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 14% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Memphis in January?
The normal high is 51°F and the normal low is 33°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was 7°F (January 17, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in Memphis in January?
About 10 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 4.1 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2013 (9.7 in); the driest was in 2003 (0.9 in).
Does it snow in Memphis in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 0.5 in, and snow covers the ground on about 1 day.
Is January a good time to visit Memphis?
January ranks 10th of 12 months on our comfort score for Memphis (43 out of 100). It has about 4 comfortable days. The best month is April.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, frost dates, humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Memphis Intl Airport (USW00013893), 7.3 mi SSE of the city center, 254 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: W Memphis (USC00037712), 7.6 mi WSW of the city center, 215 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Memphis International Airport (723340-13893), 7.4 mi SSE of the city center, 251 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.