Richmond, VA weather in January
January in Richmond: chilly, with frequent rain and some snow. Highs 48°F, lows 29°F, rain or snow on about 10 days and about 3.7 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Richmond.
- Normal high
- 48°F
- Normal low
- 29°F
- Wet days
- 10
- 3.2 in total
- Snowfall
- 3.7 in
- snow on the ground 3 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 48°F | 49°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 29°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 32% | 32% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:24 am / 5:02 pm | 7:14 am / 5:32 pm |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 10.3 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 am34°Fdew point 27°F
- 9 am37°Fdew point 28°F
- Noon43°Fdew point 27°F
- 3 pm46°Fdew point 27°F
- 6 pm42°Fdew point 27°F
- 9 pm38°Fdew point 27°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Richmond Intl Airport (8 mi away); average wind 8 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F3 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 below20 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more3 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 3.2 in; a dry January brings about 2.3 in and a wet one about 3.6 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 3.7 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 55°F
- Coolest January2003: average high 42°F
- Wettest January1998: 6.8 in
- Driest January2008: 1.0 in
- Highest reading81°F (January 30, 2002)
- Lowest reading-3°F (January 7, 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 | 52°F | 48°F | 52°F |
| Normal low | 32°F | 29°F | 30°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 3 | 3 | 4 |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | 9.9 h | 10.8 h |
Highs change by -4°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Fayetteville, NC190 mi · high 54°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Frederick, MD129 mi · high 39°F · 10 wet days
How Richmond ranks in January
- Normal high196th warmest of 378 cities; 5th of 5 in Virginia
- Wet days214th driest of 378
- Comfortable days166th most of 339
What to pack for Richmond in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 29°F, highs near 48°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 10 days
- Waterproof boots – about 3.7 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 20 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 828 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 Richmond in January?
The normal high is 48°F and the normal low is 29°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -3°F (January 7, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in Richmond in January?
About 10 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.2 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1998 (6.9 in); the driest was in 2008 (1.0 in).
Does it snow in Richmond in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 3.7 in, and snow covers the ground on about 3 days.
Is January a good time to visit Richmond?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Richmond (40 out of 100). It has about 3 comfortable days. The best months are April, May and October.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth, frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Richmond Intl Airport (USW00013740), 8.4 mi ESE of the city center, 164 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Richmond International Airport (724010-13740), 8.1 mi ESE of the city center, 166 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).