Suffolk, VA weather in January
Suffolk is chilly in January, with frequent rain and some snow: highs average 49°F and nights drop to about 31°F. There are about 11 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 3.1 in. This is the depth of winter in Suffolk.
- Normal high
- 49°F
- Normal low
- 31°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 3.7 in total
- Snowfall
- 3.1 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 50°F | 50°F |
| Normal low | 32°F | 31°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 34% | 34% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:18 am / 5:00 pm | 7:09 am / 5:30 pm |
| Daylight | 9.7 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 am37°Fdew point 30°F
- 9 am40°Fdew point 31°F
- Noon45°Fdew point 31°F
- 3 pm46°Fdew point 30°F
- 6 pm42°Fdew point 31°F
- 9 pm40°Fdew point 31°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Langley AFB (28 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 45% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 47%.
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 snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below17 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 3.7 in; a dry January brings about 2.8 in and a wet one about 4.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 3 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 3.1 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 58°F
- Coolest January2011: average high 44°F
- Wettest January1998: 6.3 in
- Driest January2008: 1.6 in
- Highest reading79°F (January 30, 2002)
- Lowest reading2°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 | 53°F | 49°F | 52°F |
| Normal low | 35°F | 31°F | 33°F |
| Wet days | 10 | 11 | 9 |
| Comfortable days | 4 | 4 | 5 |
| Daylight | 9.7 h | 10.0 h | 10.9 h |
Highs change by -4°F from December and +3°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Wilmington, NC189 mi · high 57°F · 10 wet days
- Drier: Nags Head, NC75 mi · high 51°F · 8 wet days
- Cooler: Baltimore, MD177 mi · high 43°F · 10 wet days
How Suffolk ranks in January
- Normal high183rd warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 5 in Virginia
- Wet days261st driest of 378
- Comfortable days145th most of 339
What to pack for Suffolk in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 31°F, highs near 49°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – about 3.1 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 17 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 769 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 Suffolk in January?
The normal high is 49°F and the normal low is 31°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was 2°F (January 7, 2018).
Does it rain a lot in Suffolk in January?
About 11 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.7 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1998 (6.3 in); the driest was in 2008 (1.6 in).
Does it snow in Suffolk in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 3.1 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is January a good time to visit Suffolk?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Suffolk (43 out of 100). It has about 4 comfortable days. The best months are April and May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Suffolk Lake Kilby (USC00448192), 1.0 mi W of the city center, 22 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour and cloud cover: Langley AFB (USW00013702), 28 mi NNE of the city center, 10 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Norfolk NAS (723085-13750), 22 mi NE of the city center, 17 ft . Hourly observations, 1991-2020.