Spokane, WA weather in January
Spokane is cold and snowy in January: highs average 35°F and nights drop to about 25°F. Expect about 14 wet days. Snowfall averages about 12.3 in. This is the depth of winter in Spokane. Pack for serious cold.
- Normal high
- 35°F
- Normal low
- 25°F
- Wet days
- 14
- 2.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 12.3 in
- snow on the ground 16 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 33°F | 36°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 26°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 48% | 42% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:38 am / 4:08 pm | 7:17 am / 4:48 pm |
| Daylight | 8.5 h | 9.5 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Pacific Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am29°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 am30°Fdew point 26°F
- Noon34°Fdew point 28°F
- 3 pm36°Fdew point 28°F
- 6 pm33°Fdew point 28°F
- 9 pm31°Fdew point 27°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Spokane Felts Fld (5 mi away); average wind 4 mph.
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 snow14 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 more16 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 2.0 in; a dry January brings about 1.4 in and a wet one about 2.4 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 1 day brings half an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 12.3 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20201994: average high 41°F
- Coolest January2017: average high 27°F
- Wettest January2006: 4.5 in
- Driest January2001: 0.6 in
- Highest reading56°F (January 26, 2003)
- Lowest reading-22°F (January 5, 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 | 34°F | 35°F | 40°F |
| Normal low | 24°F | 25°F | 26°F |
| Wet days | 14 | 14 | 11 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 8.5 h | 8.9 h | 10.3 h |
Highs change by +1°F from December and +5°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Everett, WA223 mi · high 48°F · 19 wet days
How Spokane ranks in January
- Normal high303rd warmest of 378 cities; 8th of 9 in Washington
- Wet days341st driest of 378
- Comfortable days331st most of 339
What to pack for Spokane in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 25°F, highs near 35°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 14 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 16 days
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1097 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 Spokane in January?
The normal high is 35°F and the normal low is 25°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -22°F (January 5, 2004).
Does it rain a lot in Spokane in January?
About 14 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 2.0 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2006 (4.5 in); the driest was in 2001 (0.6 in).
Does it snow in Spokane in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 12.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 16 days.
Is January a good time to visit Spokane?
January ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Spokane (24 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is June.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall and snow depth: Spokane Intl Airport (USW00024157), 5.4 mi WSW of the city center, 2,353 ft (483 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Frost dates and humidity and wind by hour: Spokane Felts Fld (USW00094176), 5.2 mi ENE of the city center, 1,953 ft (83 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Spokane International Airport (727850-24157), 5.4 mi WSW of the city center, 2,355 ft (485 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).