Tacoma, WA weather in January
January in Tacoma: chilly, with rain on most days. Highs 48°F, lows 37°F, about 20 wet days and about 1.5 in of snow. This is the depth of winter in Tacoma. Keep rain gear handy.
- Normal high
- 48°F
- Normal low
- 37°F
- Wet days
- 20
- 6.0 in total
- Snowfall
- 1.5 in
- snow on the ground 2 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 47°F | 49°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 37°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 64% | 60% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:56 am / 4:30 pm | 7:36 am / 5:09 pm |
| Daylight | 8.6 h | 9.6 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 am37°Fdew point 35°F
- 9 am38°Fdew point 36°F
- Noon44°Fdew point 39°F
- 3 pm46°Fdew point 39°F
- 6 pm42°Fdew point 38°F
- 9 pm39°Fdew point 37°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Tacoma Mcchord AFB (7 mi away); average wind 6 mph.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F and dew point under 60°F0 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain, afternoon wind under 15 mph0 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 snow20 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in13 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below8 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 6.0 in; a dry January brings about 4.1 in and a wet one about 7.7 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 4 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 1.5 in, with about 1 day of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202010: average high 54°F
- Coolest January2017: average high 44°F
- Wettest January2006: 11.9 in
- Driest January2001: 2.8 in
- Highest reading66°F (January 19, 2005)
- Lowest reading17°F (January 31, 1996)
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 | 47°F | 48°F | 50°F |
| Normal low | 37°F | 37°F | 37°F |
| Wet days | 20 | 20 | 16 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 8.6 h | 9.0 h | 10.3 h |
Highs change by +1°F from December and +2°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Drier: Leavenworth, WA87 mi · high 34°F · 14 wet days
- Cooler: Leavenworth, WA87 mi · high 34°F · 14 wet days
How Tacoma ranks in January
- Normal high191st warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 9 in Washington
- Wet days374th driest of 378
- Comfortable days332nd most of 339
What to pack for Tacoma in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 37°F, highs near 48°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 20 days
Heating and cooling
January has 690 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 15% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Tacoma in January?
The normal high is 48°F and the normal low is 37°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was 17°F (January 31, 1996).
Does it rain a lot in Tacoma in January?
About 20 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 6.0 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2006 (11.9 in); the driest was in 2001 (2.8 in).
Does it snow in Tacoma in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 1.5 in, and snow covers the ground on about 2 days.
Is January a good time to visit Tacoma?
January ranks 11th of 12 months on our comfort score for Tacoma (32 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best months are June, July and August.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: Tacoma #1 (USC00458278), 1.6 mi ESE of the city center, 25 ft (225 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: Mcmillin Rsvr (USC00455224), 12 mi SE of the city center, 579 ft (329 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Tacoma Mcchord AFB (USW00024207), 7.3 mi SSW of the city center, 289 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Mcchord AFB Airport (742060-24207), 7.3 mi SSW of the city center, 322 ft (72 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).