Charleston, WV weather in January
Expect chilly, snowy weather in Charleston in January, with highs near 44°F and lows near 26°F. Rain or snow falls on about 15 days. Snowfall averages about 10.3 in. It is one of the coldest months in Charleston. Pack for snow.
- Normal high
- 44°F
- Normal low
- 26°F
- Wet days
- 15
- 3.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 10.3 in
- snow on the ground 7 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 44°F | 45°F |
| Normal low | 27°F | 26°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 47% | 47% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:43 am / 5:16 pm | 7:32 am / 5:47 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 am31°Fdew point 25°F
- 9 am32°Fdew point 26°F
- Noon37°Fdew point 26°F
- 3 pm40°Fdew point 26°F
- 6 pm38°Fdew point 26°F
- 9 pm35°Fdew point 26°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Charleston Yeager Airport (3 mi away); average wind 5 mph; clear or few clouds in 35% 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°F2 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 snow15 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in8 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below23 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more7 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 3.3 in; a dry January brings about 2.4 in and a wet one about 3.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 10.3 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 54°F
- Coolest January2003: average high 35°F
- Wettest January1994: 6.4 in
- Driest January2000: 1.4 in
- Highest reading80°F (January 11, 2020)
- Lowest reading-16°F (January 19, 1994)
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 | 48°F | 44°F | 48°F |
| Normal low | 30°F | 26°F | 29°F |
| Wet days | 14 | 15 | 14 |
| Comfortable days | 3 | 2 | 3 |
| Daylight | 9.5 h | 9.8 h | 10.8 h |
Highs change by -4°F from December and +4°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Greensboro, NC187 mi · high 49°F · 10 wet days
- Drier: Cincinnati, OH164 mi · high 41°F · 11 wet days
- Cooler: Columbus, OH133 mi · high 37°F · 15 wet days
How Charleston ranks in January
- Normal high228th warmest of 378 cities; 1st of 4 in West Virginia
- Wet days345th driest of 378
- Comfortable days179th most of 339
What to pack for Charleston in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 26°F, highs near 44°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 15 days
- Waterproof boots – about 10.3 in of snow in a typical year
- A hat and gloves – about 23 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 930 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 17% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Charleston in January?
The normal high is 44°F and the normal low is 26°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -16°F (January 19, 1994).
Does it rain a lot in Charleston in January?
About 15 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.3 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 1994 (6.4 in); the driest was in 2000 (1.4 in).
Does it snow in Charleston in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 10.3 in, and snow covers the ground on about 7 days.
Is January a good time to visit Charleston?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Charleston (35 out of 100). It has about 2 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: Charleston Yeager Airport (USW00013866), 3.1 mi NE of the city center, 910 ft (314 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Huntington Tri State Airport (USW00003860), 50 mi W of the city center, 824 ft (228 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Yeager Airport (724140-13866), 3.1 mi NE of the city center, 912 ft (316 ft higher than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.