Wisconsin Dells, WI weather in January
Wisconsin Dells is very cold and snowy in January: highs average 26°F and nights drop to about 8°F. There are about 7 days with rain or snow. Snowfall averages about 11.5 in. This is the depth of winter in Wisconsin Dells. Pack for serious cold.
- Normal high
- 26°F
- Normal low
- 8°F
- Wet days
- 7
- 1.3 in total
- Snowfall
- 11.5 in
- snow on the ground 24 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 28°F | 27°F |
| Normal low | 11°F | 7°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 25% | 24% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:32 am / 4:32 pm | 7:16 am / 5:08 pm |
| Daylight | 9.0 h | 9.9 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Central Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am17°Fdew point 12°F
- 9 am19°Fdew point 13°F
- Noon23°Fdew point 15°F
- 3 pm25°Fdew point 15°F
- 6 pm22°Fdew point 15°F
- 9 pm20°Fdew point 14°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Madison Dane Rgnl Airport (40 mi away); average wind 8 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 snow7 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in4 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below31 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more24 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 1.3 in; a dry January brings about 0.8 in and a wet one about 1.8 in (25th and 75th percentiles). Days with half an inch or more are rare. Normal snowfall is 11.5 in, with about 4 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 37°F
- Coolest January1994: average high 17°F
- Wettest January2019: 3.0 in
- Driest January2002: 0.3 in
- Highest reading55°F (January 8, 2003)
- Lowest reading-37°F (January 31, 2019)
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 | 32°F | 26°F | 31°F |
| Normal low | 15°F | 8°F | 11°F |
| Wet days | 9 | 7 | 7 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.0 h | 9.4 h | 10.5 h |
Highs change by -6°F from December and +5°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Warmer: Davenport, IA151 mi · high 32°F · 9 wet days
How Wisconsin Dells ranks in January
- Normal high363rd warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 5 in Wisconsin
- Wet days122nd driest of 378
- Comfortable days337th most of 339
What to pack for Wisconsin Dells in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 8°F, highs near 26°F
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 24 days
- A hat and gloves – about 31 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1482 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 18% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is Wisconsin Dells in January?
The normal high is 26°F and the normal low is 8°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -37°F (January 31, 2019).
Does it rain a lot in Wisconsin Dells in January?
About 7 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 1.3 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2019 (3.0 in); the driest was in 2002 (0.4 in).
Does it snow in Wisconsin Dells in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 11.5 in, and snow covers the ground on about 24 days.
Is January a good time to visit Wisconsin Dells?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for Wisconsin Dells (24 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days. The best month is May.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain, snowfall, snow depth and frost dates: Wisconsin Dells (USC00479319), 1.3 mi S of the city center, 835 ft (76 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Madison Dane Rgnl Airport (USW00014837), 40 mi SSE of the city center, 866 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Daily humidity and wind: Dane Co Regional-Truax Field Airport (726410-14837), 40 mi SSE of the city center, 859 ft (52 ft lower than the city). Hourly observations, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: cloud cover (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).