Washington DC weather in January (United States of America)

Planning a trip to Washington DC in January? Wondering if it's the right time to visit? Browse this page for a comprehensive overview of the weather conditions for that month.

In January, Washington DC typically experiences low temperatures and moderate snow/rainfall. January is a winter month. Throughout the day, temperatures typically settle at around 7°C. But by evening, they drop to around -2°C. It's often the coldest month of the year, a perfect time to cozy up indoors. Make sure to bring along suitable winter clothing.

Washington DC in January usually receives moderate snow/rainfall, averaging around 62 mm for the month. It's the month with the least rainfall. Whether you're keen on hiking, outdoor festivals, or just enjoying a walk in the park, this month provides a reliably dry backdrop for all your plans. When we look at the climate data from the last 30 years, we can expect around 10 days of snow/rain.

The area experiences a moderate amount of sunshine, with approximately 144 hours of sunlight expected. This makes it neither too gloomy nor overly bright.

If you're looking for dry conditions and comfortable temperatures, January may not be the ideal month to visit Washington DC. April and September generally stand out with the best circumstances. While January, February and December tend to showcase less optimal conditions.

For an in-depth look at the yearly conditions, visit our specialized Washington DC climate page with graphs.

 

Washington DC, monthly averages in January

Min Temperature -2°C  

Max Temperature 7°C  

Chance of Rain 33%  

Precipitation 62 mm  

Rainy days 10 days  

Humidity 62%  

Windspeed 18 km/h  

Sunshine 144 hours  

Percentage Sunshine 48%  

Where to go in the United States of America in January

Find out more about the weather in the United States of America in January and which places have the best weather conditions in this month.

Weather conditions Weather

Temperatures

Precipitation

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Legend perfect weather pleasant tolerable unpleasant poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C and 29°C and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm a month).

So, what should you wear in Washington DC in January?

Wear a base layer in cold weather; this is the #1 thing you can do to increase your overall body temperature.

What To Do

We rated the following activities from 1 (least suitable) to 10 (best) to do in January.

Swimming

5/10

Cycling

4/10

Walking

4/10

Camping

1/10

Outdoor sports

4/10

Interested in more climate information?

Weather and Climate provides you with all the information you need about the climate in Washington DC.

Our site offers climate and forecast data for every country in the world. Are you going to the United States of America? On this website you can find historical weather averages for many cities in the United States of America. Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal climate conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.