What January feels like in Denver
Winter bottoms out in January, the coolest month of Denver's year. Midday brings little warmth — expect coat-and-scarf weather from morning to evening. The day–night swing is wide (about 14.2°C (25.6°F)): nights drop well below freezing, so mornings and evenings feel very different from midday. Damp air makes the cold feel rawer than the numbers alone suggest.
Rain in Denver in January
Rain turns up now and then — about one day in 6. Each rainy day adds about 4.1 mm (0.2 in), a proper wetting rather than a sprinkle. That is lighter than the city's yearly norm of about 5.7 mm per rainy day. January is Denver's driest month of the year.
Daylight and sunshine in January
Mid-month, Denver gets 9 h 39 min of daylight, from sunrise near 7:19 am to sunset near 4:58 pm. The days are stretching out — 16 min more daylight than mid-December. About 86% of daylight hours are sunny; in short, skies are mostly clear.
How January compares to the rest of the year
January is the coolest month of the year in Denver. Against December, the average high is 1.1°C (2°F) lower, with 3 mm less rain. From here it only gets warmer, starting with February. By February, typical highs are 5.7°C (42.3°F).
Who January suits
- Sightseeing: less ideal — it is cold for long walks.
- Parks & outdoor: less ideal — too cool to sit outside for long.
- Hiking: less ideal — trails are cool.
- Museums & indoor: a good choice — warm places to spend the coldest part of the day.
Tips for visiting Denver in January
Versatile Layers
Pack pieces you can take off by noon and put back on at dusk.
Warm Layers
Insulated layers and warm shoes for the cold hours.
Sunglasses
Bright days make sunglasses worth packing.
Quick questions
How warm is Denver in January?
Afternoons average 4.5°C (40.1°F) and nights about -9.7°C (14.5°F) — cold by most people's standards. It is the coolest month of the year.
Does it rain a lot in Denver in January?
Only moderately: roughly 5 wet days and 21 mm, usually moderate rain.
What should I wear in Denver in January?
The numbers point to versatile layers, warm layers and sunglasses. Bring something extra for the cooler evenings.
Is January or February better for visiting Denver?
February scores better on our climate ranking (#10 of 12 vs #12), rated Fair against Fair. February is warmer and has more rainy days.