January is one of the cooler months of the year in Denver, with average highs near 4.8°C and lows around -6.9°C (mean -1.1°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 17 mm of rainfall and 56% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Denver. Across 45 years of records, the warmest Januarys in Denver were 1986 and 2003 — when the month averaged 2.4°C — while the coldest was 1988 at -5.2°C. Typical January days reach 4.8°C with nights near -6.9°C. The long-term January temperature trend is broadly flat.
January is one of the drier months in Denver, averaging 17 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2019 with 34 mm, while the driest was 1983 at 6 mm.
Relative humidity in Denver during January averages 56%. The most humid Januarys were 2015 and 2023 at 66%, and the least humid was 2013 at 46%.
January receives about 2.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Denver. The sunniest Januarys were 1995, 2006 and 2008, among others at 2.8 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1985, 2001 and 2015 at 2.3.
Average wind speed in Denver during January is 2.8 m/s. The windiest January was 1982 at 3.9 m/s, while the calmest was 2010 at 2.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -1.4°C | -1.1°C | -0.6°C | -0.7°C | -1.7°C | -0.3°C |
| Avg High | 4.4°C | 4.8°C | 5.3°C | 5.2°C | 4.0°C | -0.4°C |
| Avg Low | -7.2°C | -6.9°C | -6.4°C | -6.6°C | -7.5°C | -0.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 13 mm | 17 mm | 18 mm | 18 mm | 18 mm | +5 mm |
January temperatures in Denver have fallen by about 0.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -22.8°C (1984) to a record high of 18.3°C (1997).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 17 mm, with a wettest year of 34 mm.
A quieter season to visit Denver
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Denver. That said, January — with days averaging 4.8°C and nights around -6.9°C (mean -1.1°C) and low rainfall (17 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1.8°C | -4.2°C | -10.2°C | 12.4°C | -21.1°C | 26 mm | 58% | 2.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2024 | 3.4°C | -2.1°C | -7.6°C | 13.9°C | -22.6°C | 19 mm | 63% | 2.4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2023 | 2.5°C | -2.9°C | -8.3°C | 13.1°C | -16.6°C | 24 mm | 66% | 2.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2022 | 5.7°C | -0.4°C | -6.6°C | 14.0°C | -16.5°C | 25 mm | 52% | 2.8 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2021 | 5.3°C | -0.4°C | -6.2°C | 12.6°C | -12.2°C | 10 mm | 54% | 2.7 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2020 | 5.5°C | -0.2°C | -5.9°C | 11.6°C | -12.6°C | 7 mm | 53% | 2.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2019 🌧️ | 4.7°C | -1.2°C | -7.1°C | 12.7°C | -17.2°C | 34 mm | 58% | 2.6 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2018 | 7.2°C | 0.9°C | -5.4°C | 14.1°C | -13.3°C | 16 mm | 51% | 2.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2017 | 3.8°C | -1.7°C | -7.2°C | 12.2°C | -17.7°C | 26 mm | 59% | 2.8 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2016 | 5.0°C | -0.6°C | -6.2°C | 13.0°C | -14.7°C | 13 mm | 57% | 2.4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2015 | 5.6°C | -0.1°C | -5.8°C | 17.9°C | -15.5°C | 15 mm | 66% | 2.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2014 | 4.3°C | -1.5°C | -7.2°C | 12.0°C | -17.2°C | 28 mm | 58% | 3.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2013 | 4.9°C | -0.9°C | -6.8°C | 14.8°C | -18.0°C | 9 mm | 46% | 2.7 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2012 | 7.1°C | 0.9°C | -5.3°C | 15.0°C | -14.0°C | 11 mm | 50% | 3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2011 | 4.1°C | -1.9°C | -7.9°C | 14.6°C | -17.8°C | 20 mm | 56% | 3.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2010 | 5.1°C | -0.9°C | -6.9°C | 12.0°C | -18.0°C | 7 mm | 56% | 2.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2009 | 6.1°C | 0.3°C | -5.5°C | 15.6°C | -13.3°C | 16 mm | 52% | 3.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2008 | 2.5°C | -3.6°C | -9.8°C | 12.0°C | -20.3°C | 17 mm | 55% | 3.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2007 | 2.0°C | -3.8°C | -9.6°C | 10.5°C | -17.7°C | 23 mm | 65% | 2.7 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2006 | 6.5°C | 0.4°C | -5.6°C | 15.0°C | -11.7°C | 14 mm | 50% | 3.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2005 | 7.1°C | 1.3°C | -4.5°C | 17.7°C | -13.4°C | 26 mm | 63% | 2.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2004 | 5.3°C | -0.2°C | -5.8°C | 12.5°C | -16.1°C | 18 mm | 52% | 2.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2003 | 8.4°C | 2.4°C | -3.5°C | 15.9°C | -7.0°C | 7 mm | 55% | 2.7 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2002 | 4.9°C | -1.3°C | -7.4°C | 12.9°C | -14.2°C | 17 mm | 53% | 2.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2001 | 4.5°C | -1.2°C | -6.9°C | 14.5°C | -13.9°C | 18 mm | 55% | 2.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2000 | 5.3°C | -0.1°C | -5.6°C | 13.7°C | -13.9°C | 25 mm | 56% | 2.6 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1999 | 5.4°C | 0.0°C | -5.4°C | 11.5°C | -14.7°C | 20 mm | 58% | 2.8 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1998 | 5.1°C | -0.3°C | -5.7°C | 12.4°C | -11.6°C | 16 mm | 61% | 2.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1997 | 4.2°C | -1.7°C | -7.5°C | 18.3°C | -21.1°C | 18 mm | 60% | 2.9 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1996 | 3.3°C | -2.9°C | -9.1°C | 14.2°C | -17.1°C | 27 mm | 58% | 3.4 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1995 | 5.1°C | -0.6°C | -6.3°C | 12.4°C | -14.0°C | 12 mm | 55% | 2.4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1994 | 4.6°C | -0.9°C | -6.5°C | 12.2°C | -18.6°C | 18 mm | 55% | 2.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1993 | 4.7°C | -1.2°C | -7.0°C | 12.6°C | -14.6°C | 11 mm | 59% | 2.5 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1992 | 5.7°C | -0.4°C | -6.4°C | 14.9°C | -18.0°C | 16 mm | 53% | 2.9 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1991 | 3.6°C | -2.4°C | -8.5°C | 10.8°C | -17.8°C | 14 mm | 57% | 2.7 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1990 | 5.8°C | -0.2°C | -6.2°C | 16.4°C | -12.3°C | 19 mm | 51% | 3.7 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1989 | 4.8°C | -1.2°C | -7.3°C | 12.3°C | -15.2°C | 25 mm | 52% | 3.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1988 ❄️ | 1.0°C | -5.2°C | -11.4°C | 10.4°C | -18.1°C | 18 mm | 65% | 3.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1987 | 4.0°C | -1.7°C | -7.4°C | 14.4°C | -16.8°C | 21 mm | 58% | 3.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1986 🔥 | 8.6°C | 2.4°C | -3.7°C | 15.0°C | -10.1°C | 7 mm | 49% | 3.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1985 | 1.6°C | -3.7°C | -9.0°C | 9.3°C | -19.7°C | 11 mm | 63% | 2.4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1984 | 3.5°C | -2.5°C | -8.4°C | 12.6°C | -22.8°C | 8 mm | 59% | 2.9 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1983 | 5.4°C | 0.2°C | -5.0°C | 11.7°C | -13.1°C | 6 mm | 58% | 2.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 2.9°C | -2.8°C | -8.5°C | 13.4°C | -18.4°C | 15 mm | 56% | 3.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 7.4°C | 1.5°C | -4.4°C | 14.7°C | -9.1°C | 7 mm | 47% | 2.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 4.8°C with lows near -6.9°C (mean -1.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 17 mm of rainfall in Denver, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 34 mm in 2019.
The hottest January reached 18.3°C in 1997. The coldest dipped to -22.8°C in 1984.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have fallen by about 0.5°C. Daytime highs moved from 4.2°C to 3.7°C and overnight lows from -7.1°C to -7.8°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Denver and one of the drier months, so plan for around 4.8°C daytime highs and -6.9°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Denver, averaging -1.1°C.
For January in Denver, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 4.8°C and lows of -6.9°C.
Relative humidity in January averages 56% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in January is 2.8 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 3.9 m/s (1982).
The wettest January on record was 2019 with 34 mm. On average, January sees 17 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Denver behaves each January, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for January specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
