January is one of the cooler months of the year in Pocatello, with average highs near -0.8°C and lows around -10.3°C (mean -5.6°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 38 mm of rainfall and 87% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Pocatello. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Pocatello was 2003 — when the month averaged 0.4°C — while the coldest was 2017 at -9.9°C. Typical January days reach -0.8°C with nights near -10.3°C. The long-term January temperature trend is broadly flat.
January is about average for rainfall in Pocatello, averaging 38 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2017 with 102 mm, while the driest was 1992 at 8 mm.
Relative humidity in Pocatello during January averages 87%. The most humid January was 1989 at 95%, and the least humid was 1981 at 73%.
January receives about 1.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Pocatello. The sunniest January was 2007 at 2.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2000 at 1.5.
Average wind speed in Pocatello during January is 2.5 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 1982 and 1990 at 3.4 m/s, while the calmest was 1985 at 1.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -6.6°C | -5.0°C | -5.5°C | -5.1°C | -5.6°C | +1°C |
| Avg High | -1.9°C | -0.2°C | -0.7°C | -0.3°C | -0.9°C | +1°C |
| Avg Low | -11.3°C | -9.8°C | -10.2°C | -9.8°C | -10.4°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 26 mm | 43 mm | 35 mm | 45 mm | 45 mm | +19 mm |
January temperatures in Pocatello have stayed relatively stable across the record.
January has ranged from a record low of -32.5°C (1984) to a record high of 13.5°C (2003).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 38 mm, with a wettest year of 102 mm.
A quieter season to visit Pocatello
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Pocatello. That said, January — with days averaging -0.8°C and nights around -10.3°C (mean -5.6°C) and moderate rainfall (38 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 | -1.6°C | -6.9°C | -12.2°C | 4.2°C | -23.7°C | 26 mm | 84% | 2.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2024 | -0.5°C | -4.7°C | -8.9°C | 8.7°C | -24.5°C | 62 mm | 89% | 2.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2023 | -2.4°C | -7.1°C | -11.9°C | 2.4°C | -32.2°C | 64 mm | 92% | 2.4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2022 | -2.6°C | -7.5°C | -12.5°C | 1.4°C | -25.7°C | 30 mm | 92% | 2.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2021 | 1.3°C | -3.5°C | -8.3°C | 4.7°C | -13.1°C | 27 mm | 80% | 2.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2020 | 0.4°C | -4.1°C | -8.7°C | 3.1°C | -16.2°C | 60 mm | 88% | 3.2 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2019 | -0.6°C | -5.8°C | -10.9°C | 3.6°C | -21.6°C | 45 mm | 88% | 2.5 m/s | 2 |
| 2018 | 2.6°C | -1.9°C | -6.4°C | 8.1°C | -14.6°C | 40 mm | 81% | 2.7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2017 ❄️ 🌧️ | -4.7°C | -9.9°C | -15.0°C | 2.2°C | -31.5°C | 102 mm | 94% | 2.4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2016 | -1.2°C | -6.0°C | -10.8°C | 1.6°C | -22.3°C | 56 mm | 92% | 2.4 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2015 | 2.0°C | -2.2°C | -6.5°C | 8.7°C | -16.7°C | 21 mm | 87% | 2 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2014 | 2.3°C | -2.7°C | -7.7°C | 6.5°C | -12.9°C | 26 mm | 73% | 2.7 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2013 | -4.2°C | -9.0°C | -13.7°C | 4.5°C | -22.3°C | 27 mm | 90% | 2.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2012 | 1.7°C | -2.9°C | -7.4°C | 8.2°C | -14.5°C | 59 mm | 74% | 3 m/s | 2 |
| 2011 | -1.4°C | -5.9°C | -10.3°C | 5.0°C | -22.8°C | 35 mm | 89% | 2.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2010 | 0.5°C | -4.3°C | -9.2°C | 3.9°C | -22.2°C | 46 mm | 86% | 2.4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2009 | -0.6°C | -5.3°C | -10.1°C | 3.4°C | -23.8°C | 42 mm | 88% | 2.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2008 | -3.5°C | -9.4°C | -15.3°C | 2.3°C | -25.4°C | 48 mm | 91% | 3.2 m/s | 2 |
| 2007 | -2.9°C | -8.2°C | -13.5°C | 4.0°C | -26.9°C | 13 mm | 84% | 2.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2006 | -0.4°C | -4.9°C | -9.4°C | 2.6°C | -16.2°C | 69 mm | 89% | 3.1 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2005 | -0.3°C | -4.7°C | -9.2°C | 5.0°C | -15.8°C | 38 mm | 92% | 2 m/s | 2 |
| 2004 | -3.3°C | -7.9°C | -12.6°C | 2.2°C | -24.0°C | 26 mm | 94% | 2.3 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2003 🔥 | 4.8°C | 0.4°C | -4.0°C | 13.5°C | -9.3°C | 15 mm | 80% | 2.2 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2002 | -2.6°C | -7.0°C | -11.5°C | 2.0°C | -21.1°C | 30 mm | 91% | 2.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2001 | 0.1°C | -5.0°C | -10.1°C | 3.6°C | -15.3°C | 19 mm | 80% | 2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2000 | 1.4°C | -2.7°C | -6.8°C | 8.9°C | -13.8°C | 44 mm | 82% | 2.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1999 | 1.4°C | -3.3°C | -7.9°C | 6.1°C | -16.6°C | 48 mm | 82% | 3 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1998 | 1.4°C | -2.8°C | -7.0°C | 5.4°C | -12.6°C | 72 mm | 88% | 3.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1997 | -2.3°C | -6.8°C | -11.4°C | 3.1°C | -23.3°C | 71 mm | 92% | 2.8 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1996 | -1.1°C | -6.0°C | -10.9°C | 5.7°C | -24.8°C | 56 mm | 86% | 3.3 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1995 | 0.7°C | -3.9°C | -8.5°C | 5.0°C | -19.2°C | 52 mm | 86% | 2.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1994 | 2.1°C | -2.4°C | -7.0°C | 8.1°C | -16.0°C | 18 mm | 81% | 2.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1993 | -3.4°C | -8.5°C | -13.6°C | 1.6°C | -20.1°C | 46 mm | 94% | 2.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1992 | 1.1°C | -4.0°C | -9.1°C | 8.6°C | -15.6°C | 8 mm | 80% | 2.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1991 | -3.4°C | -9.1°C | -14.8°C | 1.0°C | -27.5°C | 22 mm | 91% | 2.3 m/s | 2 |
| 1990 | 1.4°C | -3.0°C | -7.3°C | 8.1°C | -13.6°C | 33 mm | 79% | 3.4 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1989 | -4.2°C | -9.4°C | -14.7°C | 1.0°C | -21.3°C | 30 mm | 95% | 2.7 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1988 | -3.7°C | -8.8°C | -13.8°C | 1.8°C | -23.0°C | 37 mm | 90% | 2.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1987 | -1.5°C | -6.3°C | -11.1°C | 6.6°C | -22.0°C | 29 mm | 84% | 2.5 m/s | 2 |
| 1986 | -0.3°C | -4.6°C | -9.0°C | 3.7°C | -16.0°C | 34 mm | 89% | 2.3 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1985 | -4.1°C | -8.9°C | -13.6°C | 1.3°C | -26.5°C | 14 mm | 90% | 1.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1984 | -4.8°C | -9.6°C | -14.4°C | 1.0°C | -32.5°C | 12 mm | 95% | 1.8 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1983 | 1.6°C | -2.3°C | -6.3°C | 4.6°C | -16.3°C | 21 mm | 86% | 2.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -4.1°C | -8.8°C | -13.6°C | 1.7°C | -27.3°C | 33 mm | 94% | 3.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 3.9°C | -0.7°C | -5.3°C | 10.2°C | -10.1°C | 19 mm | 73% | 1.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around -0.8°C with lows near -10.3°C (mean -5.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 38 mm of rainfall in Pocatello, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 102 mm in 2017.
The hottest January reached 13.5°C in 2003. The coldest dipped to -32.5°C in 1984.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 0.2°C — but days and nights have moved in opposite directions. Daytime highs rose from -1.5°C to -1.2°C while overnight lows fell from -10.6°C to -10.8°C, widening the gap between day and night.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Pocatello and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -0.8°C daytime highs and -10.3°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Pocatello, averaging -5.6°C.
For January in Pocatello, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -0.8°C and lows of -10.3°C.
Relative humidity in January averages 87% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 2.5 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 3.4 m/s (1982).
The wettest January on record was 2017 with 102 mm. On average, January sees 38 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 Pocatello 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.
