January is one of the cooler months of the year in Missoula, with average highs near -2.9°C and lows around -12.1°C (mean -7.5°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 65 mm of rainfall and 98% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Missoula. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Missoula was 1981 — when the month averaged -2.5°C — while the coldest was 2017 at -11.7°C. Typical January days reach -2.9°C with nights near -12.1°C. The long-term January temperature trend is broadly flat.
January is about average for rainfall in Missoula, averaging 65 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2011 with 113 mm, while the driest was 1985 at 19 mm.
Relative humidity in Missoula during January averages 98%. The most humid January was 1997 at 100%, and the least humid was 1981 at 89%.
January receives about 1.2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Missoula. The sunniest Januarys were 1993, 2017 and 2025, among others at 1.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2002, 2011 and 2020 at 1.
Average wind speed in Missoula during January is 0.4 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 2023, 2024 and 2025, among others at 0.5 m/s, while the calmest were 2018, 2019 and 2020, among others at 0.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -7.5°C | -7.9°C | -7.4°C | -7.6°C | -6.9°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg High | -2.8°C | -3.3°C | -2.9°C | -3.0°C | -2.1°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg Low | -12.1°C | -12.6°C | -11.9°C | -12.1°C | -11.6°C | +0.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 51 mm | 67 mm | 71 mm | 77 mm | 49 mm | -2 mm |
January temperatures in Missoula have stayed relatively stable across the record.
January has ranged from a record low of -34°C (1985) to a record high of 10°C (2024).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 65 mm, with a wettest year of 113 mm.
A quieter season to visit Missoula
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Missoula. That said, January — with days averaging -2.9°C and nights around -12.1°C (mean -7.5°C) and moderate rainfall (65 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 | -3.7°C | -8.8°C | -13.9°C | 0.4°C | -27.8°C | 30 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2024 | -2.0°C | -6.5°C | -11.0°C | 10.0°C | -30.0°C | 43 mm | 92% | 0.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2023 | -2.1°C | -6.7°C | -11.3°C | 3.7°C | -29.0°C | 41 mm | 96% | 0.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2022 | -2.7°C | -8.0°C | -13.4°C | 0.2°C | -25.4°C | 57 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2021 | -0.6°C | -5.3°C | -9.9°C | 2.8°C | -16.4°C | 35 mm | 94% | 0.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2020 | -1.8°C | -6.1°C | -10.4°C | 0.8°C | -22.4°C | 87 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 1 |
| 2019 | -2.0°C | -6.9°C | -11.7°C | 0.7°C | -25.1°C | 63 mm | 97% | 0.4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2018 | -1.6°C | -5.5°C | -9.3°C | 0.6°C | -20.6°C | 79 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2017 ❄️ | -6.2°C | -11.7°C | -17.2°C | 0.7°C | -29.4°C | 44 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2016 | -2.1°C | -6.6°C | -11.1°C | 0.2°C | -20.7°C | 63 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2015 | -2.2°C | -6.6°C | -11.0°C | 3.3°C | -21.9°C | 83 mm | 98% | 0.4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2014 | -2.6°C | -7.1°C | -11.6°C | 0.2°C | -24.9°C | 91 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2013 | -4.4°C | -9.1°C | -13.9°C | 0.4°C | -26.0°C | 72 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2012 | -2.4°C | -6.7°C | -11.1°C | 2.8°C | -20.8°C | 106 mm | 96% | 0.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2011 🌧️ | -4.0°C | -8.2°C | -12.5°C | 0.7°C | -29.3°C | 113 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 1 |
| 2010 | -2.3°C | -7.2°C | -12.1°C | 1.7°C | -29.0°C | 60 mm | 98% | 0.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2009 | -3.8°C | -8.3°C | -12.8°C | 0.1°C | -31.1°C | 96 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2008 | -4.8°C | -10.4°C | -16.0°C | 0.2°C | -34.0°C | 76 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2007 | -5.0°C | -9.7°C | -14.5°C | 0.7°C | -29.8°C | 57 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2006 | -1.0°C | -4.9°C | -8.9°C | 4.3°C | -14.2°C | 83 mm | 98% | 0.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2005 | -1.7°C | -5.8°C | -9.9°C | 6.7°C | -22.5°C | 45 mm | 95% | 0.4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2004 | -3.5°C | -7.8°C | -12.1°C | 0.6°C | -32.4°C | 78 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2003 | 0.0°C | -4.3°C | -8.5°C | 3.3°C | -17.9°C | 90 mm | 96% | 0.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2002 | -3.6°C | -7.6°C | -11.6°C | 0.2°C | -23.4°C | 79 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 1 |
| 2001 | -2.4°C | -7.4°C | -12.4°C | 0.3°C | -17.8°C | 34 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2000 | -3.0°C | -7.7°C | -12.5°C | 0.1°C | -20.1°C | 69 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1999 | -2.5°C | -7.3°C | -12.1°C | 0.5°C | -23.5°C | 75 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1998 | -2.6°C | -7.4°C | -12.1°C | 2.2°C | -27.2°C | 72 mm | 98% | 0.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1997 | -5.0°C | -9.6°C | -14.1°C | 0.5°C | -33.9°C | 90 mm | 100% | 0.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1996 | -5.6°C | -10.3°C | -14.9°C | 0.3°C | -27.4°C | 101 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1995 | -1.2°C | -6.0°C | -10.9°C | 2.7°C | -20.0°C | 58 mm | 96% | 0.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1994 | -0.6°C | -4.6°C | -8.6°C | 3.9°C | -18.8°C | 53 mm | 97% | 0.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1993 | -6.1°C | -11.0°C | -15.8°C | 0.1°C | -24.6°C | 47 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1992 | -2.6°C | -7.5°C | -12.4°C | 0.5°C | -18.2°C | 47 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1991 | -4.9°C | -9.9°C | -14.9°C | 0.1°C | -29.5°C | 54 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1990 | -1.9°C | -5.8°C | -9.8°C | 1.7°C | -19.3°C | 76 mm | 96% | 0.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1989 | -3.8°C | -8.5°C | -13.2°C | 0.3°C | -22.4°C | 78 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1988 | -4.2°C | -9.1°C | -14.0°C | 0.7°C | -22.7°C | 49 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1987 | -3.9°C | -8.8°C | -13.6°C | 0.8°C | -26.5°C | 31 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1986 | -0.8°C | -5.2°C | -9.5°C | 2.4°C | -19.4°C | 60 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1985 | -5.8°C | -11.2°C | -16.6°C | -0.1°C | -34.0°C | 19 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1984 | -2.8°C | -6.6°C | -10.5°C | 5.2°C | -24.7°C | 49 mm | 95% | 0.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1983 | -0.1°C | -4.4°C | -8.7°C | 2.9°C | -18.0°C | 47 mm | 95% | 0.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -5.7°C | -10.8°C | -15.9°C | 0.2°C | -27.9°C | 103 mm | 99% | 0.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 🔥 | 1.8°C | -2.5°C | -6.8°C | 7.4°C | -12.4°C | 24 mm | 89% | 0.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around -2.9°C with lows near -12.1°C (mean -7.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 65 mm of rainfall in Missoula, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 113 mm in 2011.
The hottest January reached 10°C in 2024. The coldest dipped to -34°C in 1985.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have held steady by about 0°C — but days and nights have moved in opposite directions. Daytime highs rose from -2.5°C to -2.2°C while overnight lows fell from -11.7°C to -11.9°C, widening the gap between day and night.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Missoula and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -2.9°C daytime highs and -12.1°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Missoula, averaging -7.5°C.
For January in Missoula, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -2.9°C and lows of -12.1°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 98% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 0.4 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 0.5 m/s (1981).
The wettest January on record was 2011 with 113 mm. On average, January sees 65 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 Missoula 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.
