Month by month
Las Vegas weather in January
The coldest stretch of the year, with cool, mostly dry days and nights that can dip below freezing.
At a glance
January is mid-winter in the Mojave. Most days are sunny and mild by national standards, but once the sun drops the temperature falls fast in the dry air. The NWS notes that the airport, in the middle of the valley, often runs 5 to 15 degrees warmer at night than outlying neighborhoods on clear, calm nights. The east side of the valley and the higher west side are usually colder, so a low near 40°F at the airport can mean near-freezing temperatures in outlying neighborhoods. Snow falls in about two-thirds of winters at least once, but it usually melts as it falls.
By NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for Harry Reid International Airport, January days peak around 59°F and nights bottom out near 41°F. January doesn’t normally reach 90°F. Expect about 3.3 nights at or below freezing at the airport, and 17.4 nights under 40°F. Normal rainfall is 0.56 inches, with 3.1 days getting at least a hundredth of an inch and 1.6 days getting a tenth of an inch or more. The median January total is 0.19 inches, so in a typical year it is drier than the average suggests: a few wet years pull the average up.
Through the day
Plan outdoor time for the middle of the day. Even the warmest hour, around 3 p.m., averages only 58°F, while 7 a.m. averages 42°F and a cold morning (one in ten) dips to 34°F or lower at that hour.
| Time (PST) | Normal | Cool day | Hot day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 a.m. | 42°F | 34°F | 50°F |
| 9 a.m. | 47°F | 41°F | 55°F |
| Noon | 55°F | 47°F | 62°F |
| 3 p.m. | 58°F | 49°F | 66°F |
| 6 p.m. | 54°F | 46°F | 61°F |
| 9 p.m. | 48°F | 41°F | 55°F |
| Midnight | 45°F | 38°F | 53°F |
"Cool day" and "hot day" are NOAA’s 10th and 90th percentiles for that hour: one January day in ten is cooler or hotter than shown. NOAA publishes hourly normals in standard time; we shifted them to clock time. Hourly averages run a little below the normal daily high because the hottest moment doesn’t land on the same hour every day.
The air is dry: the average dew point across the day is about 25°F, dry enough to chap lips and skin. Wind averages 6.2 mph over the day and is usually strongest around midnight (6.7 mph on average).
Over the month
January isn’t one temperature. The normal high climbs from 56.5°F on January 1 to 60.3°F on January 31, and the normal low goes from 39.3°F to 41.8°F. That’s a small change, so the whole month feels much the same.
For a specific date, the live National Weather Service forecast on our home page is more useful than any average once you are within a week of your trip.
What to pack
- A warm jacket or puffer for nights and early mornings
- Layers you can shed by midday: long sleeves plus a light sweater
- Closed shoes and a hat if you are hiking at Red Rock or heading up to Mount Charleston, which is far colder than the valley
- Lip balm and lotion: the air stays very dry
Staying safe
Cold nights. It doesn’t take snow to be dangerous. Desert nights cool fast, and outlying areas of the valley run colder than the airport. Bring a warm layer for any evening outdoors, and check road conditions before driving up to Mount Charleston.
For current watches and warnings, follow the NWS Las Vegas office. Our resources page lists the other agencies worth knowing. In an emergency, call 911.
January records
| Record | Temperature | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Hottest | 77°F | Jan 26, 1975 |
| Coldest | 8°F | Jan 13, 1963 |
| Warmest night | 58°F | Jan 20, 1999 |
| Coolest day | 28°F | Jan 21, 1937 |
NWS Las Vegas records since January 1, 1937. Where a record has been tied, we show the most recent date. See every month on our records page.