January weather forecast
Iowa, USA

January in Iowa is characterized by its frigid temperatures and frequent snowfall. As the heart of winter grips the state, daytime temperatures consistently remain below freezing. The mercury isn't uncommonly seen descending to extremes like -20°F (-28.9°C), especially in more inland areas away from rivers or lakes that might provide some temperate moderation. In fact, some of Iowa's historical low temperature records, such as the -47°F (-43.9°C) recorded in Elkader in 1996, have been set during this month, cementing January's reputation as one of the coldest periods of the year.

The snowfall during January is a defining feature. However, while snowfall is common, the accumulations are often moderate, especially when compared to some of the state's snowier months. Despite the colder temperatures and the snow, January is typically the driest month in terms of liquid precipitation, with the state seeing less rain compared to the subsequent months of February and March.

It's noteworthy to mention that while most of Iowa experiences these chilly conditions, there can be slight variations based on location. Cities closer to large bodies of water, like Dubuque near the Mississippi River, might experience marginally warmer conditions due to the moderating influence of the water. However, this difference is often negligible when considering the overall cold nature of January in Iowa.

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• Des Moines - January »
  The month with the most snowfall in Des Moines is January, when snow falls for 8.7 days and typically aggregates up to 2.24" (57mm) of snow. The month with the least rainfall is January, when the rain falls for 4 days and typically collects 0.47" (12mm) of precipitation.
• Cedar Rapids - January »
  In Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in January, snow falls for 10.3 days, with typically accumulated 2.64" (67mm) of snow. January proves to be the coldest month in Cedar Rapids, recording an average maximum temperature of 26.2°F (-3.2°C) and a minimum temperature of 14.2°F (-9.9°C).
• Davenport - January »
  In Davenport the month of January is known for its lowest average temperatures, reaching a high of 28°F (-2.2°C) and a low of 15.6°F (-9.1°C). In Davenport, Iowa, during January, the rain falls for 4.3 days and regularly aggregates up to 1.3" (33mm) of precipitation.
• Sioux City - January »
  The month with the most snowfall in Sioux City, Iowa, is January, when snow falls for 8.2 days and typically aggregates up to 1.77" (45mm) of snow. The months with the least rainfall in Sioux City are January and February Rain falls for 2.6 days and accumulates 0.39" (10mm) of rain.
• Iowa City - January »
  The month with the most snowfall in Iowa City is January, when snow falls for 10.9 days and typically aggregates up to 5.28" (134mm) of snow. The months with the least rainfall in Iowa City are January and February Rain falls for 5.7 days and accumulates 1.34" (34mm) of rain.
• Waterloo - January »
  The month with the most snowfall in Waterloo is January, when snow falls for 11.5 days and typically aggregates up to 4.21" (107mm) of snow. In Waterloo during January, the rain falls for 4.1 days and regularly aggregates up to 1.02" (26mm) of precipitation.
• Ames - January »
  The month with the most snowfall in Ames is January, when snow falls for 9.1 days and typically aggregates up to 4.06" (103mm) of snow. The month with the least rainfall in Ames is January, when the rain falls for 4 days and typically collects 0.94" (24mm) of precipitation.
• West Des Moines - January »
  The month with the least rainfall in West Des Moines is January, when the rain falls for 4.9 days and typically collects 0.91" (23mm) of precipitation. In West Des Moines, in January, snow falls for 10.4 days, with typically accumulated 4.37" (111mm) of snow.
• Council Bluffs - January »
  In Council Bluffs, Iowa, during January, snow falls for 8.8 days and regularly aggregates up to 2.17" (55mm) of snow. In Council Bluffs in January, during 4.6 rainfall days, 0.59" (15mm) of precipitation is typically accumulated.
• Dubuque - January »
  The months with the least rainfall in Dubuque are January and February Rain falls for 4.8 days and accumulates 1.14" (29mm) of rain. The month with the most snowfall in Dubuque is January, when snow falls for 12.8 days and typically aggregates up to 4.88" (124mm) of snow.
• Ankeny - January »
  The month with the least rainfall in Ankeny is January, when the rain falls for 4.9 days and typically collects 0.94" (24mm) of precipitation. January is the most humid month in Ankeny with an average relative humidity of 83%.
• Urbandale - January »
  The month with the least rainfall in Urbandale is January, when the rain falls for 3.8 days and typically collects 0.47" (12mm) of precipitation. Urbandale's January weather reaches an average high of 27.9°F (-2.3°C) and an average low of 14.4°F (-9.8°C), making it the coldest month.