What is the weather in tucson in january
Executive summary
Tucson in January is mild and typically dry: average daytime highs around the mid-60s°F and nighttime lows near 40°F, with mostly sunny conditions and only a few overcast or rainy days each month (WeatherSpark; University of Arizona page) [1] [2]. Official climate records and local forecasts confirm Tucson’s winter is cool but not severe, though extreme cold or rare freezes have occurred in some years according to traveler accounts and NWS historical records [3] [4].
1. What “January weather” usually looks like in Tucson — mild days, cool nights
Historical averages show typical January daytime highs in the mid-60s°F and lows around 40°F, making the month pleasant for outdoor activity compared with northern U.S. winters (WeatherSpark; University of Arizona optics page) [1] [2]. Climate summaries describe Tucson’s winters as “cool and dry” and note that year-round temperatures commonly range from the low 40s to low 100s, so January sits well inside that normal winter band (WeatherSpark) [5].
2. Sunshine and cloudiness — desert clarity dominates
Tucson is one of the sunniest U.S. cities; local travel guidance emphasizes 350+ days of sunshine annually and says a blind bet on “sunny” would win more than 96% of the time, supporting the expectation of mostly clear January skies (Visit Tucson) [6]. WeatherSpark quantifies cloudiness: January is overcast or mostly cloudy roughly 35% of the time, meaning clear or partly sunny days are still the norm (WeatherSpark) [1].
3. Precipitation and snow — usually light, but not impossible
January is part of Tucson’s cooler, drier season; most Januarys have only a few days of rain and snow is uncommon in the city proper. Traveler forums and historical summaries note that mountain areas get snow and that occasional storm fronts can bring rain to the region (Tripadvisor forum; NWS records) [4] [3]. Official NWS monthly normals and records should be consulted for exact precipitation averages and any recent anomalies [3].
4. Extremes and variability — know the outliers
While averages are mild, extremes have occurred: traveler recollections cite rare freezes and very cold episodes (example: a severely cold event in 2010 cited on a forum), and NWS station data and monthly extremes document that temperatures can deviate from the mean (Tripadvisor; NWS Tucson pages) [4] [3]. WeatherSpark’s annual range notes typical variation across seasons, implying occasional winter lows well below the January average [5].
5. How to interpret “good weather” for planning travel
If you’re traveling to Tucson in January, expect comfortable daytime temperatures ideal for hiking and city sightseeing, cool nights that require a jacket, and abundant sunshine—making January a popular, reliable month for visitors (Visit Tucson; Climate-data summaries) [6] [7]. For outdoor plans in higher elevations around Tucson, prepare for colder conditions and possible mountain snow, since local microclimates differ from the city averages (Tripadvisor; NWS) [4] [3].
6. Where reporting agrees — and where details differ
Sources consistently agree on mild daytime highs (~65–67°F) and cool nights (~40°F) and on Tucson’s high number of sunny days (WeatherSpark; University of Arizona; Visit Tucson) [1] [2] [6]. Differences appear in phrasing: some sites market “mild and pleasant” conditions for January (climate-data.org) while traveler posts emphasize occasional cold snaps and freezes in some years, reflecting the gap between averages and rare extremes [7] [4].
7. What the sources don’t tell us (limitations)
Available sources do not mention precise day-by-day forecasts for the coming January or exact precipitation totals for a specific year unless you consult live NWS monthly normals or a current forecast page; for real-time conditions and short-range forecasts, the National Weather Service and commercial weather pages provide up-to-date data (available sources do not mention a live forecast in these snippets; see NWS pages for normals and extremes) [3] [8]. If you need a specific-date forecast, use a current weather service rather than climate summaries.
If you want, I can pull current short-term forecasts or NWS daily normals for a particular January week or provide packing recommendations based on the averages above.