January averages
- Average high
- 46.5°F
- Average low
- 17.6°F
- Snow
- 6.4 in
- Precipitation
- 0.46 in
Monthly averages: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, Denver-Stapleton station. Averages, not forecasts.
- January averages lows around 18 degrees in Denver and about 30 nights at or below freezing, but highs still reach about 46 on average.
- The National Western Stock Show is held every January for 16 days and draws more than 700,000 visitors a year, according to Colorado State University Extension.
- New Colorado residents have 90 days from establishing residency to register a vehicle; late fees are $25 a month up to $100.
January is when Denver feels most like winter. The nights are the coldest of the year, the snowpack builds in the mountains, and the city settles into short days. Yet January is also full of blue skies, and many afternoons are mild enough for a walk without a heavy coat. Here is how to make sense of it.
The weather in plain numbers
| Measure | January normal (Denver Stapleton station) |
|---|---|
| Average high | about 46.5°F |
| Average low | about 17.6°F |
| Nights at or below freezing | about 30 |
| Snowfall | about 6.4 inches |
| Precipitation | about 0.46 inch |
The gap between day and night is large: almost 30 degrees on an average day. That is typical of a dry, high-altitude climate. The station sits about 1,611 meters above sea level, or roughly 5,286 feet. Thin, dry air heats quickly in the sun and cools quickly after dark.
Cold snaps
Every few years an arctic air mass slides down the plains and Denver gets truly frigid. The National Weather Service’s list of the coldest temperatures since 1872 is dominated by January and February: 29 below zero on January 9, 1875, and 25 below on January 11 and 12, 1963. Weather Service records also show huge same-day temperature changes in January, when a front can drop the temperature sharply within hours.
- Protect pipes in exterior walls and crawl spaces during a deep freeze.
- Bring pets in, and check on older neighbors.
- Keep your gas tank at least half full in case of delays on the road.
The National Western Stock Show
January’s signature event is the National Western Stock Show. According to Colorado State University Extension, it was established in 1906 and is held every January for 16 days. It includes one of the world’s richest regular-season professional rodeos, one of the country’s largest horse shows and Colorado’s largest western trade show, and it draws more than 700,000 visitors a year. The show is run by a nonprofit that funds agricultural scholarships.
For a newcomer, it is a crash course in the agricultural and western side of Colorado: livestock, horses, rodeo and ranching traditions. The show’s organizers put tickets on sale in the fall, starting with a presale in late September and general sales on October 1, so it pays to plan ahead.
Finish your new-resident paperwork
If you moved in the fall, January is a good month to tidy up the paperwork.
Register your vehicle
Colorado law requires vehicles owned in the state to be registered. Adams County’s clerk summarizes the rules: new residents have 90 days from the date residency is established, and late registration costs $25 a month up to $100. Bring proof of insurance that meets Colorado’s minimums, the title or current registration, a VIN verification for an out-of-state vehicle and, where required, an emissions test. Register with the clerk in the county where you live.
| Colorado minimum auto liability | Amount |
|---|---|
| Bodily injury or death, one person | $25,000 |
| Bodily injury or death, all persons in one accident | $50,000 |
| Property damage, one accident | $15,000 |
Think about the state parks pass
When you register, you can add Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Keep Colorado Wild Pass for $29. It turns your registration into a pass for entry to all state parks, and the agency says it costs 60 percent less than the traditional $80 annual state parks pass.
Tip: Make a list of every deadline that started the day you moved: vehicle registration, insurance, utilities and voter registration. January is quiet enough to finish it.
What to bring to the clerk
Adams County’s list is a useful model of what Colorado clerks ask for. Expect to show secure identification, proof of current insurance, proof of ownership such as the title (or a copy and an out-of-state registration if a lender holds the title), the VIN verification form and, depending on the vehicle and where you live, an emissions test. Motor homes and trucks with an empty weight over 4,500 pounds, and trailers over 2,000 pounds, also need weight slips. Card payments may carry a service fee, so ask before you pay.
Things to do in January
- Go to the Stock Show, even for one afternoon.
- Get a free Denver Public Library card; any Colorado resident with photo ID and proof of address qualifies.
- Take a sunny-day hike in the foothills with traction devices for icy trails.
- Visit Rocky Mountain National Park in winter, when no timed entry reservation is needed. A one-day vehicle pass is $30.
What comes next
Snow tends to increase as winter turns to spring. February’s average is a little higher, and March is the snowiest month of all. See Denver in February: Snow Builds, Days Lengthen and Winter Trips Open Up for what to expect next.