Mid-winter · Weather & things to do
Olympic NP in January
Little changes in Olympic NP from December: highs stay near 32°F (0°C), lows near 25°F (-4°C), and about 11.3 in (286 mm) of rain or snow falls.
With a comfort score of 18/100 (12th of 12), it's one of the toughest months, held back mainly by cool days.
- Avg high
- 32°F (0°C)
- Avg low
- 25°F (-4°C)
- Rain or snow
- 11.3 in (286 mm)
- Humidity
- 93%
- Cloud cover
- 80%
- Daylight
- ~8 h 37 min
- Comfort score
- 18/100 · Tough
What January feels like
Highs only reach about 32°F (0°C), so plan short stints outside between indoor stops.
Nights drop below freezing, with an average low of 25°F (-4°C), so expect frost and ice.
Expect about 11.3 in (286 mm) of precipitation (rain or snow). Because the average temperature is below freezing, snow is likely on some days.
Skies are often grey, with average cloud cover around 80%.
Only about 8 h 37 min of daylight means early sunsets.
Plan around January
January is one of the lower-scoring months here; the best are July & August.
- Inside the wettest three-month stretch, November – January.
- Comfort holds steady from December (19 → 18/100).
- Our Pacific Northwest route recommends Jun – Sep, so January falls outside its suggested window.
What to pack for January
- Hat, gloves and thermal base layerslows around 25°F
- Insulated, waterproof bootssnow is likely on some days
- Waterproof outer layerabout 11.3 in of rain or snow
- Comfortable walking shoesmost places below are best reached on foot or with short walks
What to do in Olympic NP in January
Wet days call for a roof: these picks favor sit-down and indoor stops, plus a few for drier spells.
Next Door Gastropub
Port Angeles gastropub with Northwest taps and burgers, a good base-camp dinner.
Why now A sit-down stop to wait out showers in a month with 11.3 in of rain.
Lake Crescent Lodge
Historic 1915 lodge whose dining room serves Northwest dishes with lake views.
Ruby Beach
Sea stacks, driftwood and red-tinged pebbles on the park's southern coast.
Sol Duc Falls
Short forest walk to a waterfall splitting into channels in a narrow gorge.
Marymere Falls Trail
Easy 1.8-mile round trip through old-growth forest to a 90-foot waterfall.
Nearby in January
- Victoria in January~45 mi · highs 45°F, 5.8 in rain · 7°C (13°F) warmer by day, drier
- Bainbridge Island in January~52 mi · highs 46°F, 6.9 in rain · 8°C (14°F) warmer by day, drier
- San Juan Island in January~57 mi · highs 45°F, 5.8 in rain · 7°C (13°F) warmer by day, drier
- Seattle in January~61 mi · highs 46°F, 6.9 in rain · 8°C (14°F) warmer by day, drier
NASA POWER 2001–2025 monthly averages on a ~50 km grid, temperatures adjusted from the grid cell's ~664 m to Olympic NP's ~1,317 m elevation (standard lapse rate). Comfort scores weigh temperature, rain, humidity and cloud: see how we score each month. Check a forecast before you go.
Olympic NP in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit Olympic NP?
It's one of the tougher months here, scoring 18/100, held back mainly by cool days. The best months are July & August. Expect highs of 32°F (0°C) and 11.3 in (286 mm) of rain or snow. Our Pacific Northwest route recommends Jun – Sep, so January is outside its suggested window.
How cold is Olympic NP in January?
Average highs are 32°F (0°C) and average lows 25°F (-4°C), making it the 3rd-coldest month by daytime highs, with nights below freezing on average.
Does it snow a lot in Olympic NP in January?
Yes: about 11.3 in (286 mm) of rain or snow falls across January on average, the 2nd-wettest month of the year. With temperatures this low, much of it may fall as snow. The annual total is about 73.9 in (1877 mm).
What should I pack for Olympic NP in January?
Bring hat, gloves and thermal base layers (lows around 25°F), insulated, waterproof boots (snow is likely on some days), waterproof outer layer (about 11.3 in of rain or snow) and comfortable walking shoes (most places below are best reached on foot or with short walks).
More on Olympic NP
Planning Olympic NP in January?
Bring the crew into one shared trip: vote on dates, build the day-by-day plan, split costs and share one packing list.