Stowe weather in January

January in Stowe: freezing, rainy, with clean air — fine if you can take well below freezing.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Stowe🇺🇸 United States · Great Lakes & Midwest · Ski91
  1. 91Jan
  2. 87Feb
  3. 78Mar
  4. 51Apr
  5. 21May
  6. 16Jun
  7. 12Jul
  8. 18Aug
  9. 14Sep
  10. 27Oct
  11. 68Nov
  12. 83Dec

#1 of 12 months in Stowe · #116 of 1413 destinations to visit in January · comfort 91/100 (tier S)

Days
-1°C
Nights
-11°C
Wet days
14
Sun
5 h
Humidity
79%
Daylight
9 h
Stowe, United States
Photo: Hner Zibari · Pexels

Traveller notes on Stowe in January

Stowe's forum calls January reliably snowy — close to a sure thing for snow at street level — with daytime temperatures hovering in the 20s°F and nights dropping well below that. Regulars note January is statistically the coldest month, with the occasional cold snap pushing well past -20°F, so proper winter layers aren't optional.
Tripadvisor community · January · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Other months in Stowe

Stowe-forum threads on an October visit describe peak foliage color as genuinely averaging within the first week of the month, posters naming late September through October fifteenth as the real sweet spot. Regulars call late-October arrivals genuinely too late for much color, several posters naming this the honest tradeoff though the town stays delightful with shops and restaurants open regardless. Posters call daytime conditions genuinely mild, several regulars naming highs in the fifties to sixties Fahrenheit with cooler nights as standard. Regulars call late fall genuinely its own draw beyond peak color, several threads naming quieter streets and easier bookings as real upsides. Posters recommend checking recent foliage reports before committing to exact dates, several regulars calling this standard given how fast the window can close. The record: 15.4C days, 3.7C nights, 117.2mm across nearly 11 days and 79 percent humidity.
StoweOctoberRegular · October · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Stowe-forum threads on an August visit describe the gondola as covering about ninety percent of the way up Mount Mansfield's east side, posters naming a remaining fifteen-minute stretch of steep scrambling as still required to reach the summit. Regulars call the toll road a real better option than the gondola for anyone wanting both views and a proper hike, several posters naming this the more complete way to experience the mountain. Posters call the Canyon Trail system a real highlight, several regulars naming its scrambling among the most impressive on the mountain. Regulars call riding the gondola down after hiking up genuinely available in past summers, several threads noting this policy has been uncertain since ownership changed. Posters recommend checking current gondola policy before an August hike, several regulars calling this standard given how much has shifted. The record: 25.8C days, 12.9C nights, 106.7mm across nearly 11 days and 77 percent humidity.
StoweAugustRegular · August · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Stowe-forum threads on a May visit call this genuinely mud season locally, posters describing conditions capable of staying muddy right through the month depending on how the winter and spring went. Regulars call hiking trails on state land, including the Long Trail and its feeder routes, typically closed from early April through Memorial Day. Posters recommend the Stowe recreation path and the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail as real alternatives, both open to walkers and cyclists regardless of the mud closures elsewhere. Regulars call real black flies a standing nuisance near running water, a genuine annoyance though harmless. Posters describe May as still genuinely rewarding for birding and wildflowers, orioles and various spring ephemerals real highlights for anyone working around trail closures. Regulars recommend checking current trail status before planning any higher route. The record: 19.7C days feeling like 18C, 5.2C nights, 102.4mm across over 11 days and 72 percent humidity.
StoweMayRegular · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Stowe-forum threads on March weather describe early-to-mid March as traditionally some of the best skiing of the entire season, base depth typically at its deepest and days noticeably longer and milder than deep winter. Posters call snow depth here often peaking in late March or even early April, a real contrast to the assumption that winter's tail end means thinning coverage. Regulars describe late March as considerably less predictable than the earlier weeks, some years staying cold and snowy while others swing warm fast. Posters call crowds through March noticeably smaller than the holiday peak, a genuine upside for anyone flexible on timing. Regulars recommend early-to-mid March as the more dependable target over the back half of the month. Posters recommend checking a current snow report before committing to specific late-March dates. The record: 4.6C days feeling like 1C, -6.8C nights, a notably high 39.1cm of fresh accumulation and 73 percent humidity.
StoweMarchRegular · March · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Stowe's card on the map.

Stowe climate normals — January

Daytime high-1°C / 29°F🥶 freezing
Nighttime low-11°C / 11°F
Feels like (high)-6°C / 21°F
Rainfall85 mm / 3.4 in🌧 rainy
Rainy days14 days
Humidity79%💦 very humid
Dew point-10°C / 14°F
Sunshine5 h/day
Daylight9.3 h
Wind15 km/h / 9 mph
Snowfall65.7 cm / 25.9 in
Air quality (US AQI)30🍃 good

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Stowe in January

How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.

Peak crowdsSki season, Christmas and New Year peak, Winter / Christmas break in United States(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Stowe's weather

Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).

Best weatherStowe's weather peaks December–February, best around January.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Stowe in January

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Closure

    Smugglers' Notch road closed

    20 Oct – 20 May · usually

    Route 108 squeezes between boulders over the notch and closes for the winter once the snow comes, usually not reopening until late May. The detour round to Jeffersonville is over an hour. Source ↗

  • Season

    Ski season

    20 Nov – 15 Apr · usuallyCrowded

    The mountain usually opens around Thanksgiving on machine-made snow and runs to mid-April, with the front four and the trees off them dependent on whatever the Northeast winter delivers. Source ↗

  • Holiday

    Christmas and New Year peak

    20 Dec – 3 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

    The dearest fortnight in the valley, sold out months ahead, with lift queues that no January weekend matches. The village road backs up to the mountain for most of the afternoon. Source ↗

  • Season

    Snow season

    Ski season

    About 66 cm of snow falls in the month.

    from the climate normals

What's on around the world in January →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Stowe — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Stowe?

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Stowe in January — FAQ

Is January a good time to visit Stowe?
January in Stowe: freezing, rainy, with clean air — fine if you can take well below freezing. It ranks #1 of 12 months for Stowe on SeasonMap's comfort score (91/100).
What is the weather like in Stowe in January?
In January, Stowe averages a daily high of -1.5°C and a low of -11.5°C, with about 85.4 mm of rain over roughly 13.8 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Stowe in January?
Stowe has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 30 in January.
Does it snow in Stowe in January?
Stowe sees roughly 65.7 cm of snowfall in January.

Within 300 km: Montreal's Igloofest around 14 Jan – 8 Feb, and Ottawa's Winterlude around 30 Jan – 17 Feb.