Michigan City weather in January

In January, Michigan City sees average daytime highs of 31°F and overnight lows near 23°F, with 3.1 in of precipitation across 11.7 wet days and about 9.3 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs ease over the month, from about 33°F in the first days to 30°F by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 11% of the time in January, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 hours at the start of January to 9 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Michigan City's 12th-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Michigan City's year-round climate.

Daytime high
31°
12th warmest
Overnight low
23°
1st coldest
Precipitation
3.1 in
11.7 wet days
Daylight
9 h 18 min
7:18 AM – 4:36 PM
Cloud cover
80%
12th clearest
Wind
13 mph
3rd windiest
Solar energy
1.8 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Michigan City is city in LaPorte County, Indiana, United States.

Density
530/km²
people per km²
Founded
1830

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in January

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs ease over the month, from about 33°F in the first days to 30°F by the end.

A typical January day in Michigan City reaches about 31°F in the afternoon and slips back to 23°F overnight — a 8°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 20°F and 42°F. Set against its neighbours, January runs about 6°F cooler than December and on par with February.

10°20°30°40°50°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
13426
23426
33326
43325
53325
63325
73324
83224
93224
103224
113223
123223
133123
143123
153122
163122
173122
183122
193122
203022
213021
223021
233021
243021
253021
263021
273021
283021
293021
303021
313021

How January really feels in Michigan City

Once humidity and wind are folded in, January averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 31 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
31
29 feel bitter (≤ 14°F)

The story in January is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Michigan City weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 12th-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan31° / 23°3.111.79.19.30.0
Feb32° / 23°2.48.66.210.30.0
Mar40° / 31°3.010.43.511.70.2
Apr50° / 41°4.312.31.313.12.2
May63° / 53°4.212.2014.35.1
Jun74° / 65°3.810.70156.7
Jul79° / 71°3.611.6014.76.6
Aug77° / 69°3.710.5013.76.9
Sep71° / 62°3.410.3012.36.7
Oct59° / 51°3.811.1010.94.6
Nov47° / 39°3.411.52.29.61.4
Dec37° / 30°2.911.46.590.0

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 11% of the time in January, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 10% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 79%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
11981
21981
31981
41882
51882
61882
71783
81783
91684
101684
111783
121882
131783
141882
151882
161981
172080
182080
192179
202179
212179
222278
232476
242476
252476
262575
272773
282773
292674
302773
312872

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitationSnow

Michigan City gets around 3.1 in of rain and snow over 11.7 wet days in January. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 37% and peaks near 42% on the wettest days, and about 9 days bring snow. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
14027
24028
34128
44128
54129
64229
74230
84230
94130
104130
114030
124030
134030
143930
153930
163830
173830
183730
193730
203630
213530
223529
233429
243429
253329
263328
273228
283228
293127
303127
313127

Humidity in January

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of January feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, January lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100
29100
30100
31100

Wind in January

Winds average 13 mph in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 12 mph on the calmest days to 13 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
113breezy
213breezy
313breezy
413breezy
513breezy
613breezy
713breezy
813breezy
913breezy
1013breezy
1113breezy
1213breezy
1313breezy
1413breezy
1513breezy
1613breezy
1713breezy
1813breezy
1913breezy
2013breezy
2113breezy
2213breezy
2313breezy
2413breezy
2513breezy
2613breezy
2712breezy
2812breezy
2912light breeze
3012light breeze
3112light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 hours at the start of January to 9 h 42 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 42 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 7:20 AM to 7:09 AM, and sunset from 4:21 PM to 4:53 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.07:204:21
29.07:204:22
39.07:204:23
49.17:204:24
59.17:204:25
69.17:204:26
79.17:204:26
89.17:204:27
99.17:204:28
109.27:204:29
119.27:204:30
129.27:194:31
139.27:194:32
149.27:194:33
159.37:194:34
169.37:184:36
179.37:184:37
189.37:174:38
199.47:174:39
209.47:164:40
219.47:164:41
229.57:154:42
239.57:154:43
249.57:144:45
259.57:134:46
269.67:134:47
279.67:124:48
289.67:114:49
299.77:104:51
309.77:104:52
319.77:094:53

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 1.8 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.48 kWh/m² to a high of 6.6 kWh/m² in June across the year — January's 1.8 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.5Dim
21.5Dim
31.5Dim
41.5Dim
51.5Dim
61.6Dim
71.6Dim
81.6Dim
91.6Dim
101.6Dim
111.6Dim
121.7Dim
131.7Dim
141.7Dim
151.8Dim
161.8Dim
171.8Dim
181.8Dim
191.9Dim
201.9Dim
211.9Dim
222.0Dim
232.0Moderate
242.1Moderate
252.1Moderate
262.1Moderate
272.2Moderate
282.2Moderate
292.3Moderate
302.3Moderate
312.3Moderate
Planning a trip in January

Is January a good time to visit Michigan City?

Our two travel scores rate January for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

0.0
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

January is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Michigan City.

What to pack for Michigan City in January

From January's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In January, Michigan City sees daytime highs around 31°F and nights near 23°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear and a windbreaker. About 12 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain geara windbreaker

Sea temperature near Michigan City in January

The nearest coast averages about 38°F in January — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 12 mi away) is warmest in August at about 73°F and coldest in March near 36°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 11 to Sep 17 — about 2.3 months when the water holds above 68°F.

30°40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan38Bracing
Feb36Bracing
Mar36Bracing
Apr39Bracing
May46Bracing
Jun58Bracing
Jul70Refreshing
Aug73Refreshing
Sep69Refreshing
Oct59Bracing
Nov49Bracing
Dec43Bracing

UV index in Michigan City in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Michigan City peaks around June 20 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJun 20UV 9Dec 20UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Michigan City in January

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where January falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Michigan City is worst in June — around 23 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.6× the cleanest month (November, 9 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJun 1922 µg/m³Nov 119 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan11Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar17Moderate
Apr19Moderate
May21Moderate
Jun23Moderate
Jul22Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep14Moderate
Oct9Good
Nov9Good
Dec10Good
Location & terrain

Where is Michigan City?

Michigan City sits at 41.7°N, 86.9°W, 627 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is La Porte, 12 mi away.

Topography around Michigan City

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Michigan City.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Michigan City has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 157 ft around an average of 623 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 420 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 686 ft.

The land around Michigan City is covered by trees (40%) and artificial surfaces (33%) within 2 miles, water (42%) and trees (33%) within 10 miles, and water (35%), cropland (32%) and trees (20%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
157 ft
10 miles
420 ft
50 miles
686 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
January weather nearby: La Porte 12 mi · Portage 17 mi · Valparaiso 18 mi · Hobart 22 mi · Gary 25 mi · Merrillville 27 mi · East Chicago 29 mi · Griffith 30 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Michigan City (41.7075°, -86.895°, elevation 627 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).