January could be a good time to visit New York, as the weather is generally fine. The average high temperature is around +39°F, and there are typically 7 sunny days in January. However, expect about 7 rainy days, and total monthly rainfall of approximately 61 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
January is usually the coldest month of the year in New York;
Average weather
☀️
+39°F
Avg. max. temperature
-9°F
Min.
+70°F
Max.
61 mm
Total precipitation
63%
Avg. humidity
5 m/s
Avg. wind
7 ☀️
Sunny Days
10 ⛅️
Cloudy
7 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: New York has OK weather in January.
Average temperature in New York in January
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in New York for January based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The expected average maximum temperature in January is +48°F with a maximum of +63°F and a minimum of +28°F.
The average maximum temperature goes down 21% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +55°F to +48°F.
Is New York warm or cold in January?
New York is typically chill in January.
Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +45°F to +39°F. The minimum temperature also goes down from +34°F to +28°F.
Pack a jumper and a jacket as there will be cooler temperatures.
January is the coldest month in New York, here is the comparison with other months:
Water temperature in New York in January
Water in New York in January is Cold. It varies from +37°F to +45°F, with an average of +41°F.Note that the air temperature is lower than the water temperature, averaging around +39°F.
The water temperature in January is one of the coldest of the entire year:
The warmest water temperatures in New York are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +74°F. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +39°F.
Can you swim in New York in January?
We would not recommend swimming in New York in January, the water is very cold (+41°F on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.
Climate in New York in January
New York weather looks like this, on average, in January and the surrounding months.
December
January
February
Avg. temperature
+45°F
+39°F
+43°F
Min. temperature
+1°F
-9°F
-6°F
Max. temperature
+72°F
+70°F
+77°F
Rainfall
82 mm
61 mm
48 mm
Wind
4 m/s
5 m/s
5 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+47°F
+41°F
+39°F
Humidity
64%
63%
61%
Air pressure
1018 HPa
1017 HPa
1017 HPa
Sunny days
7
7
7
Cloudy days
10
10
8
Rainy days
11
7
7
Snowy days
4
7
6
January weather is still as ok as in December.It’s getting colder in January. From +45°F in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +39°F.As January arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 82 mm to 61 mm.It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 64% to 63%.Winds are stronger in comparison to December, going up from 4 m/s to 5 m/s on average.The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 7 sunny days during the month.
February brings much the same weather, it remains ok.
Wind speed in New York in January based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 5 m/s getting up to 12 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in New York is gradually increasing during January, going from 5 m/s to 5 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during January in New York based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in January is about 162 mm, with a 55% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 38 mm, which is moderate rain.January is a pretty wet month with over 17 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
New York wettest month is August, where a typical day has a 42% chance of precipitation and 113 mm of rainfall per day. February, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 24% chance of precipitation and 48 mm of rainfall per day.
Snow
Amount of snow in mm during January in New York based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The total snow in January is about 0 mm, with a 0% chance of snow on a typical day.
January is one of the snowiest months in New York.
Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of snow, total mm:
How was the weather last January in New York?
This is the weather in New York in January 2023:
1 January
☀️
+55°F
2 January
☀️
+55°F
3 January
🌧️
+54°F
4 January
☀️
+63°F
5 January
🌫️
+55°F
6 January
🌧️
+48°F
7 January
☀️
+45°F
8 January
☀️
+41°F
9 January
🌧️
+45°F
10 January
☁️
+41°F
11 January
☁️
+41°F
12 January
☁️
+52°F
13 January
🌧️
+55°F
14 January
☁️
+40°F
15 January
☀️
+42°F
16 January
☀️
+48°F
17 January
☀️
+46°F
18 January
☁️
+53°F
19 January
☀️
+49°F
20 January
☁️
+48°F
21 January
☁️
+44°F
22 January
☁️
+41°F
23 January
🌧️
+39°F
24 January
☁️
+46°F
25 January
☀️
+44°F
26 January
☁️
+55°F
27 January
☀️
+42°F
28 January
☀️
+52°F
29 January
☀️
+52°F
30 January
☀️
+54°F
31 January
☁️
+49°F
In January 2023 New York had 14 sunny days, 11 cloudy days, and 5 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +48°F, with an absolute maximum of +63°F and a minimum of +39°F. The average humidity was 68%, with a maximum of 95% and a minimum of 24%. The average wind speed was 5 m/s, with a maximum of 18 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in January?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how New York climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in New York in January has not changed that much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1996 (+59°F) and the highest in 2016 (+65°F). The driest year was 1982 with only 711 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2023 with 1785 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in New York in January:
Is January a good time to visit New York?
It’s always a good time to visit New York, but the weather is changeable in January, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.
Can you sunbathe in New York in January?
Not really, January is not the best time to sunbathe, unless you visit a local solarium.
Can you swim in New York in January?
Swimming in New York in January is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is New York rainy in January?
New York is often rainy in January. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in New York in January?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in New York in January, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in New York, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.