January is one of the warmer months of the year in Alice Springs, with average highs near 37°C and lows around 22.5°C (mean 29.8°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 50 mm of rainfall and 33% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the warmer months of the year in Alice Springs. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Alice Springs was 2019 — when the month averaged 33.7°C — while the coldest was 1984 at 25.3°C. Typical January days reach 37°C with nights near 22.5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
January is a relatively wet time of year in Alice Springs, averaging 50 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2015 with 188 mm, while the driest was 1985 at 1 mm.
Relative humidity in Alice Springs during January averages 33%. The most humid January was 1984 at 51%, and the least humid was 1985 at 19%.
January receives about 7.7 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Alice Springs. The sunniest January was 1985 at 8.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2023 at 6.4.
Average wind speed in Alice Springs during January is 3.8 m/s. The windiest January was 1981 at 4.6 m/s, while the calmest was 2001 at 3.2 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 29.2°C | 29.9°C | 30.0°C | 29.7°C | 30.3°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg High | 36.6°C | 37.3°C | 37.3°C | 36.8°C | 37.2°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Low | 21.7°C | 22.5°C | 22.5°C | 22.7°C | 23.3°C | +1.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 40 mm | 47 mm | 42 mm | 66 mm | 59 mm | +19 mm |
January temperatures in Alice Springs have risen by about 1.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of 12.7°C (1984) to a record high of 44.7°C (2004).
Rainfall in January is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 50 mm, with a wettest year of 188 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.1°C per decade while lows rose 0.4°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Alice Springs
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of April and September tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Alice Springs. That said, January — with days averaging 37°C and nights around 22.5°C (mean 29.8°C) and moderate rainfall (50 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the warmth, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 40.6°C | 32.7°C | 24.7°C | 44.0°C | 20.2°C | 2 mm | 19% | 3.5 m/s | 8.1 |
| 2024 | 38.6°C | 32.0°C | 25.3°C | 42.1°C | 21.4°C | 30 mm | 35% | 3.8 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2023 | 34.0°C | 27.7°C | 21.5°C | 39.0°C | 18.1°C | 148 mm | 49% | 3.3 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2022 | 36.7°C | 30.0°C | 23.4°C | 42.4°C | 18.9°C | 137 mm | 42% | 3.5 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2021 | 35.0°C | 28.0°C | 21.1°C | 40.4°C | 14.9°C | 15 mm | 37% | 4 m/s | 7.7 |
| 2020 | 38.5°C | 31.3°C | 24.1°C | 42.9°C | 20.5°C | 24 mm | 29% | 4 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2019 🔥 | 41.5°C | 33.7°C | 25.9°C | 44.6°C | 21.3°C | 7 mm | 21% | 3.9 m/s | 8.4 |
| 2018 | 37.9°C | 30.7°C | 23.4°C | 41.8°C | 16.4°C | 25 mm | 32% | 3.8 m/s | 7.8 |
| 2017 | 36.7°C | 30.4°C | 24.1°C | 41.5°C | 20.5°C | 25 mm | 45% | 3.9 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2016 | 36.5°C | 29.4°C | 22.4°C | 40.3°C | 17.0°C | 18 mm | 34% | 3.4 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2015 🌧️ | 32.7°C | 26.3°C | 19.8°C | 39.5°C | 14.6°C | 188 mm | 51% | 3.3 m/s | 6.8 |
| 2014 | 35.8°C | 28.9°C | 22.0°C | 43.7°C | 15.3°C | 64 mm | 37% | 3.9 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2013 | 39.0°C | 31.3°C | 23.5°C | 43.6°C | 16.8°C | 23 mm | 25% | 3.9 m/s | 8.1 |
| 2012 | 36.5°C | 29.5°C | 22.5°C | 41.4°C | 16.6°C | 40 mm | 33% | 3.7 m/s | 7.2 |
| 2011 | 36.3°C | 29.3°C | 22.3°C | 41.9°C | 17.9°C | 92 mm | 45% | 3.5 m/s | 7.7 |
| 2010 | 34.7°C | 27.9°C | 21.1°C | 41.0°C | 14.6°C | 176 mm | 44% | 3.7 m/s | 7.7 |
| 2009 | 35.4°C | 28.5°C | 21.6°C | 40.1°C | 18.3°C | 42 mm | 44% | 4.3 m/s | 7.7 |
| 2008 | 39.6°C | 31.6°C | 23.5°C | 41.6°C | 18.8°C | 17 mm | 22% | 3.8 m/s | 8.4 |
| 2007 | 34.4°C | 28.1°C | 21.7°C | 42.0°C | 13.0°C | 102 mm | 45% | 3.6 m/s | 6.8 |
| 2006 | 39.0°C | 32.1°C | 25.1°C | 42.7°C | 22.1°C | 24 mm | 38% | 4.2 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2005 | 37.8°C | 29.5°C | 21.2°C | 41.5°C | 15.6°C | 15 mm | 25% | 3.8 m/s | 8.3 |
| 2004 | 39.2°C | 31.6°C | 24.0°C | 44.7°C | 19.6°C | 29 mm | 27% | 3.3 m/s | 7.8 |
| 2003 | 37.1°C | 29.7°C | 22.2°C | 41.5°C | 16.1°C | 18 mm | 32% | 4 m/s | 7.7 |
| 2002 | 36.6°C | 29.0°C | 21.3°C | 40.9°C | 17.3°C | 16 mm | 33% | 3.3 m/s | 7.8 |
| 2001 | 37.1°C | 30.0°C | 23.0°C | 43.6°C | 18.9°C | 130 mm | 41% | 3.2 m/s | 7.4 |
| 2000 | 37.1°C | 29.4°C | 21.8°C | 41.8°C | 15.2°C | 31 mm | 26% | 3.5 m/s | 7.9 |
| 1999 | 38.3°C | 31.0°C | 23.8°C | 42.2°C | 20.0°C | 28 mm | 32% | 3.5 m/s | 7.7 |
| 1998 | 39.0°C | 31.5°C | 23.9°C | 42.8°C | 19.1°C | 14 mm | 28% | 3.7 m/s | 8.5 |
| 1997 | 36.3°C | 29.1°C | 21.9°C | 42.6°C | 17.5°C | 75 mm | 37% | 3.6 m/s | 7.3 |
| 1996 | 37.9°C | 29.6°C | 21.3°C | 42.6°C | 15.8°C | 6 mm | 24% | 3.8 m/s | 8.3 |
| 1995 | 35.6°C | 28.6°C | 21.7°C | 40.5°C | 15.1°C | 164 mm | 41% | 3.4 m/s | 7.4 |
| 1994 | 39.0°C | 31.0°C | 23.0°C | 43.4°C | 18.3°C | 3 mm | 24% | 3.8 m/s | 8.3 |
| 1993 | 36.5°C | 29.7°C | 22.9°C | 40.9°C | 17.3°C | 30 mm | 33% | 3.8 m/s | 7.7 |
| 1992 | 35.7°C | 28.2°C | 20.7°C | 42.9°C | 15.2°C | 18 mm | 27% | 4 m/s | 8.3 |
| 1991 | 36.0°C | 29.1°C | 22.2°C | 42.0°C | 16.4°C | 75 mm | 37% | 4.3 m/s | 7.8 |
| 1990 | 38.4°C | 31.0°C | 23.6°C | 43.7°C | 18.5°C | 52 mm | 30% | 3.7 m/s | 7.7 |
| 1989 | 36.1°C | 28.3°C | 20.4°C | 40.3°C | 15.4°C | 7 mm | 25% | 3.9 m/s | 8.2 |
| 1988 | 38.9°C | 31.0°C | 23.2°C | 43.8°C | 18.6°C | 7 mm | 23% | 3.7 m/s | 8.3 |
| 1987 | 38.0°C | 30.8°C | 23.6°C | 42.4°C | 16.8°C | 8 mm | 30% | 3.7 m/s | 7.6 |
| 1986 | 36.7°C | 29.2°C | 21.7°C | 40.9°C | 18.4°C | 14 mm | 22% | 4.1 m/s | 8.1 |
| 1985 | 39.0°C | 30.4°C | 21.9°C | 42.6°C | 17.2°C | 1 mm | 19% | 3.9 m/s | 8.7 |
| 1984 ❄️ | 31.4°C | 25.3°C | 19.2°C | 39.5°C | 12.7°C | 182 mm | 51% | 4.2 m/s | 7 |
| 1983 | 35.9°C | 27.8°C | 19.8°C | 42.7°C | 13.0°C | 25 mm | 27% | 3.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 37.7°C | 30.4°C | 23.0°C | 42.2°C | 20.0°C | 8 mm | 28% | 4.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 35.7°C | 29.2°C | 22.8°C | 41.0°C | 18.7°C | 108 mm | 44% | 4.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 37°C with lows near 22.5°C (mean 29.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 50 mm of rainfall in Alice Springs, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 188 mm in 2015.
The hottest January reached 44.7°C in 2004. The coldest dipped to 12.7°C in 1984.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 1.5°C. Daytime highs moved from 35.9°C to 37°C and overnight lows from 21.3°C to 23.2°C over the same span.
January is one of the warmer months of the year in Alice Springs and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 37°C daytime highs and 22.5°C at night.
Not quite — January is the 12th coolest month in Alice Springs, averaging 29.8°C.
For January in Alice Springs, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 37°C and lows of 22.5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 33% — relatively dry.
Average wind speed in January is 3.8 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 4.6 m/s (1981).
The wettest January on record was 2015 with 188 mm. On average, January sees 50 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Alice Springs behaves each January, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for January specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
