January is one of the warmer months of the year in Katherine, with average highs near 31.9°C and lows around 23.9°C (mean 27.9°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 254 mm of rainfall and 79% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the warmer months of the year in Katherine. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Katherine was 2020 — when the month averaged 30.5°C — while the coldest was 1997 at 26.3°C. Typical January days reach 31.9°C with nights near 23.9°C. The long-term January temperature trend is broadly flat.
January is a relatively wet time of year in Katherine, averaging 254 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1998 with 529 mm, while the driest was 1992 at 98 mm.
Relative humidity in Katherine during January averages 79%. The most humid January was 2009 at 89%, and the least humid was 1992 at 61%.
January receives about 6.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Katherine. The sunniest January was 1988 at 7.6 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2003 and 2024 at 5.1.
Average wind speed in Katherine during January is 2.4 m/s. The windiest January was 2024 at 3.6 m/s, while the calmest was 1994 at 1.6 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 28.1°C | 28.0°C | 27.4°C | 27.8°C | 28.5°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg High | 32.6°C | 32.2°C | 31.1°C | 31.6°C | 32.4°C | -0.2°C |
| Avg Low | 23.6°C | 23.9°C | 23.7°C | 24.0°C | 24.7°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 239 mm | 296 mm | 276 mm | 227 mm | 220 mm | -18 mm |
January temperatures in Katherine have stayed relatively stable across the record.
January has ranged from a record low of 18.4°C (2005) to a record high of 42.6°C (2024).
Rainfall in January is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 254 mm, with a wettest year of 529 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs fell about 0.2°C per decade while lows rose 0.2°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Katherine
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of June and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Katherine. That said, January — with days averaging 31.9°C and nights around 23.9°C (mean 27.9°C) and higher rainfall (254 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 | 33.3°C | 28.9°C | 24.5°C | 39.1°C | 23.2°C | 229 mm | 76% | 1.7 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2024 | 31.4°C | 28.3°C | 25.3°C | 42.6°C | 23.0°C | 423 mm | 83% | 3.6 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2023 | 31.6°C | 27.8°C | 24.1°C | 34.7°C | 23.2°C | 149 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2022 | 31.7°C | 28.1°C | 24.4°C | 36.9°C | 22.9°C | 239 mm | 81% | 2.7 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2021 | 31.0°C | 27.5°C | 24.1°C | 33.7°C | 22.4°C | 145 mm | 83% | 2.3 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2020 🔥 | 35.4°C | 30.5°C | 25.7°C | 39.9°C | 24.7°C | 137 mm | 67% | 2.7 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2019 | 35.5°C | 30.3°C | 25.1°C | 41.0°C | 23.5°C | 140 mm | 68% | 2.6 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2018 | 32.3°C | 28.5°C | 24.6°C | 40.4°C | 22.8°C | 216 mm | 77% | 2.8 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2017 | 30.7°C | 27.3°C | 23.9°C | 33.1°C | 22.6°C | 238 mm | 84% | 2.5 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2016 | 31.5°C | 27.6°C | 23.7°C | 33.5°C | 21.6°C | 151 mm | 82% | 1.7 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2015 | 30.0°C | 26.8°C | 23.7°C | 32.1°C | 22.1°C | 249 mm | 87% | 2.7 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2014 | 31.9°C | 28.0°C | 24.1°C | 39.6°C | 22.8°C | 322 mm | 79% | 2.8 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2013 | 32.9°C | 28.7°C | 24.5°C | 37.2°C | 22.9°C | 197 mm | 76% | 2.4 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2012 | 31.6°C | 27.5°C | 23.4°C | 34.8°C | 21.2°C | 164 mm | 80% | 2.7 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2011 | 29.6°C | 26.5°C | 23.3°C | 31.8°C | 21.6°C | 268 mm | 88% | 2.6 m/s | 5.6 |
| 2010 | 30.3°C | 27.2°C | 24.1°C | 33.2°C | 22.2°C | 321 mm | 87% | 2.5 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2009 | 29.6°C | 26.7°C | 23.8°C | 31.8°C | 22.7°C | 419 mm | 89% | 2.3 m/s | 5.7 |
| 2008 | 30.5°C | 27.1°C | 23.8°C | 32.1°C | 22.3°C | 226 mm | 87% | 2.5 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2007 | 33.0°C | 28.7°C | 24.5°C | 38.2°C | 23.3°C | 249 mm | 77% | 2.3 m/s | 6 |
| 2006 | 29.9°C | 26.9°C | 23.8°C | 32.9°C | 22.2°C | 265 mm | 87% | 2.9 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2005 | 31.3°C | 27.5°C | 23.7°C | 35.6°C | 18.4°C | 194 mm | 82% | 2.5 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2004 | 30.3°C | 27.0°C | 23.6°C | 32.6°C | 21.5°C | 338 mm | 86% | 2.2 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2003 | 30.8°C | 27.0°C | 23.3°C | 36.9°C | 20.8°C | 344 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2002 | 32.9°C | 28.5°C | 24.1°C | 36.5°C | 22.4°C | 150 mm | 77% | 2.1 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2001 | 30.4°C | 26.8°C | 23.2°C | 33.8°C | 21.5°C | 420 mm | 84% | 2 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2000 | 32.7°C | 28.1°C | 23.5°C | 36.7°C | 21.7°C | 154 mm | 75% | 1.7 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1999 | 31.2°C | 27.6°C | 24.0°C | 34.2°C | 22.9°C | 238 mm | 83% | 1.8 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1998 🌧️ | 31.0°C | 27.5°C | 24.0°C | 33.8°C | 21.8°C | 529 mm | 85% | 2.6 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1997 ❄️ | 29.4°C | 26.3°C | 23.2°C | 32.4°C | 22.2°C | 442 mm | 88% | 2.6 m/s | 5.7 |
| 1996 | 33.7°C | 28.8°C | 23.9°C | 37.8°C | 22.4°C | 220 mm | 73% | 2 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1995 | 31.7°C | 27.7°C | 23.7°C | 36.2°C | 22.4°C | 329 mm | 79% | 2.5 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1994 | 31.4°C | 27.6°C | 23.7°C | 34.0°C | 22.3°C | 175 mm | 83% | 1.6 m/s | 7.2 |
| 1993 | 33.2°C | 28.6°C | 23.9°C | 39.0°C | 22.3°C | 336 mm | 74% | 2.7 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1992 | 36.2°C | 30.0°C | 23.8°C | 41.2°C | 21.6°C | 98 mm | 61% | 1.9 m/s | 7.4 |
| 1991 | 29.8°C | 26.9°C | 23.9°C | 32.0°C | 23.0°C | 373 mm | 88% | 2.4 m/s | 5.9 |
| 1990 | 34.3°C | 29.4°C | 24.5°C | 40.2°C | 23.2°C | 217 mm | 69% | 2 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1989 | 32.8°C | 28.1°C | 23.3°C | 35.8°C | 20.6°C | 180 mm | 75% | 1.9 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1988 | 33.6°C | 28.8°C | 24.0°C | 37.4°C | 22.0°C | 129 mm | 74% | 1.9 m/s | 7.6 |
| 1987 | 32.9°C | 28.5°C | 24.0°C | 39.4°C | 21.3°C | 318 mm | 74% | 2.4 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1986 | 32.3°C | 27.9°C | 23.6°C | 38.1°C | 22.3°C | 239 mm | 78% | 2.4 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1985 | 34.2°C | 28.8°C | 23.5°C | 38.2°C | 21.6°C | 163 mm | 69% | 2.2 m/s | 7 |
| 1984 | 30.0°C | 26.6°C | 23.2°C | 33.9°C | 22.0°C | 375 mm | 84% | 2.4 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1983 | 35.6°C | 29.7°C | 23.7°C | 40.4°C | 20.2°C | 108 mm | 62% | 2.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 31.8°C | 27.7°C | 23.6°C | 37.2°C | 21.9°C | 246 mm | 78% | 2.8 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 29.8°C | 26.7°C | 23.5°C | 35.1°C | 22.7°C | 389 mm | 86% | 2.7 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 31.9°C with lows near 23.9°C (mean 27.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 254 mm of rainfall in Katherine, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 529 mm in 1998.
The hottest January reached 42.6°C in 2024. The coldest dipped to 18.4°C in 2005.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 0.2°C — but days and nights have moved in opposite directions. Overnight lows rose from 23.5°C to 24.5°C while daytime highs eased from 32.3°C to 31.8°C, narrowing the gap between day and night.
January is one of the warmer months of the year in Katherine and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 31.9°C daytime highs and 23.9°C at night.
Not quite — January is the 8th coolest month in Katherine, averaging 27.9°C.
For January in Katherine, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 31.9°C and lows of 23.9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 79% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 2.4 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 3.6 m/s (2024).
The wettest January on record was 1998 with 529 mm. On average, January sees 254 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 Katherine 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.
