January is one of the cooler months of the year in Medicine Hat, with average highs near -3°C and lows around -11.8°C (mean -7.4°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 17 mm of rainfall and 85% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Medicine Hat. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Medicine Hat was 2006 — when the month averaged -1°C — while the coldest was 1982 at -18.4°C. Typical January days reach -3°C with nights near -11.8°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.6°C per decade.
January is one of the drier months in Medicine Hat, averaging 17 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2013 with 38 mm, while the driest was 1986 at 6 mm.
Relative humidity in Medicine Hat during January averages 85%. The most humid January was 1993 at 95%, and the least humid was 2012 at 68%.
January receives about 1.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Medicine Hat. The sunniest Januarys were 2009 and 2011 at 1.6 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2006, 2007 and 2019, among others at 1.1.
Average wind speed in Medicine Hat during January is 3.9 m/s. The windiest January was 2012 at 5 m/s, while the calmest was 1995 at 2.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -7.7°C | -9.6°C | -6.4°C | -6.9°C | -5.9°C | +1.8°C |
| Avg High | -3.2°C | -5.0°C | -2.0°C | -2.5°C | -1.7°C | +1.5°C |
| Avg Low | -12.2°C | -14.1°C | -10.9°C | -11.2°C | -10.1°C | +2.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 15 mm | 15 mm | 19 mm | 21 mm | 16 mm | +1 mm |
January temperatures in Medicine Hat have risen by about 3.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -37°C (1985) to a record high of 13.1°C (2024).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 17 mm, with a wettest year of 38 mm.
A quieter season to visit Medicine Hat
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Medicine Hat. That said, January — with days averaging -3°C and nights around -11.8°C (mean -7.4°C) and low rainfall (17 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | -4.5°C | -8.9°C | -13.3°C | 2.2°C | -32.6°C | 25 mm | 92% | 3.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2024 | -3.7°C | -8.0°C | -12.3°C | 13.1°C | -34.2°C | 15 mm | 83% | 3.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2023 | -0.5°C | -4.1°C | -7.6°C | 6.9°C | -21.5°C | 16 mm | 85% | 3.8 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2022 | -1.1°C | -6.0°C | -11.0°C | 7.0°C | -26.8°C | 13 mm | 79% | 4.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2021 | 2.1°C | -1.7°C | -5.5°C | 9.4°C | -15.1°C | 8 mm | 78% | 4.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2020 | -2.4°C | -6.6°C | -10.7°C | 7.4°C | -28.0°C | 17 mm | 80% | 3.9 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2019 | 1.1°C | -3.4°C | -7.9°C | 8.2°C | -17.4°C | 10 mm | 77% | 4.2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2018 | -3.0°C | -7.8°C | -12.5°C | 3.5°C | -28.3°C | 30 mm | 88% | 3.9 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2017 | -6.3°C | -10.5°C | -14.7°C | 2.7°C | -31.9°C | 27 mm | 91% | 3.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2016 | -1.1°C | -5.0°C | -8.9°C | 8.7°C | -18.3°C | 12 mm | 84% | 3.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2015 | -1.7°C | -5.9°C | -10.2°C | 10.6°C | -25.7°C | 21 mm | 84% | 4.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2014 | -1.1°C | -5.9°C | -10.6°C | 8.5°C | -33.4°C | 12 mm | 79% | 4.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2013 🌧️ | -3.7°C | -8.2°C | -12.6°C | 2.5°C | -25.3°C | 38 mm | 88% | 4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2012 | 0.0°C | -4.3°C | -8.5°C | 9.2°C | -30.1°C | 7 mm | 68% | 5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2011 | -6.0°C | -10.5°C | -15.0°C | 2.2°C | -27.0°C | 36 mm | 92% | 3.9 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2010 | -3.2°C | -7.2°C | -11.1°C | 6.1°C | -27.3°C | 17 mm | 88% | 3.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2009 | -3.8°C | -9.3°C | -14.7°C | 4.5°C | -29.4°C | 17 mm | 86% | 4 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2008 | -2.8°C | -7.7°C | -12.6°C | 5.7°C | -31.0°C | 16 mm | 79% | 4.4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2007 | -1.0°C | -5.3°C | -9.7°C | 6.7°C | -23.0°C | 14 mm | 76% | 4.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2006 🔥 | 2.8°C | -1.0°C | -4.8°C | 7.9°C | -11.5°C | 34 mm | 83% | 4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2005 | -4.5°C | -9.3°C | -14.1°C | 10.4°C | -36.0°C | 16 mm | 89% | 3.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2004 | -5.5°C | -9.5°C | -13.4°C | 5.9°C | -31.2°C | 34 mm | 82% | 3.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2003 | -2.3°C | -6.8°C | -11.2°C | 7.1°C | -24.2°C | 20 mm | 82% | 3.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2002 | -1.0°C | -4.9°C | -8.9°C | 8.1°C | -22.0°C | 16 mm | 78% | 3.8 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2001 | 1.0°C | -3.2°C | -7.5°C | 5.8°C | -12.1°C | 9 mm | 82% | 3.9 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2000 | -2.8°C | -7.3°C | -11.7°C | 3.1°C | -20.0°C | 14 mm | 83% | 3.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1999 | -3.2°C | -8.2°C | -13.3°C | 4.3°C | -24.2°C | 19 mm | 86% | 3.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1998 | -5.5°C | -9.8°C | -14.1°C | 5.9°C | -28.2°C | 15 mm | 87% | 3.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1997 | -7.3°C | -12.2°C | -17.2°C | 5.0°C | -32.3°C | 16 mm | 88% | 3.9 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1996 | -10.7°C | -15.3°C | -20.0°C | 3.8°C | -36.4°C | 27 mm | 89% | 3.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1995 | -2.2°C | -6.1°C | -10.0°C | 4.8°C | -18.1°C | 6 mm | 87% | 2.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1994 | -6.1°C | -10.9°C | -15.6°C | 2.1°C | -26.6°C | 25 mm | 92% | 3.2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1993 | -8.6°C | -13.3°C | -18.0°C | 4.3°C | -32.2°C | 7 mm | 95% | 3.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1992 | 1.1°C | -3.1°C | -7.4°C | 9.4°C | -18.5°C | 10 mm | 80% | 4.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1991 | -6.9°C | -11.4°C | -15.9°C | 2.7°C | -34.7°C | 13 mm | 89% | 3.9 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1990 | -0.9°C | -5.3°C | -9.6°C | 4.8°C | -30.9°C | 14 mm | 81% | 4.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1989 | -3.0°C | -8.1°C | -13.2°C | 7.8°C | -29.4°C | 18 mm | 85% | 4.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1988 | -4.4°C | -8.7°C | -13.0°C | 6.4°C | -23.3°C | 8 mm | 79% | 4.1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1987 | 0.1°C | -4.2°C | -8.5°C | 5.3°C | -19.5°C | 9 mm | 81% | 4.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1986 | 1.1°C | -2.7°C | -6.4°C | 8.9°C | -16.5°C | 6 mm | 82% | 4.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1985 | -6.4°C | -11.7°C | -16.9°C | 0.6°C | -37.0°C | 8 mm | 93% | 3.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1984 | -3.0°C | -7.2°C | -11.4°C | 5.8°C | -28.8°C | 22 mm | 90% | 4.1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1983 | -1.5°C | -5.8°C | -10.2°C | 3.4°C | -21.8°C | 18 mm | 88% | 3.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 ❄️ | -13.0°C | -18.4°C | -23.8°C | 1.9°C | -35.9°C | 34 mm | 90% | 3.5 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 1.0°C | -2.9°C | -6.7°C | 10.1°C | -10.8°C | 12 mm | 86% | 3.1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around -3°C with lows near -11.8°C (mean -7.4°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 17 mm of rainfall in Medicine Hat, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 38 mm in 2013.
The hottest January reached 13.1°C in 2024. The coldest dipped to -37°C in 1985.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 3.5°C. Daytime highs moved from -4.6°C to -1.5°C and overnight lows from -13.8°C to -9.9°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Medicine Hat and one of the drier months, so plan for around -3°C daytime highs and -11.8°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Medicine Hat, averaging -7.4°C.
For January in Medicine Hat, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -3°C and lows of -11.8°C.
Relative humidity in January averages 85% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 3.9 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 5 m/s (2012).
The wettest January on record was 2013 with 38 mm. On average, January sees 17 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 Medicine Hat 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.
