January is one of the cooler months of the year in Nelson, with average highs near -5.8°C and lows around -13.6°C (mean -9.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 73 mm of rainfall and 98% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Nelson. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Nelson was 2006 — when the month averaged -6°C — while the coldest was 1996 at -13.9°C. Typical January days reach -5.8°C with nights near -13.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Nelson, averaging 73 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2020 with 145 mm, while the driest was 1985 at 15 mm.
Relative humidity in Nelson during January averages 98%. The most humid Januarys were 1992 and 2006 at 100%, and the least humid was 1995 at 89%.
January receives about 1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Nelson. The sunniest January was 1985 at 1.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2006 and 2020 at 0.7.
Average wind speed in Nelson during January is 0.5 m/s. The windiest January was 1995 at 0.7 m/s, while the calmest were 2022, 2023 and 2024, among others at 0.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -10.0°C | -10.2°C | -9.7°C | -9.2°C | -9.1°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg High | -6.0°C | -6.1°C | -6.0°C | -5.4°C | -5.4°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Low | -13.9°C | -14.2°C | -13.6°C | -13.0°C | -12.9°C | +1°C |
| Avg Rain | 63 mm | 75 mm | 67 mm | 77 mm | 89 mm | +27 mm |
January temperatures in Nelson have risen by about 0.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -39°C (2024) to a record high of 2.6°C (1981).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 73 mm, with a wettest year of 145 mm.
A quieter season to visit Nelson
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Nelson. That said, January — with days averaging -5.8°C and nights around -13.6°C (mean -9.7°C) and moderate rainfall (73 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 | -7.0°C | -11.2°C | -15.4°C | -2.5°C | -22.5°C | 43 mm | 99% | 0.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2024 | -7.0°C | -10.4°C | -13.8°C | 1.4°C | -39.0°C | 118 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2023 | -4.3°C | -8.0°C | -11.8°C | 0.5°C | -28.3°C | 69 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2022 | -5.4°C | -9.3°C | -13.2°C | 2.2°C | -30.4°C | 77 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2021 | -4.2°C | -8.1°C | -12.0°C | 0.0°C | -22.4°C | 85 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2020 🌧️ | -4.2°C | -7.8°C | -11.5°C | 0.1°C | -24.6°C | 145 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2019 | -4.2°C | -8.1°C | -12.0°C | 0.0°C | -22.2°C | 64 mm | 97% | 0.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2018 | -3.3°C | -6.5°C | -9.6°C | 0.1°C | -26.1°C | 130 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2017 | -9.1°C | -13.5°C | -18.0°C | -0.9°C | -29.5°C | 55 mm | 98% | 0.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2016 | -4.3°C | -7.8°C | -11.3°C | 0.0°C | -20.3°C | 104 mm | 95% | 0.5 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2015 | -4.9°C | -8.3°C | -11.8°C | 1.0°C | -20.8°C | 79 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2014 | -5.2°C | -9.2°C | -13.3°C | 0.1°C | -23.0°C | 67 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2013 | -6.8°C | -10.8°C | -14.8°C | 0.0°C | -26.6°C | 50 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2012 | -6.0°C | -10.0°C | -13.9°C | 0.0°C | -25.6°C | 69 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2011 | -6.5°C | -10.3°C | -14.2°C | 0.0°C | -28.4°C | 85 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2010 | -3.6°C | -7.5°C | -11.4°C | 0.0°C | -22.9°C | 65 mm | 97% | 0.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2009 | -6.3°C | -10.5°C | -14.8°C | 0.0°C | -29.4°C | 56 mm | 97% | 0.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2008 | -7.2°C | -10.9°C | -14.7°C | -0.3°C | -27.1°C | 65 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2007 | -7.5°C | -12.0°C | -16.5°C | 0.0°C | -31.8°C | 62 mm | 99% | 0.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2006 🔥 | -2.9°C | -6.0°C | -9.0°C | 0.0°C | -16.8°C | 114 mm | 100% | 0.5 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2005 | -7.5°C | -11.1°C | -14.7°C | 2.1°C | -35.4°C | 61 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2004 | -6.9°C | -10.5°C | -14.1°C | 0.0°C | -36.1°C | 72 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2003 | -4.1°C | -7.8°C | -11.5°C | 0.1°C | -21.6°C | 79 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2002 | -5.7°C | -9.2°C | -12.8°C | 0.1°C | -24.4°C | 72 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2001 | -5.0°C | -8.9°C | -12.9°C | -0.1°C | -21.0°C | 28 mm | 97% | 0.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2000 | -6.5°C | -10.5°C | -14.6°C | -2.3°C | -21.1°C | 57 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1 |
| 1999 | -5.0°C | -8.7°C | -12.4°C | 0.0°C | -28.9°C | 87 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1998 | -5.8°C | -9.8°C | -13.8°C | -0.1°C | -36.2°C | 92 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1997 | -6.3°C | -10.5°C | -14.7°C | 0.1°C | -36.3°C | 83 mm | 97% | 0.6 m/s | 1 |
| 1996 ❄️ | -9.2°C | -13.9°C | -18.7°C | -0.1°C | -37.2°C | 56 mm | 98% | 0.6 m/s | 1 |
| 1995 | -4.9°C | -8.8°C | -12.7°C | 0.0°C | -23.1°C | 74 mm | 89% | 0.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1994 | -3.3°C | -7.0°C | -10.6°C | 0.5°C | -23.7°C | 45 mm | 99% | 0.6 m/s | 1 |
| 1993 | -8.8°C | -13.4°C | -17.9°C | 0.0°C | -30.2°C | 66 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1992 | -4.7°C | -7.8°C | -10.9°C | 0.3°C | -19.2°C | 89 mm | 100% | 0.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1991 | -8.4°C | -12.7°C | -17.1°C | 0.0°C | -27.1°C | 59 mm | 99% | 0.6 m/s | 1 |
| 1990 | -5.0°C | -8.9°C | -12.8°C | -0.2°C | -19.9°C | 99 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1989 | -6.3°C | -10.4°C | -14.6°C | 0.0°C | -27.7°C | 68 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1988 | -7.4°C | -11.8°C | -16.2°C | -0.1°C | -34.0°C | 45 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1987 | -6.3°C | -10.1°C | -14.0°C | -0.7°C | -25.7°C | 48 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1986 | -3.5°C | -7.0°C | -10.6°C | 0.1°C | -20.6°C | 98 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1985 | -8.1°C | -12.3°C | -16.5°C | -1.3°C | -31.3°C | 15 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1984 | -6.3°C | -10.3°C | -14.3°C | 0.1°C | -32.5°C | 57 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1983 | -3.5°C | -7.1°C | -10.7°C | 0.1°C | -17.9°C | 105 mm | 98% | 0.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -9.3°C | -13.4°C | -17.6°C | -0.4°C | -38.5°C | 100 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -3.5°C | -7.2°C | -11.0°C | 2.6°C | -16.2°C | 27 mm | 96% | 0.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around -5.8°C with lows near -13.6°C (mean -9.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 73 mm of rainfall in Nelson, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 145 mm in 2020.
The hottest January reached 2.6°C in 1981. The coldest dipped to -39°C in 2024.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 0.7°C. Daytime highs moved from -6.1°C to -5.6°C and overnight lows from -14°C to -13.2°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Nelson and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -5.8°C daytime highs and -13.6°C at night.
Not quite — January is the 2nd coolest month in Nelson, averaging -9.7°C.
For January in Nelson, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -5.8°C and lows of -13.6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 98% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 0.5 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 0.7 m/s (1995).
The wettest January on record was 2020 with 145 mm. On average, January sees 73 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 Nelson 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.
