January is one of the cooler months of the year in Williams Lake, with average highs near -4.8°C and lows around -12.4°C (mean -8.6°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 52 mm of rainfall and 99% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Williams Lake. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Williams Lake was 2006 — when the month averaged -3.9°C — while the coldest was 1996 at -15.3°C. Typical January days reach -4.8°C with nights near -12.4°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Williams Lake, averaging 52 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1999 with 109 mm, while the driest was 1981 at 17 mm.
Relative humidity in Williams Lake during January averages 99%. The most humid Januarys were 1982, 1993 and 1996 at 100%, and the least humid were 2003 and 2024 at 94%.
January receives about 0.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Williams Lake. The sunniest January was 1993 at 1.1 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1992 at 0.7.
Average wind speed in Williams Lake during January is 0.2 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 1991, 1993 and 1995, among others at 0.3 m/s, while the calmest was 1986 at 0.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -8.2°C | -10.2°C | -8.7°C | -8.0°C | -7.5°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg High | -4.4°C | -6.1°C | -4.8°C | -4.2°C | -3.8°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Low | -11.9°C | -14.2°C | -12.5°C | -11.7°C | -11.2°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg Rain | 46 mm | 55 mm | 48 mm | 56 mm | 59 mm | +12 mm |
January temperatures in Williams Lake have risen by about 1.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -42.2°C (2020) to a record high of 4.4°C (2024).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 52 mm, with a wettest year of 109 mm.
A quieter season to visit Williams Lake
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Williams Lake. That said, January — with days averaging -4.8°C and nights around -12.4°C (mean -8.6°C) and moderate rainfall (52 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 | -4.2°C | -8.0°C | -11.8°C | 0.3°C | -21.6°C | 34 mm | 99% | 0.2 m/s | 1 |
| 2024 | -5.4°C | -8.7°C | -12.1°C | 4.4°C | -34.1°C | 52 mm | 94% | 0.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2023 | -2.2°C | -5.8°C | -9.5°C | 1.7°C | -25.9°C | 61 mm | 99% | 0.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2022 | -4.1°C | -8.1°C | -12.1°C | 0.8°C | -29.4°C | 81 mm | 99% | 0.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2021 | -1.6°C | -5.3°C | -8.9°C | 2.5°C | -17.2°C | 40 mm | 96% | 0.2 m/s | 1 |
| 2020 | -5.3°C | -9.0°C | -12.6°C | 0.1°C | -42.2°C | 84 mm | 99% | 0.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2019 | -2.3°C | -6.1°C | -9.9°C | 0.8°C | -19.3°C | 58 mm | 100% | 0.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2018 | -3.1°C | -7.0°C | -10.9°C | 0.0°C | -26.2°C | 60 mm | 100% | 0.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2017 | -7.7°C | -11.7°C | -15.7°C | 0.0°C | -31.1°C | 34 mm | 100% | 0.2 m/s | 1 |
| 2016 | -4.1°C | -8.0°C | -11.9°C | 0.0°C | -24.3°C | 65 mm | 99% | 0.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2015 | -3.0°C | -6.2°C | -9.4°C | 0.5°C | -18.3°C | 86 mm | 99% | 0.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2014 | -4.1°C | -7.8°C | -11.5°C | 0.9°C | -25.0°C | 44 mm | 99% | 0.2 m/s | 1 |
| 2013 | -4.6°C | -8.4°C | -12.2°C | 0.1°C | -22.9°C | 49 mm | 99% | 0.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2012 | -5.0°C | -8.6°C | -12.2°C | 3.8°C | -31.8°C | 44 mm | 94% | 0.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2011 | -5.8°C | -10.2°C | -14.5°C | 0.3°C | -28.1°C | 90 mm | 100% | 0.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2010 | -2.2°C | -5.6°C | -8.9°C | 2.0°C | -26.4°C | 26 mm | 97% | 0.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2009 | -6.2°C | -10.4°C | -14.6°C | 1.1°C | -32.5°C | 51 mm | 99% | 0.2 m/s | 1 |
| 2008 | -5.9°C | -10.2°C | -14.5°C | 0.0°C | -33.5°C | 41 mm | 100% | 0.2 m/s | 1 |
| 2007 | -5.0°C | -8.8°C | -12.5°C | 0.5°C | -34.2°C | 77 mm | 99% | 0.2 m/s | 1 |
| 2006 🔥 | -0.5°C | -3.9°C | -7.3°C | 3.0°C | -15.2°C | 43 mm | 97% | 0.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2005 | -8.1°C | -11.4°C | -14.7°C | 3.8°C | -36.6°C | 68 mm | 99% | 0.2 m/s | 1 |
| 2004 | -7.2°C | -11.3°C | -15.4°C | 0.3°C | -38.3°C | 66 mm | 100% | 0.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2003 | -1.3°C | -4.9°C | -8.5°C | 3.9°C | -17.7°C | 33 mm | 94% | 0.2 m/s | 1 |
| 2002 | -3.9°C | -7.6°C | -11.3°C | 1.4°C | -30.5°C | 45 mm | 98% | 0.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2001 | -3.3°C | -7.2°C | -11.1°C | 0.2°C | -18.9°C | 24 mm | 99% | 0.2 m/s | 1 |
| 2000 | -6.6°C | -11.0°C | -15.4°C | -0.1°C | -24.2°C | 35 mm | 99% | 0.2 m/s | 1 |
| 1999 🌧️ | -3.3°C | -6.9°C | -10.6°C | 1.3°C | -24.9°C | 109 mm | 99% | 0.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1998 | -6.8°C | -10.7°C | -14.7°C | 0.1°C | -37.9°C | 36 mm | 100% | 0.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1997 | -6.6°C | -10.5°C | -14.4°C | 0.2°C | -39.6°C | 63 mm | 100% | 0.2 m/s | 1 |
| 1996 ❄️ | -10.7°C | -15.3°C | -19.9°C | 1.1°C | -36.6°C | 69 mm | 100% | 0.2 m/s | 1 |
| 1995 | -4.7°C | -9.1°C | -13.6°C | 0.5°C | -24.8°C | 25 mm | 99% | 0.3 m/s | 1 |
| 1994 | -2.5°C | -6.1°C | -9.8°C | 0.6°C | -27.0°C | 66 mm | 100% | 0.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1993 | -10.7°C | -15.1°C | -19.6°C | 0.1°C | -33.9°C | 30 mm | 100% | 0.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1992 | -2.3°C | -5.6°C | -8.9°C | 2.1°C | -20.2°C | 59 mm | 99% | 0.2 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1991 | -9.4°C | -13.7°C | -17.9°C | 0.0°C | -37.7°C | 35 mm | 99% | 0.3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1990 | -4.4°C | -8.7°C | -12.9°C | 0.0°C | -38.1°C | 55 mm | 99% | 0.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1989 | -5.5°C | -9.9°C | -14.2°C | 0.5°C | -35.1°C | 63 mm | 99% | 0.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1988 | -5.4°C | -9.3°C | -13.3°C | 1.0°C | -30.4°C | 25 mm | 95% | 0.3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1987 | -3.1°C | -6.8°C | -10.5°C | 1.1°C | -21.7°C | 29 mm | 99% | 0.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1986 | -1.4°C | -4.6°C | -7.8°C | 2.4°C | -18.3°C | 31 mm | 96% | 0.1 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1985 | -6.2°C | -9.9°C | -13.6°C | 0.4°C | -23.2°C | 35 mm | 100% | 0.2 m/s | 1 |
| 1984 | -5.3°C | -8.7°C | -12.1°C | 1.1°C | -28.7°C | 76 mm | 100% | 0.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1983 | -3.0°C | -6.5°C | -10.1°C | 0.0°C | -21.8°C | 37 mm | 100% | 0.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -8.9°C | -13.3°C | -17.8°C | 0.0°C | -38.6°C | 103 mm | 100% | 0.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -1.0°C | -4.4°C | -7.7°C | 2.4°C | -14.0°C | 17 mm | 97% | 0.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around -4.8°C with lows near -12.4°C (mean -8.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 52 mm of rainfall in Williams Lake, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 109 mm in 1999.
The hottest January reached 4.4°C in 2024. The coldest dipped to -42.2°C in 2020.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 1.4°C. Daytime highs moved from -4.9°C to -3.5°C and overnight lows from -12.3°C to -10.9°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Williams Lake and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -4.8°C daytime highs and -12.4°C at night.
Not quite — January is the 2nd coolest month in Williams Lake, averaging -8.6°C.
For January in Williams Lake, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -4.8°C and lows of -12.4°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 99% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 0.2 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 0.3 m/s (1988).
The wettest January on record was 1999 with 109 mm. On average, January sees 52 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 Williams Lake 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.
