January is one of the cooler months of the year in Chatham, with average highs near -6.2°C and lows around -15.7°C (mean -10.9°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 64 mm of rainfall and 94% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Chatham. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Chatham was 2021 — when the month averaged -5.9°C — while the coldest was 1982 at -16°C. Typical January days reach -6.2°C with nights near -15.7°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 1°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Chatham, averaging 64 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1986 with 114 mm, while the driest was 2004 at 25 mm.
Relative humidity in Chatham during January averages 94%. The most humid January was 1982 at 100%, and the least humid was 2025 at 85%.
January receives about 1.2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Chatham. The sunniest Januarys were 2005, 2013 and 2024, among others at 1.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 1.
Average wind speed in Chatham during January is 0.6 m/s. The windiest January was 1985 at 0.8 m/s, while the calmest were 2019, 2020 and 2023, 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 | -12.6°C | -11.9°C | -11.0°C | -9.9°C | -8.6°C | +4°C |
| Avg High | -7.5°C | -6.8°C | -6.6°C | -5.3°C | -4.3°C | +3.2°C |
| Avg Low | -17.6°C | -16.9°C | -15.5°C | -14.4°C | -13.0°C | +4.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 84 mm | 72 mm | 60 mm | 53 mm | 42 mm | -42 mm |
January temperatures in Chatham have risen by about 5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -36.3°C (1981) to a record high of 12.8°C (2013).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 64 mm, with a wettest year of 114 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.8°C per decade while lows rose 1.2°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Chatham
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Chatham. That said, January — with days averaging -6.2°C and nights around -15.7°C (mean -10.9°C) and moderate rainfall (64 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 | -4.6°C | -8.2°C | -11.9°C | 2.0°C | -21.5°C | 26 mm | 85% | 0.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2024 | -3.7°C | -8.2°C | -12.7°C | 1.6°C | -21.4°C | 38 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2023 | -3.0°C | -7.2°C | -11.3°C | 1.6°C | -21.3°C | 83 mm | 95% | 0.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2022 | -7.4°C | -13.2°C | -19.1°C | 1.0°C | -28.1°C | 43 mm | 94% | 0.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2021 🔥 | -2.4°C | -5.9°C | -9.4°C | 1.1°C | -21.1°C | 27 mm | 91% | 0.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2020 | -4.9°C | -9.1°C | -13.3°C | 2.0°C | -24.8°C | 38 mm | 95% | 0.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2019 | -6.3°C | -11.4°C | -16.5°C | 0.7°C | -25.8°C | 72 mm | 96% | 0.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2018 | -5.6°C | -10.6°C | -15.6°C | 9.7°C | -25.0°C | 77 mm | 91% | 0.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2017 | -4.3°C | -8.9°C | -13.5°C | 2.9°C | -27.6°C | 49 mm | 94% | 0.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2016 | -4.1°C | -8.2°C | -12.3°C | 3.9°C | -19.9°C | 30 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2015 | -7.1°C | -12.0°C | -16.9°C | 4.6°C | -25.3°C | 51 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2014 | -5.3°C | -10.0°C | -14.8°C | 7.0°C | -32.9°C | 54 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2013 | -6.6°C | -11.3°C | -15.9°C | 12.8°C | -24.7°C | 30 mm | 92% | 0.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2012 | -4.7°C | -9.4°C | -14.1°C | 2.4°C | -22.1°C | 57 mm | 93% | 0.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2011 | -5.6°C | -9.8°C | -14.0°C | 3.6°C | -25.0°C | 58 mm | 97% | 0.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2010 | -3.2°C | -7.0°C | -10.8°C | 4.5°C | -21.1°C | 49 mm | 92% | 0.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2009 | -9.1°C | -14.0°C | -18.9°C | -0.8°C | -33.5°C | 58 mm | 95% | 0.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2008 | -5.2°C | -9.6°C | -13.9°C | 3.5°C | -28.2°C | 88 mm | 98% | 0.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2007 | -6.4°C | -10.5°C | -14.6°C | 5.3°C | -28.1°C | 89 mm | 97% | 0.7 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2006 | -2.4°C | -6.5°C | -10.6°C | 8.9°C | -20.8°C | 86 mm | 94% | 0.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2005 | -7.2°C | -11.6°C | -16.0°C | 10.2°C | -27.2°C | 44 mm | 88% | 0.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2004 | -9.5°C | -13.4°C | -17.3°C | 1.8°C | -28.0°C | 25 mm | 87% | 0.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2003 | -9.0°C | -13.4°C | -17.8°C | -1.0°C | -27.2°C | 30 mm | 98% | 0.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2002 | -4.9°C | -9.3°C | -13.7°C | 0.5°C | -23.1°C | 51 mm | 95% | 0.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2001 | -6.6°C | -11.8°C | -16.9°C | -0.9°C | -25.0°C | 38 mm | 100% | 0.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2000 | -5.6°C | -10.2°C | -14.9°C | 4.1°C | -23.4°C | 94 mm | 93% | 0.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1999 | -5.5°C | -10.8°C | -16.1°C | 9.3°C | -27.7°C | 93 mm | 92% | 0.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1998 | -5.4°C | -10.0°C | -14.5°C | 0.5°C | -25.5°C | 74 mm | 98% | 0.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1997 | -6.2°C | -11.8°C | -17.4°C | 4.3°C | -29.5°C | 53 mm | 91% | 0.7 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1996 | -5.8°C | -11.0°C | -16.3°C | 10.5°C | -28.8°C | 51 mm | 89% | 0.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1995 | -6.1°C | -9.9°C | -13.7°C | 2.4°C | -32.0°C | 96 mm | 99% | 0.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1994 | -9.9°C | -15.7°C | -21.5°C | 3.0°C | -33.0°C | 68 mm | 95% | 0.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1993 | -8.1°C | -13.4°C | -18.7°C | 1.7°C | -32.3°C | 44 mm | 96% | 0.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1992 | -7.8°C | -12.2°C | -16.7°C | 5.1°C | -27.0°C | 63 mm | 91% | 0.7 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1991 | -9.1°C | -14.6°C | -20.2°C | -0.6°C | -33.6°C | 71 mm | 99% | 0.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1990 | -4.5°C | -9.3°C | -14.1°C | 0.5°C | -25.4°C | 109 mm | 99% | 0.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1989 | -5.2°C | -11.3°C | -17.4°C | 0.9°C | -25.7°C | 66 mm | 97% | 0.7 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1988 | -6.5°C | -11.5°C | -16.5°C | 0.4°C | -28.1°C | 83 mm | 100% | 0.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1987 | -7.5°C | -11.9°C | -16.2°C | 0.1°C | -26.9°C | 105 mm | 99% | 0.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1986 🌧️ | -5.5°C | -10.9°C | -16.3°C | 10.3°C | -31.7°C | 114 mm | 96% | 0.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1985 | -10.2°C | -14.5°C | -18.7°C | -3.1°C | -23.5°C | 30 mm | 96% | 0.8 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1984 | -7.9°C | -12.7°C | -17.4°C | 0.4°C | -31.6°C | 87 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1 |
| 1983 | -4.5°C | -9.4°C | -14.3°C | 8.3°C | -24.6°C | 71 mm | 92% | 0.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 ❄️ | -10.7°C | -16.0°C | -21.2°C | 0.1°C | -34.6°C | 96 mm | 100% | 0.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -9.7°C | -15.1°C | -20.4°C | 0.1°C | -36.3°C | 106 mm | 100% | 0.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around -6.2°C with lows near -15.7°C (mean -10.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 64 mm of rainfall in Chatham, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 114 mm in 1986.
The hottest January reached 12.8°C in 2013. The coldest dipped to -36.3°C in 1981.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 5°C. Daytime highs moved from -8.6°C to -4.2°C and overnight lows from -18.4°C to -12.9°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Chatham and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -6.2°C daytime highs and -15.7°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Chatham, averaging -10.9°C.
For January in Chatham, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -6.2°C and lows of -15.7°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 94% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 0.6 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 0.8 m/s (1985).
The wettest January on record was 1986 with 114 mm. On average, January sees 64 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 Chatham 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.
