January is one of the cooler months of the year in Saint John, with average highs near -3.9°C and lows around -13.3°C (mean -8.6°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 95 mm of rainfall and 92% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Saint John. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Saint John was 2006 — when the month averaged -3.6°C — while the coldest was 1981 at -14.3°C. Typical January days reach -3.9°C with nights near -13.3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 1°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Saint John, averaging 95 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2018 with 166 mm, while the driest was 1985 at 31 mm.
Relative humidity in Saint John during January averages 92%. The most humid January was 1981 at 100%, and the least humid was 1999 at 85%.
January receives about 1.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Saint John. The sunniest January was 2004 at 1.8 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2002, 2006 and 2023, among others at 1.3.
Average wind speed in Saint John during January is 0.6 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 2015 and 2018 at 0.7 m/s, while the calmest were 2002, 2021 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 | -10.4°C | -8.9°C | -9.2°C | -7.5°C | -6.4°C | +4°C |
| Avg High | -5.3°C | -3.8°C | -4.5°C | -3.0°C | -2.2°C | +3.1°C |
| Avg Low | -15.5°C | -13.9°C | -13.9°C | -12.1°C | -10.5°C | +5°C |
| Avg Rain | 90 mm | 113 mm | 82 mm | 99 mm | 83 mm | -7 mm |
January temperatures in Saint John have risen by about 5.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -38.7°C (1981) to a record high of 14°C (2018).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 95 mm, with a wettest year of 166 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.7°C per decade while lows rose 1.2°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Saint John
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Saint John. That said, January — with days averaging -3.9°C and nights around -13.3°C (mean -8.6°C) and higher rainfall (95 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 | -3.4°C | -7.4°C | -11.5°C | 4.4°C | -20.6°C | 64 mm | 88% | 0.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2024 | -1.8°C | -6.2°C | -10.5°C | 5.2°C | -17.4°C | 70 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2023 | -0.3°C | -3.9°C | -7.5°C | 7.7°C | -18.0°C | 159 mm | 93% | 0.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2022 | -3.4°C | -9.1°C | -14.7°C | 7.1°C | -22.8°C | 96 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2021 | -1.4°C | -4.8°C | -8.1°C | 2.6°C | -15.3°C | 38 mm | 89% | 0.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2020 | -2.7°C | -6.7°C | -10.7°C | 8.4°C | -22.9°C | 73 mm | 95% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2019 | -2.6°C | -8.0°C | -13.4°C | 9.3°C | -24.7°C | 135 mm | 93% | 0.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2018 🌧️ | -2.7°C | -7.5°C | -12.2°C | 14.0°C | -22.3°C | 166 mm | 90% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2017 | -1.7°C | -5.8°C | -9.9°C | 7.6°C | -27.9°C | 104 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2016 | -2.5°C | -6.5°C | -10.5°C | 8.1°C | -21.1°C | 71 mm | 92% | 0.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2015 | -4.6°C | -9.7°C | -14.8°C | 7.0°C | -22.5°C | 109 mm | 90% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2014 | -3.2°C | -7.8°C | -12.4°C | 9.5°C | -30.4°C | 130 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2013 | -3.9°C | -8.9°C | -13.8°C | 12.3°C | -25.4°C | 38 mm | 88% | 0.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2012 | -2.1°C | -6.3°C | -10.6°C | 6.7°C | -19.2°C | 74 mm | 88% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2011 | -4.3°C | -8.6°C | -12.8°C | 2.6°C | -24.2°C | 73 mm | 97% | 0.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2010 | -2.5°C | -6.4°C | -10.4°C | 7.9°C | -19.7°C | 85 mm | 94% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2009 | -6.0°C | -11.5°C | -17.0°C | 0.3°C | -27.8°C | 96 mm | 94% | 0.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2008 | -2.6°C | -7.0°C | -11.4°C | 8.0°C | -26.8°C | 98 mm | 93% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2007 | -3.8°C | -8.3°C | -12.8°C | 9.9°C | -29.1°C | 111 mm | 94% | 0.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2006 🔥 | 0.4°C | -3.6°C | -7.7°C | 11.2°C | -13.8°C | 87 mm | 91% | 0.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2005 | -6.0°C | -10.5°C | -15.0°C | 9.7°C | -25.4°C | 62 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2004 | -8.8°C | -13.0°C | -17.2°C | 2.7°C | -28.1°C | 39 mm | 89% | 0.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2003 | -7.5°C | -12.3°C | -17.2°C | 2.3°C | -28.0°C | 59 mm | 98% | 0.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2002 | -2.7°C | -7.0°C | -11.4°C | 1.1°C | -19.8°C | 92 mm | 96% | 0.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2001 | -5.0°C | -10.5°C | -16.1°C | 0.2°C | -25.5°C | 56 mm | 99% | 0.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2000 | -3.5°C | -8.2°C | -12.8°C | 10.6°C | -24.3°C | 120 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1999 | -1.5°C | -6.9°C | -12.3°C | 10.1°C | -28.1°C | 133 mm | 85% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1998 | -3.9°C | -8.0°C | -12.1°C | 3.1°C | -28.0°C | 163 mm | 98% | 0.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1997 | -4.0°C | -9.6°C | -15.2°C | 7.7°C | -27.0°C | 103 mm | 87% | 0.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1996 | -3.3°C | -9.0°C | -14.6°C | 11.1°C | -27.3°C | 95 mm | 88% | 0.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1995 | -2.9°C | -6.8°C | -10.6°C | 8.5°C | -26.8°C | 136 mm | 96% | 0.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1994 | -7.3°C | -13.3°C | -19.2°C | 6.7°C | -31.8°C | 127 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1993 | -4.4°C | -9.1°C | -13.8°C | 9.0°C | -28.7°C | 79 mm | 86% | 0.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1992 | -4.8°C | -9.8°C | -14.8°C | 7.6°C | -26.3°C | 88 mm | 88% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1991 | -5.6°C | -11.1°C | -16.6°C | 1.1°C | -30.6°C | 85 mm | 94% | 0.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1990 | -0.8°C | -5.1°C | -9.4°C | 9.6°C | -20.6°C | 119 mm | 92% | 0.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1989 | -2.6°C | -8.2°C | -13.9°C | 4.2°C | -23.1°C | 69 mm | 91% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1988 | -3.8°C | -8.9°C | -14.0°C | 2.9°C | -30.5°C | 73 mm | 97% | 0.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1987 | -5.4°C | -10.0°C | -14.6°C | 2.0°C | -28.4°C | 109 mm | 98% | 0.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1986 | -2.4°C | -7.9°C | -13.3°C | 11.6°C | -27.2°C | 110 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1985 | -8.1°C | -12.4°C | -16.7°C | -1.5°C | -22.6°C | 31 mm | 91% | 0.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1984 | -5.5°C | -10.1°C | -14.7°C | 2.0°C | -31.1°C | 113 mm | 96% | 0.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1983 | -2.7°C | -7.3°C | -12.0°C | 10.1°C | -24.3°C | 74 mm | 91% | 0.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -7.9°C | -14.1°C | -20.3°C | 2.1°C | -32.3°C | 119 mm | 98% | 0.6 m/s | — |
| 1981 ❄️ | -8.9°C | -14.3°C | -19.7°C | 0.3°C | -38.7°C | 115 mm | 100% | 0.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around -3.9°C with lows near -13.3°C (mean -8.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 95 mm of rainfall in Saint John, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 166 mm in 2018.
The hottest January reached 14°C in 2018. The coldest dipped to -38.7°C in 1981.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 5.3°C. Daytime highs moved from -6.6°C to -2.1°C and overnight lows from -16.7°C to -10.5°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Saint John and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -3.9°C daytime highs and -13.3°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Saint John, averaging -8.6°C.
For January in Saint John, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -3.9°C and lows of -13.3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 92% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 0.6 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 0.7 m/s (2015).
The wettest January on record was 2018 with 166 mm. On average, January sees 95 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 Saint John 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.
