January is one of the cooler months of the year in Amherst, with average highs near -3.5°C and lows around -11.5°C (mean -7.5°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 73 mm of rainfall and 91% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Amherst. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Amherst was 2006 — when the month averaged -3°C — while the coldest was 1981 at -12°C. Typical January days reach -3.5°C with nights near -11.5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.9°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Amherst, averaging 73 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2000 with 134 mm, while the driest was 2013 at 23 mm.
Relative humidity in Amherst during January averages 91%. The most humid January was 2001 at 99%, and the least humid was 1999 at 83%.
January receives about 1.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Amherst. The sunniest Januarys were 2004, 2009 and 2013 at 1.6 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2000, 2002 and 2006, among others at 1.2.
Average wind speed in Amherst during January is 1.2 m/s. The windiest January was 1982 at 1.5 m/s, while the calmest was 1984 at 0.9 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -9.1°C | -7.9°C | -7.9°C | -6.6°C | -5.4°C | +3.7°C |
| Avg High | -4.8°C | -3.5°C | -4.2°C | -2.7°C | -1.8°C | +3°C |
| Avg Low | -13.3°C | -12.4°C | -11.6°C | -10.5°C | -9.1°C | +4.2°C |
| Avg Rain | 80 mm | 66 mm | 80 mm | 71 mm | 69 mm | -12 mm |
January temperatures in Amherst have risen by about 5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -31.1°C (1982) to a record high of 14.6°C (2018).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 73 mm, with a wettest year of 134 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.7°C per decade while lows rose 1.1°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Amherst
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Amherst. That said, January — with days averaging -3.5°C and nights around -11.5°C (mean -7.5°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 | -2.8°C | -6.1°C | -9.3°C | 4.0°C | -17.9°C | 46 mm | 87% | 1.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2024 | -1.2°C | -4.8°C | -8.3°C | 5.2°C | -13.7°C | 48 mm | 84% | 1.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2023 | 0.2°C | -3.2°C | -6.6°C | 8.1°C | -14.6°C | 127 mm | 90% | 1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2022 | -3.1°C | -8.1°C | -13.2°C | 6.8°C | -21.3°C | 89 mm | 89% | 1.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2021 | -1.2°C | -3.9°C | -6.7°C | 2.4°C | -14.7°C | 40 mm | 88% | 1.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2020 | -2.8°C | -6.5°C | -10.3°C | 7.3°C | -24.1°C | 61 mm | 93% | 1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2019 | -2.8°C | -7.6°C | -12.5°C | 9.7°C | -21.1°C | 97 mm | 92% | 1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2018 | -2.5°C | -7.0°C | -11.6°C | 14.6°C | -21.1°C | 83 mm | 85% | 1.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2017 | -1.9°C | -5.6°C | -9.3°C | 7.5°C | -20.8°C | 76 mm | 88% | 1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2016 | -2.4°C | -5.6°C | -8.8°C | 6.7°C | -14.2°C | 53 mm | 92% | 1.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2015 | -4.4°C | -8.7°C | -13.0°C | 6.8°C | -19.7°C | 104 mm | 89% | 1.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2014 | -2.3°C | -6.6°C | -10.9°C | 9.7°C | -24.7°C | 71 mm | 88% | 1.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2013 | -3.5°C | -7.8°C | -12.0°C | 12.8°C | -19.6°C | 23 mm | 87% | 1.4 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2012 | -1.5°C | -5.4°C | -9.4°C | 6.8°C | -15.9°C | 57 mm | 87% | 1.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2011 | -3.6°C | -6.6°C | -9.7°C | 1.8°C | -21.5°C | 76 mm | 97% | 1.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2010 | -2.0°C | -4.9°C | -7.8°C | 6.5°C | -17.2°C | 75 mm | 93% | 1.4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2009 | -6.0°C | -10.1°C | -14.2°C | 1.5°C | -25.3°C | 74 mm | 92% | 1.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2008 | -2.4°C | -5.8°C | -9.1°C | 8.7°C | -18.9°C | 111 mm | 93% | 1.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2007 | -3.0°C | -6.7°C | -10.3°C | 10.3°C | -22.8°C | 100 mm | 93% | 1.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2006 🔥 | 0.3°C | -3.0°C | -6.4°C | 10.4°C | -12.0°C | 70 mm | 91% | 1.2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2005 | -5.4°C | -8.8°C | -12.1°C | 11.8°C | -19.5°C | 64 mm | 89% | 1.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2004 | -7.8°C | -11.3°C | -14.8°C | 3.2°C | -25.6°C | 36 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2003 | -7.0°C | -10.7°C | -14.4°C | 1.0°C | -22.0°C | 47 mm | 97% | 1.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2002 | -3.0°C | -6.7°C | -10.3°C | 0.7°C | -17.9°C | 85 mm | 96% | 1.1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2001 | -4.9°C | -9.1°C | -13.3°C | -0.5°C | -20.0°C | 74 mm | 99% | 1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2000 🌧️ | -2.7°C | -6.8°C | -10.9°C | 11.3°C | -19.9°C | 134 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1999 | -1.6°C | -6.0°C | -10.5°C | 11.1°C | -21.5°C | 81 mm | 83% | 1.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1998 | -3.2°C | -7.0°C | -10.9°C | 5.2°C | -22.2°C | 120 mm | 95% | 1.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1997 | -3.3°C | -8.3°C | -13.3°C | 8.6°C | -20.8°C | 62 mm | 87% | 1.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1996 | -3.1°C | -8.0°C | -12.8°C | 10.5°C | -23.3°C | 56 mm | 85% | 1.1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1995 | -2.3°C | -5.8°C | -9.3°C | 10.8°C | -22.7°C | 69 mm | 94% | 1.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1994 | -5.7°C | -11.0°C | -16.3°C | 8.2°C | -24.7°C | 53 mm | 86% | 1.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1993 | -4.3°C | -8.6°C | -12.9°C | 9.8°C | -27.2°C | 35 mm | 85% | 1.1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1992 | -4.7°C | -8.9°C | -13.0°C | 8.2°C | -22.6°C | 42 mm | 86% | 1.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1991 | -5.7°C | -10.5°C | -15.3°C | 1.2°C | -26.6°C | 62 mm | 93% | 1.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1990 | -1.2°C | -5.3°C | -9.4°C | 12.2°C | -20.9°C | 83 mm | 90% | 1.2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1989 | -2.6°C | -7.5°C | -12.3°C | 4.3°C | -19.4°C | 39 mm | 89% | 1.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1988 | -3.2°C | -7.4°C | -11.7°C | 4.7°C | -23.6°C | 47 mm | 95% | 1.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1987 | -4.9°C | -8.6°C | -12.4°C | 1.7°C | -22.2°C | 85 mm | 95% | 1.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1986 | -2.4°C | -7.2°C | -12.0°C | 11.0°C | -25.4°C | 85 mm | 91% | 1.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1985 | -8.0°C | -11.8°C | -15.6°C | -1.4°C | -22.0°C | 55 mm | 97% | 1.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1984 | -5.0°C | -8.9°C | -12.7°C | 1.5°C | -25.7°C | 122 mm | 96% | 0.9 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1983 | -2.6°C | -6.3°C | -10.1°C | 9.3°C | -19.5°C | 72 mm | 89% | 1.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -7.2°C | -11.9°C | -16.7°C | 5.9°C | -31.1°C | 115 mm | 97% | 1.5 m/s | — |
| 1981 ❄️ | -7.5°C | -12.0°C | -16.6°C | 1.2°C | -30.9°C | 100 mm | 98% | 1.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around -3.5°C with lows near -11.5°C (mean -7.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 73 mm of rainfall in Amherst, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 134 mm in 2000.
The hottest January reached 14.6°C in 2018. The coldest dipped to -31.1°C in 1982.
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 -6.1°C to -1.6°C and overnight lows from -14.3°C to -8.8°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Amherst and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -3.5°C daytime highs and -11.5°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Amherst, averaging -7.5°C.
For January in Amherst, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -3.5°C and lows of -11.5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 91% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 1.2 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 1.5 m/s (1982).
The wettest January on record was 2000 with 134 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 Amherst 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.
