January is one of the cooler months of the year in Cape Breton, with average highs near -0.8°C and lows around -6.7°C (mean -3.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 101 mm of rainfall and 86% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Cape Breton. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Cape Breton was 2023 — when the month averaged 0.5°C — while the coldest was 1985 at -7.1°C. Typical January days reach -0.8°C with nights near -6.7°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Cape Breton, averaging 101 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1982 with 211 mm, while the driest was 1992 at 34 mm.
Relative humidity in Cape Breton during January averages 86%. The most humid January was 1985 at 89%, and the least humid was 1996 at 81%.
January receives about 1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Cape Breton. The sunniest Januarys were 1992, 2024 and 2025, among others at 1.2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1993 and 1994 at 0.8.
Average wind speed in Cape Breton during January is 6.9 m/s. The windiest January was 1982 at 8.2 m/s, while the calmest was 2001 at 5.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -4.7°C | -4.5°C | -4.1°C | -3.1°C | -1.8°C | +2.9°C |
| Avg High | -1.5°C | -1.3°C | -1.2°C | -0.3°C | 0.7°C | +2.2°C |
| Avg Low | -7.8°C | -7.7°C | -7.0°C | -6.0°C | -4.3°C | +3.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 118 mm | 65 mm | 113 mm | 109 mm | 103 mm | -15 mm |
January temperatures in Cape Breton have risen by about 3.6°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -22.9°C (1982) to a record high of 9.3°C (2006).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 101 mm, with a wettest year of 211 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.5°C per decade while lows rose 0.8°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Cape Breton
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Cape Breton. That said, January — with days averaging -0.8°C and nights around -6.7°C (mean -3.7°C) and higher rainfall (101 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 | 0.2°C | -2.1°C | -4.4°C | 6.1°C | -10.9°C | 92 mm | 85% | 6.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2024 | -0.3°C | -2.8°C | -5.2°C | 6.2°C | -8.4°C | 50 mm | 82% | 6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2023 🔥 | 2.8°C | 0.5°C | -1.8°C | 8.3°C | -7.0°C | 122 mm | 86% | 6.4 m/s | 1 |
| 2022 | 1.4°C | -2.1°C | -5.5°C | 7.6°C | -10.8°C | 176 mm | 85% | 7.3 m/s | 1 |
| 2021 | 1.0°C | -0.8°C | -2.6°C | 4.9°C | -6.6°C | 60 mm | 84% | 5.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2020 | -0.8°C | -3.5°C | -6.3°C | 4.4°C | -11.6°C | 119 mm | 88% | 5.6 m/s | 1 |
| 2019 | -0.1°C | -3.4°C | -6.7°C | 7.5°C | -14.5°C | 93 mm | 88% | 6.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2018 | -0.1°C | -3.5°C | -7.0°C | 9.2°C | -14.4°C | 136 mm | 88% | 7.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2017 | 0.2°C | -2.4°C | -5.0°C | 6.4°C | -14.9°C | 120 mm | 86% | 6.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2016 | -0.5°C | -3.2°C | -5.9°C | 6.0°C | -9.7°C | 90 mm | 87% | 6.4 m/s | 1 |
| 2015 | -0.8°C | -4.3°C | -7.9°C | 7.6°C | -13.8°C | 121 mm | 86% | 6.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2014 | -1.2°C | -4.5°C | -7.8°C | 7.4°C | -13.6°C | 146 mm | 89% | 7.1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2013 | -1.6°C | -4.1°C | -6.6°C | 7.3°C | -14.9°C | 40 mm | 86% | 7.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2012 | 1.3°C | -1.7°C | -4.7°C | 8.2°C | -8.8°C | 111 mm | 85% | 6.8 m/s | 1 |
| 2011 | 0.5°C | -1.7°C | -3.9°C | 4.0°C | -14.3°C | 132 mm | 87% | 6.6 m/s | 1 |
| 2010 | -0.3°C | -2.1°C | -4.0°C | 5.4°C | -10.0°C | 96 mm | 87% | 6.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2009 | -2.7°C | -5.9°C | -9.0°C | 5.1°C | -17.0°C | 100 mm | 88% | 7.4 m/s | 1 |
| 2008 | -0.2°C | -2.8°C | -5.4°C | 5.6°C | -14.8°C | 102 mm | 87% | 6.3 m/s | 1 |
| 2007 | -0.1°C | -2.5°C | -5.0°C | 8.9°C | -14.3°C | 126 mm | 84% | 7.9 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2006 | 2.4°C | -0.4°C | -3.3°C | 9.3°C | -8.1°C | 102 mm | 87% | 7.3 m/s | 1 |
| 2005 | -2.4°C | -5.4°C | -8.5°C | 5.8°C | -14.5°C | 96 mm | 85% | 7.1 m/s | 1 |
| 2004 | -4.2°C | -6.8°C | -9.3°C | 3.5°C | -17.7°C | 49 mm | 87% | 7.3 m/s | 1 |
| 2003 | -2.5°C | -6.0°C | -9.4°C | 3.5°C | -16.2°C | 165 mm | 88% | 6.8 m/s | 1 |
| 2002 | -0.9°C | -3.5°C | -6.2°C | 5.1°C | -10.1°C | 118 mm | 87% | 6.3 m/s | 1 |
| 2001 | -1.6°C | -4.6°C | -7.6°C | 1.3°C | -13.7°C | 113 mm | 86% | 5.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2000 | 0.5°C | -2.8°C | -6.2°C | 8.1°C | -13.4°C | 155 mm | 86% | 7.4 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1999 | -0.4°C | -3.3°C | -6.3°C | 7.9°C | -15.0°C | 120 mm | 84% | 7.3 m/s | 1 |
| 1998 | -0.7°C | -3.6°C | -6.5°C | 7.1°C | -12.4°C | 127 mm | 87% | 7.7 m/s | 1 |
| 1997 | -0.5°C | -4.2°C | -8.0°C | 7.0°C | -14.9°C | 86 mm | 84% | 7.8 m/s | 1 |
| 1996 | -1.3°C | -4.1°C | -6.9°C | 7.4°C | -13.2°C | 42 mm | 81% | 7.5 m/s | 1 |
| 1995 | 0.1°C | -2.4°C | -4.8°C | 7.0°C | -14.4°C | 37 mm | 87% | 6.3 m/s | 1 |
| 1994 | -2.6°C | -6.9°C | -11.2°C | 6.9°C | -19.9°C | 58 mm | 87% | 7.4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1993 | -1.9°C | -5.1°C | -8.2°C | 8.8°C | -20.1°C | 45 mm | 85% | 6.6 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1992 | -2.7°C | -5.0°C | -7.4°C | 6.5°C | -15.3°C | 34 mm | 85% | 7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1991 | -2.7°C | -6.5°C | -10.3°C | 4.4°C | -18.5°C | 40 mm | 84% | 7.1 m/s | 1 |
| 1990 | 0.0°C | -3.5°C | -7.1°C | 6.1°C | -14.4°C | 56 mm | 87% | 7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1989 | -0.9°C | -4.3°C | -7.7°C | 4.5°C | -12.5°C | 49 mm | 84% | 7.1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1988 | -1.3°C | -4.7°C | -8.0°C | 6.5°C | -15.9°C | 51 mm | 89% | 6.7 m/s | 1 |
| 1987 | -1.6°C | -4.1°C | -6.6°C | 3.0°C | -14.6°C | 68 mm | 85% | 6.6 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1986 | 0.0°C | -3.4°C | -6.8°C | 7.9°C | -19.7°C | 90 mm | 86% | 8.1 m/s | 1 |
| 1985 ❄️ | -4.3°C | -7.1°C | -10.0°C | 2.9°C | -15.7°C | 100 mm | 89% | 7.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1984 | -1.4°C | -4.5°C | -7.7°C | 6.1°C | -15.4°C | 174 mm | 87% | 5.7 m/s | 1 |
| 1983 | 0.4°C | -2.0°C | -4.4°C | 9.2°C | -11.2°C | 175 mm | 86% | 6.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 🌧️ | -2.5°C | -6.2°C | -9.9°C | 5.2°C | -22.9°C | 211 mm | 89% | 8.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -2.1°C | -5.6°C | -9.2°C | 7.1°C | -16.5°C | 140 mm | 88% | 6.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around -0.8°C with lows near -6.7°C (mean -3.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 101 mm of rainfall in Cape Breton, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 211 mm in 1982.
The hottest January reached 9.3°C in 2006. The coldest dipped to -22.9°C in 1982.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 3.6°C. Daytime highs moved from -2°C to 1°C and overnight lows from -8.2°C to -3.9°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Cape Breton and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -0.8°C daytime highs and -6.7°C at night.
Not quite — January is the 2nd coolest month in Cape Breton, averaging -3.7°C.
For January in Cape Breton, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -0.8°C and lows of -6.7°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 86% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 6.9 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 8.2 m/s (1982).
The wettest January on record was 1982 with 211 mm. On average, January sees 101 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 Cape Breton 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.
