January is one of the cooler months of the year in Queens, with average highs near 0.3°C and lows around -6.5°C (mean -3.1°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 104 mm of rainfall and 87% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Queens. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Queens was 2023 — when the month averaged 1.3°C — while the coldest was 2004 at -7.8°C. Typical January days reach 0.3°C with nights near -6.5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Queens, averaging 104 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1982 with 235 mm, while the driest was 1989 at 33 mm.
Relative humidity in Queens during January averages 87%. The most humid January was 1985 at 96%, and the least humid was 1999 at 80%.
January receives about 1.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Queens. The sunniest January was 1985 at 1.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1996, 2002 and 2014, among others at 1.2.
Average wind speed in Queens during January is 1.7 m/s. The windiest January was 1982 at 2 m/s, while the calmest were 2001, 2002 and 2020, among others at 1.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -4.1°C | -3.3°C | -3.6°C | -2.3°C | -1.4°C | +2.7°C |
| Avg High | -0.5°C | 0.4°C | -0.4°C | 1.0°C | 1.7°C | +2.2°C |
| Avg Low | -7.7°C | -7.1°C | -6.9°C | -5.6°C | -4.5°C | +3.2°C |
| Avg Rain | 111 mm | 98 mm | 102 mm | 103 mm | 105 mm | -6 mm |
January temperatures in Queens have risen by about 3.6°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -20.6°C (1982) to a record high of 13.4°C (2018).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 104 mm, with a wettest year of 235 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 Queens
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Queens. That said, January — with days averaging 0.3°C and nights around -6.5°C (mean -3.1°C) and higher rainfall (104 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 | -3.1°C | -6.0°C | 5.6°C | -12.5°C | 78 mm | 85% | 1.7 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2024 | 1.1°C | -1.8°C | -4.7°C | 9.1°C | -10.9°C | 105 mm | 84% | 1.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2023 🔥 | 4.2°C | 1.3°C | -1.6°C | 11.4°C | -7.4°C | 185 mm | 89% | 1.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2022 | 1.4°C | -2.7°C | -6.9°C | 8.9°C | -14.2°C | 123 mm | 85% | 1.8 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2021 | 2.0°C | -0.6°C | -3.2°C | 8.9°C | -8.9°C | 58 mm | 85% | 1.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2020 | 1.6°C | -1.5°C | -4.7°C | 10.4°C | -14.3°C | 82 mm | 89% | 1.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2019 | 1.4°C | -2.4°C | -6.3°C | 10.3°C | -11.9°C | 117 mm | 83% | 1.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2018 | 1.5°C | -2.1°C | -5.7°C | 13.4°C | -13.8°C | 110 mm | 86% | 1.9 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2017 | 1.8°C | -1.1°C | -4.1°C | 8.6°C | -13.4°C | 126 mm | 85% | 1.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2016 | 0.9°C | -2.0°C | -4.9°C | 9.1°C | -11.4°C | 95 mm | 90% | 1.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2015 | 0.1°C | -3.7°C | -7.6°C | 8.3°C | -13.4°C | 160 mm | 85% | 1.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2014 | 1.0°C | -2.5°C | -6.0°C | 10.6°C | -15.5°C | 129 mm | 87% | 1.8 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2013 | 0.4°C | -3.1°C | -6.6°C | 11.1°C | -12.9°C | 36 mm | 85% | 1.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2012 | 2.6°C | -0.9°C | -4.3°C | 9.6°C | -11.0°C | 85 mm | 83% | 1.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2011 | 0.2°C | -2.4°C | -5.0°C | 5.9°C | -13.8°C | 92 mm | 87% | 1.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2010 | 0.3°C | -2.6°C | -5.5°C | 8.6°C | -11.6°C | 82 mm | 90% | 1.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2009 | -0.5°C | -4.0°C | -7.5°C | 6.9°C | -14.6°C | 86 mm | 84% | 1.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2008 | 1.0°C | -2.0°C | -5.1°C | 8.6°C | -13.4°C | 103 mm | 87% | 1.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2007 | 1.1°C | -2.3°C | -5.7°C | 11.9°C | -15.9°C | 150 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2006 | 3.1°C | 0.4°C | -2.3°C | 11.1°C | -8.3°C | 92 mm | 88% | 1.7 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2005 | -2.9°C | -6.0°C | -9.2°C | 7.2°C | -17.3°C | 129 mm | 92% | 1.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2004 ❄️ | -4.8°C | -7.8°C | -10.9°C | 4.9°C | -19.3°C | 65 mm | 92% | 1.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2003 | -2.8°C | -5.9°C | -9.1°C | 4.3°C | -15.3°C | 52 mm | 91% | 1.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2002 | 1.9°C | -1.2°C | -4.2°C | 7.5°C | -9.2°C | 88 mm | 88% | 1.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2001 | -1.2°C | -4.6°C | -8.1°C | 2.7°C | -14.5°C | 92 mm | 93% | 1.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2000 | 0.9°C | -3.0°C | -6.8°C | 11.1°C | -16.4°C | 167 mm | 88% | 1.9 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1999 | 2.0°C | -2.1°C | -6.1°C | 10.7°C | -16.7°C | 112 mm | 80% | 1.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1998 | 0.9°C | -2.2°C | -5.4°C | 8.3°C | -16.2°C | 170 mm | 88% | 1.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1997 | 0.2°C | -4.1°C | -8.4°C | 8.8°C | -16.8°C | 107 mm | 84% | 1.9 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1996 | 0.0°C | -4.1°C | -8.1°C | 9.9°C | -15.8°C | 80 mm | 85% | 1.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1995 | 1.8°C | -1.1°C | -3.9°C | 11.0°C | -17.0°C | 115 mm | 88% | 1.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1994 | -1.4°C | -5.6°C | -9.9°C | 8.6°C | -19.2°C | 151 mm | 87% | 1.8 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1993 | -0.7°C | -4.4°C | -8.2°C | 10.3°C | -18.8°C | 91 mm | 85% | 1.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1992 | -1.0°C | -4.6°C | -8.2°C | 9.1°C | -15.8°C | 48 mm | 84% | 1.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1991 | -0.3°C | -4.4°C | -8.6°C | 6.1°C | -16.1°C | 47 mm | 84% | 1.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1990 | 2.6°C | -0.8°C | -4.1°C | 10.7°C | -12.1°C | 64 mm | 86% | 1.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1989 | 1.5°C | -2.6°C | -6.8°C | 6.4°C | -14.6°C | 33 mm | 84% | 1.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1988 | 0.6°C | -3.0°C | -6.7°C | 7.4°C | -18.1°C | 64 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1987 | -0.4°C | -3.6°C | -6.8°C | 6.6°C | -12.9°C | 106 mm | 87% | 1.8 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1986 | 1.5°C | -2.4°C | -6.3°C | 10.1°C | -17.4°C | 113 mm | 87% | 1.8 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1985 | -3.7°C | -6.7°C | -9.7°C | 4.7°C | -15.4°C | 103 mm | 96% | 1.9 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1984 | -0.4°C | -4.0°C | -7.5°C | 5.7°C | -16.4°C | 135 mm | 92% | 1.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1983 | 1.6°C | -1.6°C | -4.8°C | 10.8°C | -15.3°C | 109 mm | 85% | 1.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 🌧️ | -2.4°C | -6.6°C | -10.7°C | 8.2°C | -20.6°C | 235 mm | 93% | 2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -2.8°C | -6.2°C | -9.7°C | 6.3°C | -18.1°C | 101 mm | 93% | 1.7 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 0.3°C with lows near -6.5°C (mean -3.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 104 mm of rainfall in Queens, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 235 mm in 1982.
The hottest January reached 13.4°C in 2018. The coldest dipped to -20.6°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 -1.5°C to 1.7°C and overnight lows from -8.5°C to -4.5°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Queens and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 0.3°C daytime highs and -6.5°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Queens, averaging -3.1°C.
For January in Queens, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 0.3°C and lows of -6.5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 87% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 1.7 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 2 m/s (1982).
The wettest January on record was 1982 with 235 mm. On average, January sees 104 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 Queens 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.
