January is one of the cooler months of the year in Kitchener, with average highs near -3.1°C and lows around -10.4°C (mean -6.7°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 46 mm of rainfall and 90% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Kitchener. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Kitchener was 2006 — when the month averaged -2.1°C — while the coldest was 1994 at -12.1°C. Typical January days reach -3.1°C with nights near -10.4°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
January is one of the drier months in Kitchener, averaging 46 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1999 with 115 mm, while the driest was 1988 at 16 mm.
Relative humidity in Kitchener during January averages 90%. The most humid January was 2001 at 96%, and the least humid was 1988 at 85%.
January receives about 1.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Kitchener. The sunniest January was 2003 at 1.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2023 at 1.1.
Average wind speed in Kitchener during January is 4.5 m/s. The windiest January was 1997 at 5.8 m/s, while the calmest were 2011 and 2021 at 3.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -8.0°C | -6.5°C | -6.5°C | -7.0°C | -5.4°C | +2.6°C |
| Avg High | -4.2°C | -2.9°C | -2.9°C | -3.3°C | -1.9°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg Low | -11.9°C | -10.0°C | -10.0°C | -10.6°C | -8.8°C | +3.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 41 mm | 47 mm | 47 mm | 50 mm | 42 mm | +1 mm |
January temperatures in Kitchener have risen by about 3.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -27.2°C (1982) to a record high of 12.6°C (1995).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 46 mm, with a wettest year of 115 mm.
A quieter season to visit Kitchener
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Kitchener. That said, January — with days averaging -3.1°C and nights around -10.4°C (mean -6.7°C) and moderate rainfall (46 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 | -4.0°C | -7.5°C | -11.1°C | 1.3°C | -23.4°C | 25 mm | 87% | 5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2024 | -1.7°C | -4.5°C | -7.3°C | 3.6°C | -17.9°C | 66 mm | 91% | 4.2 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2023 | 0.4°C | -2.7°C | -5.8°C | 6.4°C | -16.2°C | 48 mm | 89% | 3.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2022 | -5.1°C | -9.4°C | -13.8°C | 2.4°C | -24.7°C | 23 mm | 87% | 4.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2021 | -1.5°C | -4.7°C | -7.8°C | 2.8°C | -14.1°C | 21 mm | 91% | 3.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2020 | 0.3°C | -3.4°C | -7.0°C | 8.7°C | -18.2°C | 69 mm | 89% | 4.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2019 | -4.1°C | -8.1°C | -12.2°C | 6.2°C | -22.7°C | 47 mm | 89% | 4.9 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2018 | -3.2°C | -7.0°C | -10.8°C | 9.0°C | -22.5°C | 56 mm | 89% | 5.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2017 | -0.8°C | -3.7°C | -6.5°C | 5.8°C | -15.7°C | 81 mm | 89% | 4.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2016 | -2.3°C | -5.8°C | -9.3°C | 6.6°C | -16.9°C | 48 mm | 89% | 4.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2015 | -5.3°C | -10.1°C | -14.9°C | 1.6°C | -25.9°C | 39 mm | 89% | 4.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2014 | -7.2°C | -11.4°C | -15.6°C | 1.8°C | -25.2°C | 47 mm | 93% | 4.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2013 | -1.0°C | -4.0°C | -7.1°C | 11.3°C | -15.6°C | 74 mm | 88% | 4.7 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2012 | -0.5°C | -4.0°C | -7.4°C | 6.1°C | -17.4°C | 46 mm | 89% | 4.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2011 | -5.1°C | -8.7°C | -12.2°C | 6.6°C | -23.5°C | 35 mm | 90% | 3.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2010 | -3.6°C | -7.0°C | -10.4°C | 2.6°C | -20.0°C | 28 mm | 91% | 4.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2009 | -5.9°C | -9.6°C | -13.4°C | 0.2°C | -21.5°C | 36 mm | 92% | 3.9 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2008 | -0.7°C | -3.8°C | -6.8°C | 12.4°C | -15.9°C | 61 mm | 88% | 5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2007 | -1.3°C | -4.8°C | -8.2°C | 9.1°C | -21.7°C | 51 mm | 89% | 4.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2006 🔥 | 1.4°C | -2.1°C | -5.5°C | 7.4°C | -14.5°C | 56 mm | 91% | 4.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2005 | -3.9°C | -7.7°C | -11.4°C | 10.6°C | -22.7°C | 54 mm | 89% | 4.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2004 | -6.6°C | -9.9°C | -13.2°C | 7.2°C | -22.7°C | 52 mm | 92% | 4.9 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2003 | -5.7°C | -9.0°C | -12.4°C | 2.4°C | -19.2°C | 19 mm | 87% | 4.8 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2002 | -0.7°C | -3.9°C | -7.1°C | 5.3°C | -17.7°C | 55 mm | 93% | 4.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2001 | -2.9°C | -6.9°C | -10.8°C | 0.6°C | -23.8°C | 44 mm | 96% | 3.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2000 | -3.0°C | -6.9°C | -10.9°C | 8.8°C | -21.5°C | 37 mm | 88% | 4.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1999 🌧️ | -4.5°C | -8.5°C | -12.6°C | 3.5°C | -26.0°C | 115 mm | 95% | 4.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1998 | -0.9°C | -4.3°C | -7.7°C | 9.0°C | -14.8°C | 67 mm | 93% | 4.4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1997 | -3.0°C | -6.7°C | -10.3°C | 10.1°C | -21.8°C | 35 mm | 89% | 5.8 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1996 | -3.6°C | -7.5°C | -11.4°C | 9.1°C | -18.7°C | 35 mm | 86% | 5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1995 | -0.7°C | -3.9°C | -7.0°C | 12.6°C | -17.9°C | 49 mm | 90% | 4.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1994 ❄️ | -8.4°C | -12.1°C | -15.9°C | 0.8°C | -25.4°C | 31 mm | 90% | 5.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1993 | -1.9°C | -5.1°C | -8.3°C | 6.9°C | -13.4°C | 48 mm | 89% | 4.8 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1992 | -2.2°C | -5.8°C | -9.4°C | 4.1°C | -20.2°C | 39 mm | 93% | 4.2 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1991 | -4.1°C | -7.5°C | -10.8°C | 2.8°C | -21.5°C | 21 mm | 90% | 4.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1990 | 0.0°C | -3.5°C | -7.0°C | 6.6°C | -14.8°C | 29 mm | 91% | 5.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1989 | -0.1°C | -4.0°C | -7.9°C | 6.7°C | -19.1°C | 19 mm | 86% | 5.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1988 | -2.9°C | -6.2°C | -9.6°C | 8.0°C | -16.5°C | 16 mm | 85% | 5.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1987 | -2.5°C | -6.0°C | -9.5°C | 2.6°C | -18.0°C | 25 mm | 91% | 4.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1986 | -3.8°C | -8.0°C | -12.3°C | 4.5°C | -25.1°C | 21 mm | 92% | 4.7 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1985 | -5.7°C | -9.2°C | -12.7°C | 4.1°C | -22.5°C | 81 mm | 94% | 4.4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1984 | -7.0°C | -11.5°C | -15.9°C | 0.0°C | -26.7°C | 42 mm | 95% | 3.8 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1983 | -2.0°C | -5.5°C | -9.0°C | 3.7°C | -21.1°C | 42 mm | 91% | 4.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -7.7°C | -12.0°C | -16.4°C | 2.1°C | -27.2°C | 100 mm | 94% | 5.4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -5.9°C | -9.9°C | -13.9°C | 1.5°C | -25.8°C | 24 mm | 94% | 3.7 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around -3.1°C with lows near -10.4°C (mean -6.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 46 mm of rainfall in Kitchener, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 115 mm in 1999.
The hottest January reached 12.6°C in 1995. The coldest dipped to -27.2°C in 1982.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 3.8°C. Daytime highs moved from -5.7°C to -2.4°C and overnight lows from -13.6°C to -9.2°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Kitchener and one of the drier months, so plan for around -3.1°C daytime highs and -10.4°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Kitchener, averaging -6.7°C.
For January in Kitchener, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -3.1°C and lows of -10.4°C.
Relative humidity in January averages 90% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 4.5 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 5.8 m/s (1997).
The wettest January on record was 1999 with 115 mm. On average, January sees 46 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 Kitchener 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.
