January is one of the cooler months of the year in Sault Ste. Marie, with average highs near -6.1°C and lows around -13.6°C (mean -9.8°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 54 mm of rainfall and 97% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Sault Ste. Marie. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Sault Ste. Marie was 2006 — when the month averaged -5.4°C — while the coldest was 1994 at -17.4°C. Typical January days reach -6.1°C with nights near -13.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.
January is one of the drier months in Sault Ste. Marie, averaging 54 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1997 with 100 mm, while the driest was 2021 at 19 mm.
Relative humidity in Sault Ste. Marie during January averages 97%. The most humid January was 1994 at 99%, and the least humid was 2007 at 91%.
January receives about 1.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Sault Ste. Marie. The sunniest Januarys were 1994 and 2011 at 1.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2014, 2017 and 2020, among others at 1.
Average wind speed in Sault Ste. Marie during January is 2.6 m/s. The windiest January was 1982 at 3.2 m/s, while the calmest was 2021 at 2.2 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -11.1°C | -10.5°C | -9.1°C | -10.0°C | -7.8°C | +3.3°C |
| Avg High | -6.8°C | -6.6°C | -5.5°C | -6.3°C | -4.5°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg Low | -15.4°C | -14.4°C | -12.6°C | -13.6°C | -11.2°C | +4.2°C |
| Avg Rain | 51 mm | 66 mm | 51 mm | 56 mm | 45 mm | -6 mm |
January temperatures in Sault Ste. Marie have risen by about 4.1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -31.7°C (2014) to a record high of 4.1°C (2013).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 54 mm, with a wettest year of 100 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.4°C per decade while lows rose 0.9°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Sault Ste. Marie
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Sault Ste. Marie. That said, January — with days averaging -6.1°C and nights around -13.6°C (mean -9.8°C) and moderate rainfall (54 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 | -5.4°C | -8.7°C | -11.9°C | 0.9°C | -20.3°C | 59 mm | 94% | 3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2024 | -3.6°C | -6.3°C | -9.0°C | 3.0°C | -21.1°C | 35 mm | 94% | 2.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2023 | -3.6°C | -6.6°C | -9.5°C | 1.2°C | -18.8°C | 56 mm | 95% | 2.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2022 | -7.5°C | -12.2°C | -16.9°C | 0.4°C | -27.3°C | 44 mm | 97% | 2.8 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2021 | -3.3°C | -6.5°C | -9.6°C | 1.3°C | -18.0°C | 19 mm | 95% | 2.2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2020 | -3.4°C | -6.8°C | -10.2°C | 1.1°C | -20.4°C | 54 mm | 97% | 2.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2019 | -8.8°C | -12.4°C | -16.0°C | 0.9°C | -27.5°C | 72 mm | 98% | 2.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2018 | -6.6°C | -10.4°C | -14.2°C | 1.6°C | -27.8°C | 48 mm | 97% | 2.5 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2017 | -3.6°C | -6.2°C | -8.7°C | 0.8°C | -19.4°C | 66 mm | 97% | 2.4 m/s | 1 |
| 2016 | -5.0°C | -8.5°C | -12.0°C | 1.3°C | -22.1°C | 48 mm | 97% | 2.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2015 | -8.5°C | -13.3°C | -18.1°C | -0.2°C | -26.9°C | 45 mm | 98% | 2.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2014 | -10.3°C | -14.2°C | -18.1°C | 0.3°C | -31.7°C | 72 mm | 98% | 2.7 m/s | 1 |
| 2013 | -4.3°C | -7.7°C | -11.0°C | 4.1°C | -24.7°C | 83 mm | 95% | 2.8 m/s | 1 |
| 2012 | -2.7°C | -6.5°C | -10.3°C | 3.0°C | -23.4°C | 65 mm | 95% | 2.9 m/s | 1 |
| 2011 | -7.5°C | -11.2°C | -14.9°C | 3.4°C | -27.3°C | 33 mm | 94% | 2.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2010 | -6.1°C | -9.3°C | -12.5°C | 1.3°C | -22.8°C | 25 mm | 98% | 2.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2009 | -7.9°C | -11.5°C | -15.0°C | -1.1°C | -23.7°C | 41 mm | 98% | 2.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2008 | -4.2°C | -7.2°C | -10.1°C | 2.6°C | -21.1°C | 95 mm | 97% | 2.8 m/s | 1 |
| 2007 | -3.6°C | -6.5°C | -9.5°C | 3.6°C | -20.9°C | 44 mm | 91% | 2.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2006 🔥 | -2.3°C | -5.4°C | -8.6°C | 1.8°C | -19.1°C | 56 mm | 97% | 2.5 m/s | 1 |
| 2005 | -6.8°C | -11.1°C | -15.3°C | 1.5°C | -27.5°C | 34 mm | 95% | 2.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2004 | -9.7°C | -13.2°C | -16.7°C | 1.3°C | -26.9°C | 52 mm | 99% | 2.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2003 | -7.4°C | -11.0°C | -14.6°C | 1.6°C | -23.8°C | 42 mm | 95% | 2.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2002 | -2.9°C | -6.6°C | -10.3°C | 1.9°C | -17.8°C | 28 mm | 94% | 2.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2001 | -4.4°C | -8.3°C | -12.2°C | 0.2°C | -21.2°C | 50 mm | 98% | 2.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2000 | -6.0°C | -9.9°C | -13.9°C | 0.7°C | -25.8°C | 64 mm | 98% | 2.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1999 | -7.4°C | -10.8°C | -14.2°C | 1.1°C | -28.8°C | 81 mm | 98% | 2.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1998 | -5.6°C | -9.2°C | -12.7°C | 3.2°C | -24.6°C | 61 mm | 97% | 2.4 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1997 🌧️ | -7.4°C | -11.7°C | -16.0°C | 0.9°C | -26.1°C | 100 mm | 99% | 2.8 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1996 | -7.9°C | -11.9°C | -16.0°C | 2.7°C | -24.9°C | 87 mm | 97% | 2.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1995 | -4.2°C | -7.3°C | -10.4°C | 0.8°C | -21.3°C | 55 mm | 95% | 2.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1994 ❄️ | -12.8°C | -17.4°C | -22.0°C | -2.5°C | -31.2°C | 57 mm | 99% | 2.7 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1993 | -5.5°C | -9.8°C | -14.1°C | 0.8°C | -26.3°C | 51 mm | 97% | 2.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1992 | -5.0°C | -9.7°C | -14.3°C | 0.6°C | -24.5°C | 59 mm | 98% | 2.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1991 | -7.0°C | -10.6°C | -14.2°C | 0.8°C | -24.2°C | 44 mm | 97% | 2.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1990 | -3.0°C | -6.5°C | -10.0°C | 0.5°C | -21.3°C | 63 mm | 97% | 2.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1989 | -3.7°C | -8.2°C | -12.8°C | 0.6°C | -28.3°C | 57 mm | 97% | 2.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1988 | -7.1°C | -10.8°C | -14.4°C | 1.2°C | -24.5°C | 57 mm | 98% | 2.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1987 | -4.4°C | -8.3°C | -12.1°C | 1.1°C | -25.0°C | 31 mm | 95% | 2.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1986 | -7.1°C | -11.8°C | -16.5°C | 0.6°C | -27.7°C | 40 mm | 98% | 2.7 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1985 | -8.4°C | -12.2°C | -16.0°C | -1.6°C | -24.3°C | 56 mm | 98% | 2.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1984 | -8.3°C | -13.5°C | -18.7°C | -0.5°C | -28.1°C | 44 mm | 99% | 2.4 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1983 | -5.0°C | -9.0°C | -13.0°C | 0.8°C | -25.8°C | 44 mm | 96% | 2.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -9.2°C | -14.3°C | -19.3°C | -0.5°C | -30.7°C | 95 mm | 99% | 3.2 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -8.0°C | -12.0°C | -16.0°C | 0.5°C | -28.5°C | 31 mm | 98% | 2.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around -6.1°C with lows near -13.6°C (mean -9.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 54 mm of rainfall in Sault Ste. Marie, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 100 mm in 1997.
The hottest January reached 4.1°C in 2013. The coldest dipped to -31.7°C in 2014.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 4.1°C. Daytime highs moved from -7.8°C to -4.7°C and overnight lows from -16.6°C to -11.4°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Sault Ste. Marie and one of the drier months, so plan for around -6.1°C daytime highs and -13.6°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Sault Ste. Marie, averaging -9.8°C.
For January in Sault Ste. Marie, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -6.1°C and lows of -13.6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 97% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 2.6 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 3.2 m/s (1982).
The wettest January on record was 1997 with 100 mm. On average, January sees 54 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 Sault Ste. Marie 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.
