January is one of the cooler months of the year in Whitehorse, with average highs near -13.9°C and lows around -20.6°C (mean -17.2°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 38 mm of rainfall and 97% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Whitehorse. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Whitehorse was 2014 — when the month averaged -9.4°C — while the coldest was 1982 at -30.6°C. Typical January days reach -13.9°C with nights near -20.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.6°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Whitehorse, averaging 38 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2015 with 69 mm, while the driest was 1995 at 17 mm.
Relative humidity in Whitehorse during January averages 97%. The most humid January was 2004 at 99%, and the least humid was 2017 at 89%.
January receives about 0.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Whitehorse. The sunniest Januarys were 2020, 2023 and 2025, among others at 0.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2021, 2022 and 2024, among others at 0.3.
Average wind speed in Whitehorse during January is 1.3 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 2017 and 2025 at 1.9 m/s, while the calmest were 1995 and 1996 at 1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -17.0°C | -19.6°C | -17.5°C | -15.7°C | -16.1°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg High | -13.6°C | -16.1°C | -14.1°C | -12.5°C | -12.7°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg Low | -20.5°C | -23.0°C | -20.8°C | -18.9°C | -19.4°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 40 mm | 32 mm | 38 mm | 43 mm | 40 mm | 0 mm |
January temperatures in Whitehorse have risen by about 2.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -49.7°C (1982) to a record high of 1.1°C (2018).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 38 mm, with a wettest year of 69 mm.
A quieter season to visit Whitehorse
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Whitehorse. That said, January — with days averaging -13.9°C and nights around -20.6°C (mean -17.2°C) and moderate rainfall (38 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 | -10.2°C | -13.7°C | -17.1°C | -1.7°C | -34.2°C | 28 mm | 96% | 1.9 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2024 | -14.7°C | -18.1°C | -21.5°C | 0.7°C | -37.4°C | 46 mm | 98% | 1.4 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2023 | -8.6°C | -11.3°C | -14.1°C | 0.5°C | -22.4°C | 31 mm | 98% | 1.4 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2022 | -12.9°C | -16.9°C | -20.9°C | -1.0°C | -41.7°C | 54 mm | 97% | 1.4 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2021 | -11.5°C | -14.4°C | -17.3°C | -4.6°C | -34.3°C | 37 mm | 99% | 1.3 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2020 | -18.6°C | -22.0°C | -25.5°C | -1.9°C | -41.3°C | 42 mm | 98% | 1.3 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2019 | -14.1°C | -17.2°C | -20.4°C | -1.0°C | -36.2°C | 34 mm | 97% | 1.2 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2018 | -13.9°C | -17.0°C | -20.1°C | 1.1°C | -39.2°C | 44 mm | 98% | 1.3 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2017 | -12.0°C | -15.5°C | -19.0°C | -1.6°C | -38.1°C | 29 mm | 89% | 1.9 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2016 | -10.0°C | -12.4°C | -14.8°C | -1.8°C | -23.2°C | 32 mm | 97% | 1.2 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2015 🌧️ | -10.9°C | -13.9°C | -16.9°C | -0.4°C | -32.0°C | 69 mm | 96% | 1.3 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2014 🔥 | -6.6°C | -9.4°C | -12.3°C | 1.0°C | -21.2°C | 51 mm | 96% | 1.6 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2013 | -11.8°C | -15.5°C | -19.2°C | 0.8°C | -42.8°C | 56 mm | 98% | 1.3 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2012 | -15.5°C | -19.5°C | -23.5°C | -3.0°C | -40.6°C | 45 mm | 98% | 1.5 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2011 | -15.6°C | -19.1°C | -22.7°C | -2.2°C | -43.3°C | 31 mm | 98% | 1.3 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2010 | -14.7°C | -17.6°C | -20.5°C | -3.0°C | -35.0°C | 41 mm | 98% | 1.1 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2009 | -15.9°C | -19.2°C | -22.5°C | 0.0°C | -38.7°C | 64 mm | 97% | 1.4 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2008 | -16.3°C | -20.0°C | -23.7°C | -1.6°C | -45.4°C | 46 mm | 95% | 1.3 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2007 | -10.5°C | -14.2°C | -17.9°C | -2.2°C | -35.8°C | 41 mm | 97% | 1.5 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2006 | -15.1°C | -17.8°C | -20.5°C | -4.6°C | -31.7°C | 22 mm | 99% | 1.1 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2005 | -15.3°C | -18.6°C | -22.0°C | -2.1°C | -43.4°C | 43 mm | 96% | 1.3 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2004 | -17.9°C | -22.0°C | -26.1°C | -1.7°C | -43.3°C | 35 mm | 99% | 1.2 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2003 | -13.0°C | -16.4°C | -19.8°C | 0.3°C | -37.7°C | 47 mm | 96% | 1.3 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2002 | -12.6°C | -15.9°C | -19.1°C | -3.4°C | -33.1°C | 24 mm | 98% | 1.3 m/s | 0.4 |
| 2001 | -7.5°C | -10.6°C | -13.7°C | -1.6°C | -24.9°C | 38 mm | 98% | 1.6 m/s | 0.3 |
| 2000 | -16.9°C | -19.9°C | -22.9°C | -3.1°C | -38.5°C | 24 mm | 98% | 1.4 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1999 | -18.2°C | -21.8°C | -25.4°C | -3.4°C | -41.3°C | 47 mm | 98% | 1.3 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1998 | -19.0°C | -21.8°C | -24.7°C | -5.0°C | -42.0°C | 25 mm | 97% | 1.1 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1997 | -16.2°C | -20.3°C | -24.4°C | -1.1°C | -40.7°C | 27 mm | 96% | 1.3 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1996 | -22.5°C | -26.0°C | -29.4°C | -5.1°C | -44.9°C | 21 mm | 95% | 1 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1995 | -13.9°C | -16.8°C | -19.7°C | -4.2°C | -26.0°C | 17 mm | 92% | 1 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1994 | -16.8°C | -19.9°C | -22.9°C | -2.8°C | -38.7°C | 41 mm | 96% | 1.3 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1993 | -14.3°C | -18.0°C | -21.8°C | -1.0°C | -35.6°C | 39 mm | 95% | 1.6 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1992 | -9.2°C | -12.5°C | -15.9°C | -1.9°C | -30.6°C | 41 mm | 98% | 1.4 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1991 | -14.6°C | -18.4°C | -22.2°C | -2.7°C | -36.5°C | 37 mm | 93% | 1.4 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1990 | -16.6°C | -20.2°C | -23.8°C | -4.6°C | -45.4°C | 22 mm | 98% | 1.2 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1989 | -17.8°C | -22.0°C | -26.2°C | -4.0°C | -48.5°C | 51 mm | 98% | 1.5 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1988 | -15.1°C | -18.0°C | -20.9°C | -3.2°C | -34.3°C | 24 mm | 96% | 1.3 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1987 | -11.0°C | -14.2°C | -17.5°C | -2.2°C | -34.2°C | 21 mm | 97% | 1.5 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1986 | -9.9°C | -13.1°C | -16.4°C | -2.4°C | -23.1°C | 47 mm | 98% | 1.3 m/s | 0.3 |
| 1985 | -7.0°C | -9.6°C | -12.3°C | 0.3°C | -18.1°C | 61 mm | 98% | 1.5 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1984 | -12.3°C | -16.1°C | -19.9°C | -2.0°C | -37.9°C | 38 mm | 96% | 1.4 m/s | 0.4 |
| 1983 | -15.1°C | -19.0°C | -22.9°C | -5.8°C | -45.7°C | 46 mm | 97% | 1.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 ❄️ | -26.9°C | -30.6°C | -34.2°C | -12.9°C | -49.7°C | 25 mm | 98% | 1.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -7.2°C | -10.6°C | -14.0°C | 0.7°C | -23.1°C | 47 mm | 99% | 1.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around -13.9°C with lows near -20.6°C (mean -17.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 38 mm of rainfall in Whitehorse, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 69 mm in 2015.
The hottest January reached 1.1°C in 2018. The coldest dipped to -49.7°C in 1982.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 2.3°C. Daytime highs moved from -13.7°C to -11.6°C and overnight lows from -20.7°C to -18.2°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Whitehorse and about average for rainfall, so plan for around -13.9°C daytime highs and -20.6°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Whitehorse, averaging -17.2°C.
For January in Whitehorse, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -13.9°C and lows of -20.6°C.
Relative humidity in January averages 97% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 1.3 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 1.9 m/s (2017).
The wettest January on record was 2015 with 69 mm. On average, January sees 38 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 Whitehorse 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.
