January is one of the cooler months of the year in Salem, with average highs near 31.2°C and lows around 17.2°C (mean 24.2°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 12 mm of rainfall and 70% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Salem. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Salem was 1991 — when the month averaged 26.2°C — while the coldest was 2006 at 21.7°C. Typical January days reach 31.2°C with nights near 17.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
January is one of the drier months in Salem, averaging 12 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1985 with 84 mm, while the driest were 1983, 1993 and 2019 at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Salem during January averages 70%. The most humid January was 2011 at 82%, and the least humid were 1989 and 2019 at 60%.
January receives about 5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Salem. The sunniest Januarys were 1999 and 2013 at 5.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2021 at 4.
Average wind speed in Salem during January is 2 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 2003 and 2014 at 2.4 m/s, while the calmest were 2006, 2008 and 2022, among others at 1.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 24.2°C | 23.7°C | 24.1°C | 24.7°C | 24.6°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg High | 31.2°C | 30.8°C | 31.1°C | 31.9°C | 31.0°C | -0.2°C |
| Avg Low | 17.1°C | 16.4°C | 17.2°C | 17.4°C | 18.1°C | +1°C |
| Avg Rain | 22 mm | 10 mm | 8 mm | 5 mm | 22 mm | +1 mm |
January temperatures in Salem have risen by about 0.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of 11.1°C (1992) to a record high of 37.4°C (1983).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 12 mm, with a wettest year of 84 mm.
One of the best times to visit Salem
January is one of the best times to visit Salem. Expect days averaging 31.2°C and nights around 17.2°C (mean 24.2°C) — cooler than Salem's yearly average — with low rainfall (12 mm), so conditions are generally comfortable for sightseeing and outdoor plans.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 30.0°C | 23.6°C | 17.3°C | 32.9°C | 14.9°C | 12 mm | 77% | 2.1 m/s | 4.6 |
| 2024 | 32.5°C | 25.8°C | 19.2°C | 34.9°C | 16.7°C | 21 mm | 70% | 2.1 m/s | 4.5 |
| 2023 | 31.4°C | 23.9°C | 16.3°C | 32.6°C | 13.8°C | 3 mm | 69% | 2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2022 | 29.9°C | 24.3°C | 18.7°C | 32.9°C | 15.9°C | 14 mm | 79% | 1.7 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2021 | 29.5°C | 24.1°C | 18.7°C | 32.2°C | 14.8°C | 82 mm | 81% | 2 m/s | 4 |
| 2020 | 32.8°C | 25.7°C | 18.5°C | 35.8°C | 15.0°C | 3 mm | 70% | 2 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2019 | 33.4°C | 25.0°C | 16.6°C | 34.8°C | 13.2°C | 0 mm | 60% | 2.2 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2018 | 32.2°C | 24.7°C | 17.2°C | 34.3°C | 14.3°C | 3 mm | 66% | 2 m/s | 5.1 |
| 2017 | 33.0°C | 25.4°C | 17.8°C | 34.8°C | 14.9°C | 17 mm | 60% | 2.2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2016 | 31.3°C | 24.3°C | 17.2°C | 34.4°C | 13.8°C | 2 mm | 70% | 1.9 m/s | 5 |
| 2015 | 32.2°C | 24.9°C | 17.6°C | 33.8°C | 13.2°C | 4 mm | 67% | 2 m/s | 5 |
| 2014 | 32.3°C | 25.1°C | 17.9°C | 34.0°C | 16.2°C | 1 mm | 64% | 2.4 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2013 | 33.6°C | 25.8°C | 18.1°C | 34.4°C | 15.8°C | 0 mm | 62% | 2.2 m/s | 5.5 |
| 2012 | 31.2°C | 24.1°C | 16.9°C | 32.3°C | 12.6°C | 3 mm | 71% | 1.8 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2011 | 28.0°C | 22.2°C | 16.5°C | 30.3°C | 13.8°C | 10 mm | 82% | 1.9 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2010 | 31.9°C | 25.0°C | 18.2°C | 33.5°C | 14.6°C | 7 mm | 71% | 2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2009 | 29.2°C | 22.5°C | 15.8°C | 33.4°C | 13.5°C | 8 mm | 76% | 1.9 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2008 | 29.5°C | 22.8°C | 16.1°C | 32.9°C | 13.5°C | 20 mm | 77% | 1.7 m/s | 5.4 |
| 2007 | 31.9°C | 24.2°C | 16.5°C | 33.6°C | 13.9°C | 3 mm | 69% | 2.2 m/s | 5 |
| 2006 ❄️ | 27.4°C | 21.7°C | 16.0°C | 29.0°C | 12.4°C | 14 mm | 81% | 1.7 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2005 | 31.4°C | 24.5°C | 17.6°C | 33.9°C | 14.2°C | 5 mm | 71% | 1.8 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2004 | 32.6°C | 25.1°C | 17.7°C | 34.7°C | 14.3°C | 7 mm | 66% | 2 m/s | 5.3 |
| 2003 | 33.3°C | 25.7°C | 18.2°C | 35.8°C | 16.3°C | 0 mm | 61% | 2.4 m/s | 5.2 |
| 2002 | 31.9°C | 25.2°C | 18.4°C | 35.8°C | 13.2°C | 17 mm | 70% | 2 m/s | 4.9 |
| 2001 | 31.6°C | 24.8°C | 17.9°C | 34.0°C | 14.5°C | 1 mm | 69% | 2.1 m/s | 4.8 |
| 2000 | 31.8°C | 24.7°C | 17.5°C | 34.2°C | 14.3°C | 8 mm | 69% | 2.2 m/s | 5 |
| 1999 | 30.0°C | 22.8°C | 15.5°C | 33.1°C | 12.8°C | 0 mm | 72% | 1.9 m/s | 5.5 |
| 1998 | 29.5°C | 23.4°C | 17.3°C | 32.2°C | 14.9°C | 1 mm | 79% | 1.7 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1997 | 28.9°C | 22.6°C | 16.2°C | 31.0°C | 12.2°C | 19 mm | 76% | 1.7 m/s | 4.8 |
| 1996 | 32.8°C | 24.8°C | 16.7°C | 34.2°C | 14.1°C | 1 mm | 61% | 2.3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1995 | 31.3°C | 24.4°C | 17.5°C | 33.2°C | 12.2°C | 28 mm | 71% | 2.2 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1994 | 28.6°C | 22.6°C | 16.6°C | 32.4°C | 13.8°C | 5 mm | 80% | 1.9 m/s | 5 |
| 1993 | 31.3°C | 23.4°C | 15.4°C | 34.7°C | 13.3°C | 0 mm | 68% | 2 m/s | 5.2 |
| 1992 | 30.1°C | 22.4°C | 14.6°C | 33.0°C | 11.1°C | 2 mm | 70% | 2.2 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1991 🔥 | 33.7°C | 26.2°C | 18.7°C | 37.4°C | 15.2°C | 1 mm | 61% | 2.3 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1990 | 31.9°C | 23.9°C | 15.9°C | 34.6°C | 12.9°C | 40 mm | 65% | 2.2 m/s | 5.3 |
| 1989 | 33.8°C | 25.6°C | 17.4°C | 35.2°C | 14.6°C | 2 mm | 60% | 2.3 m/s | 4.7 |
| 1988 | 31.0°C | 23.6°C | 16.2°C | 33.8°C | 13.7°C | 0 mm | 71% | 2.1 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1987 | 32.4°C | 24.7°C | 17.0°C | 34.2°C | 13.2°C | 4 mm | 65% | 2.3 m/s | 5.1 |
| 1986 | 30.4°C | 24.3°C | 18.2°C | 32.8°C | 15.0°C | 37 mm | 73% | 2.1 m/s | 4.5 |
| 1985 🌧️ | 30.3°C | 24.0°C | 17.7°C | 33.2°C | 14.3°C | 84 mm | 75% | 1.9 m/s | 4.9 |
| 1984 | 28.5°C | 23.4°C | 18.3°C | 30.8°C | 16.1°C | 46 mm | 82% | 1.9 m/s | 4.4 |
| 1983 | 33.3°C | 25.0°C | 16.6°C | 37.4°C | 13.4°C | 0 mm | 60% | 2.2 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 29.6°C | 22.5°C | 15.4°C | 31.8°C | 13.5°C | 1 mm | 75% | 1.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 31.8°C | 24.7°C | 17.5°C | 34.8°C | 15.4°C | 20 mm | 67% | 2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 31.2°C with lows near 17.2°C (mean 24.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 12 mm of rainfall in Salem, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 84 mm in 1985.
The hottest January reached 37.4°C in 1983. The coldest dipped to 11.1°C in 1992.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 0.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 30.7°C to 30.7°C and overnight lows from 17.1°C to 18°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Salem and one of the drier months, so plan for around 31.2°C daytime highs and 17.2°C at night.
Not quite — January is the 2nd coolest month in Salem, averaging 24.2°C.
For January in Salem, pack light, breathable clothing and sun protection, with typical highs of 31.2°C and lows of 17.2°C.
Relative humidity in January averages 70% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in January is 2 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 2.4 m/s (2003).
The wettest January on record was 1985 with 84 mm. On average, January sees 12 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 Salem 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.
