January is one of the warmer months of the year in Palmerston North, with average highs near 22.2°C and lows around 12.3°C (mean 17.3°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 63 mm of rainfall and 75% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the warmer months of the year in Palmerston North. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Palmerston North was 2018 — when the month averaged 20.6°C — while the coldest was 1993 at 14.4°C. Typical January days reach 22.2°C with nights near 12.3°C. The long-term January temperature trend is broadly flat.
January is one of the drier months in Palmerston North, averaging 63 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2023 with 193 mm, while the driest was 2015 at 11 mm.
Relative humidity in Palmerston North during January averages 75%. The most humid January was 2023 at 85%, and the least humid was 2001 at 69%.
January receives about 6.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Palmerston North. The sunniest January was 2022 at 7.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2017 at 5.8.
Average wind speed in Palmerston North during January is 4 m/s. The windiest January was 2017 at 5.6 m/s, while the calmest was 2018 at 2.8 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 17.5°C | 16.9°C | 17.2°C | 17.4°C | 17.1°C | -0.4°C |
| Avg High | 22.6°C | 21.9°C | 22.2°C | 22.3°C | 21.8°C | -0.8°C |
| Avg Low | 12.5°C | 12.0°C | 12.2°C | 12.6°C | 12.4°C | -0.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 67 mm | 61 mm | 48 mm | 73 mm | 71 mm | +4 mm |
January temperatures in Palmerston North have stayed relatively stable across the record.
January has ranged from a record low of 5.4°C (1995) to a record high of 32.8°C (2008).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 63 mm, with a wettest year of 193 mm.
One of the best times to visit Palmerston North
January is one of the best times to visit Palmerston North. Expect days averaging 22.2°C and nights around 12.3°C (mean 17.3°C) — warmer than Palmerston North's yearly average — with moderate rainfall (63 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 | 20.7°C | 15.7°C | 10.7°C | 27.4°C | 7.1°C | 68 mm | 78% | 3.3 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2024 | 23.4°C | 18.6°C | 13.7°C | 29.2°C | 8.8°C | 51 mm | 76% | 3.4 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2023 🌧️ | 20.9°C | 16.9°C | 13.0°C | 24.4°C | 9.0°C | 193 mm | 85% | 3.4 m/s | 6.1 |
| 2022 | 22.7°C | 17.5°C | 12.2°C | 26.7°C | 7.9°C | 21 mm | 76% | 3 m/s | 7.5 |
| 2021 | 21.6°C | 17.0°C | 12.5°C | 25.5°C | 8.3°C | 65 mm | 78% | 4.1 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2020 | 21.6°C | 16.8°C | 12.0°C | 27.1°C | 7.5°C | 26 mm | 75% | 4.3 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2019 | 23.4°C | 18.8°C | 14.2°C | 30.0°C | 8.9°C | 36 mm | 78% | 4.6 m/s | 7 |
| 2018 🔥 | 25.4°C | 20.6°C | 15.9°C | 30.1°C | 8.8°C | 123 mm | 78% | 2.8 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2017 | 20.0°C | 15.8°C | 11.6°C | 23.3°C | 5.7°C | 78 mm | 78% | 5.6 m/s | 5.8 |
| 2016 | 23.1°C | 18.1°C | 13.0°C | 28.1°C | 6.8°C | 79 mm | 76% | 3.8 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2015 | 24.8°C | 18.8°C | 12.8°C | 28.2°C | 8.2°C | 11 mm | 69% | 3.1 m/s | 7.3 |
| 2014 | 20.6°C | 15.8°C | 10.9°C | 25.8°C | 5.6°C | 66 mm | 74% | 4.9 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2013 | 22.9°C | 17.3°C | 11.8°C | 28.6°C | 7.5°C | 38 mm | 70% | 4.3 m/s | 7.1 |
| 2012 | 20.2°C | 15.9°C | 11.5°C | 24.3°C | 5.8°C | 81 mm | 78% | 4.3 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2011 | 21.7°C | 17.0°C | 12.2°C | 30.1°C | 7.8°C | 98 mm | 76% | 4.3 m/s | 6.3 |
| 2010 | 20.4°C | 16.0°C | 11.7°C | 25.7°C | 7.0°C | 123 mm | 80% | 3.9 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2009 | 22.7°C | 17.4°C | 12.0°C | 29.2°C | 8.0°C | 32 mm | 73% | 3.7 m/s | 6.7 |
| 2008 | 23.7°C | 18.3°C | 12.9°C | 32.8°C | 6.9°C | 26 mm | 72% | 4.1 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2007 | 21.2°C | 16.6°C | 12.0°C | 29.2°C | 5.5°C | 46 mm | 79% | 3.7 m/s | 5.9 |
| 2006 | 22.9°C | 17.8°C | 12.7°C | 31.5°C | 7.5°C | 37 mm | 72% | 4.8 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2005 | 20.8°C | 16.3°C | 11.8°C | 26.5°C | 7.0°C | 63 mm | 80% | 4.1 m/s | 6.5 |
| 2004 | 23.3°C | 18.3°C | 13.3°C | 27.5°C | 9.6°C | 96 mm | 77% | 3.6 m/s | 6.2 |
| 2003 | 21.9°C | 16.8°C | 11.7°C | 26.6°C | 6.7°C | 26 mm | 71% | 4.3 m/s | 6.6 |
| 2002 | 21.8°C | 17.1°C | 12.3°C | 27.1°C | 6.2°C | 49 mm | 76% | 3.5 m/s | 6.4 |
| 2001 | 22.0°C | 16.8°C | 11.6°C | 27.6°C | 7.3°C | 23 mm | 69% | 4.2 m/s | 6.9 |
| 2000 | 22.1°C | 16.9°C | 11.8°C | 27.7°C | 6.4°C | 79 mm | 72% | 3.5 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1999 | 25.0°C | 19.4°C | 13.8°C | 29.3°C | 8.5°C | 52 mm | 70% | 3.4 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1998 | 22.5°C | 17.5°C | 12.6°C | 26.9°C | 6.9°C | 31 mm | 72% | 4.4 m/s | 6 |
| 1997 | 20.2°C | 15.2°C | 10.1°C | 24.9°C | 6.8°C | 61 mm | 76% | 3.9 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1996 | 21.9°C | 17.5°C | 13.1°C | 25.5°C | 10.0°C | 55 mm | 78% | 3.2 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1995 | 22.1°C | 17.0°C | 11.8°C | 26.3°C | 5.4°C | 74 mm | 74% | 3.4 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1994 | 22.1°C | 17.3°C | 12.5°C | 26.6°C | 7.2°C | 41 mm | 75% | 4.5 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1993 ❄️ | 18.7°C | 14.4°C | 10.1°C | 21.6°C | 6.7°C | 53 mm | 80% | 4.7 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1992 | 21.7°C | 16.8°C | 12.0°C | 26.3°C | 5.8°C | 69 mm | 77% | 3.3 m/s | 6.4 |
| 1991 | 21.5°C | 16.8°C | 12.0°C | 27.0°C | 6.6°C | 97 mm | 75% | 4.4 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1990 | 22.8°C | 17.5°C | 12.2°C | 27.7°C | 8.8°C | 81 mm | 74% | 3.8 m/s | 6.2 |
| 1989 | 23.8°C | 18.8°C | 13.8°C | 28.4°C | 8.9°C | 73 mm | 72% | 3.7 m/s | 6.3 |
| 1988 | 22.9°C | 17.5°C | 12.1°C | 27.1°C | 6.5°C | 14 mm | 70% | 3.9 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1987 | 23.4°C | 18.1°C | 12.9°C | 28.1°C | 6.8°C | 64 mm | 71% | 4 m/s | 6.7 |
| 1986 | 22.7°C | 18.3°C | 13.8°C | 26.9°C | 7.4°C | 133 mm | 81% | 3.3 m/s | 6.1 |
| 1985 | 23.7°C | 18.5°C | 13.4°C | 28.6°C | 10.1°C | 143 mm | 73% | 3.7 m/s | 6.8 |
| 1984 | 20.8°C | 15.5°C | 10.3°C | 25.2°C | 6.3°C | 42 mm | 72% | 4.2 m/s | 6.5 |
| 1983 | 19.1°C | 14.9°C | 10.7°C | 25.6°C | 6.3°C | 60 mm | 78% | 5.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 22.1°C | 17.2°C | 12.3°C | 26.6°C | 7.8°C | 41 mm | 72% | 4.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 24.7°C | 19.0°C | 13.3°C | 29.4°C | 7.5°C | 31 mm | 71% | 3.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 22.2°C with lows near 12.3°C (mean 17.3°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 63 mm of rainfall in Palmerston North, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 193 mm in 2023.
The hottest January reached 32.8°C in 2008. The coldest dipped to 5.4°C in 1995.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 0.1°C — but days and nights have moved in opposite directions. Overnight lows rose from 12°C to 12.4°C while daytime highs eased from 22.1°C to 21.9°C, narrowing the gap between day and night.
January is one of the warmer months of the year in Palmerston North and one of the drier months, so plan for around 22.2°C daytime highs and 12.3°C at night.
Not quite — January is the 11th coolest month in Palmerston North, averaging 17.3°C.
For January in Palmerston North, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 22.2°C and lows of 12.3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 75% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 4 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 5.6 m/s (2017).
The wettest January on record was 2023 with 193 mm. On average, January sees 63 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 Palmerston North 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.
