January is one of the cooler months of the year in Barnstaple, with average highs near 7.3°C and lows around 3.1°C (mean 5.2°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 107 mm of rainfall and 93% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Barnstaple. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Barnstaple was 2007 — when the month averaged 7.3°C — while the coldest was 1987 at 0.9°C. Typical January days reach 7.3°C with nights near 3.1°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
January is a relatively wet time of year in Barnstaple, averaging 107 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2016 with 176 mm, while the driest was 1997 at 21 mm.
Relative humidity in Barnstaple during January averages 93%. The most humid January was 1982 at 96%, and the least humid was 1984 at 88%.
January receives about 0.8 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Barnstaple. The sunniest Januarys were 2010, 2023 and 2025, among others at 0.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1987 at 0.6.
Average wind speed in Barnstaple during January is 4.6 m/s. The windiest January was 1984 at 5.9 m/s, while the calmest was 2022 at 3.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 4.5°C | 5.3°C | 5.7°C | 5.2°C | 5.4°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg High | 6.6°C | 7.4°C | 7.6°C | 7.2°C | 7.5°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg Low | 2.4°C | 3.2°C | 3.7°C | 3.1°C | 3.3°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 102 mm | 113 mm | 98 mm | 113 mm | 112 mm | +10 mm |
January temperatures in Barnstaple have risen by about 0.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -9°C (1987) to a record high of 13.4°C (2016).
Rainfall in January is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 107 mm, with a wettest year of 176 mm.
A quieter season to visit Barnstaple
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Barnstaple. That said, January — with days averaging 7.3°C and nights around 3.1°C (mean 5.2°C) and higher rainfall (107 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 | 7.1°C | 4.9°C | 2.7°C | 12.2°C | -1.5°C | 126 mm | 93% | 3.8 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2024 | 7.2°C | 5.1°C | 2.9°C | 12.2°C | -1.9°C | 88 mm | 92% | 4.4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2023 | 7.8°C | 5.5°C | 3.3°C | 12.2°C | -1.3°C | 128 mm | 92% | 4.4 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2022 | 8.0°C | 5.7°C | 3.3°C | 12.7°C | -0.4°C | 59 mm | 92% | 3.3 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2021 | 6.4°C | 4.6°C | 2.7°C | 10.9°C | -1.2°C | 159 mm | 94% | 4.3 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2020 | 8.6°C | 6.7°C | 4.9°C | 12.3°C | 0.3°C | 111 mm | 93% | 4.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2019 | 6.7°C | 4.8°C | 2.9°C | 9.9°C | -1.4°C | 68 mm | 92% | 3.5 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2018 | 8.4°C | 6.2°C | 4.1°C | 12.0°C | -0.7°C | 139 mm | 92% | 5.4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2017 | 7.2°C | 5.1°C | 2.9°C | 10.9°C | -1.2°C | 89 mm | 93% | 3.8 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2016 🌧️ | 8.3°C | 6.4°C | 4.4°C | 13.4°C | -1.5°C | 176 mm | 92% | 5.2 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2015 | 8.1°C | 5.7°C | 3.2°C | 12.0°C | -1.1°C | 146 mm | 90% | 5.1 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2014 | 8.5°C | 6.3°C | 4.1°C | 11.4°C | 0.8°C | 128 mm | 93% | 4.8 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2013 | 6.5°C | 4.8°C | 3.0°C | 11.8°C | -3.2°C | 120 mm | 94% | 4.3 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2012 | 8.2°C | 6.2°C | 4.2°C | 11.2°C | -1.7°C | 89 mm | 92% | 4.9 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2011 | 6.0°C | 3.8°C | 1.7°C | 10.8°C | -3.2°C | 103 mm | 94% | 3.8 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2010 | 4.2°C | 2.3°C | 0.3°C | 9.5°C | -3.7°C | 74 mm | 94% | 3.7 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2009 | 6.0°C | 4.0°C | 2.1°C | 10.1°C | -4.4°C | 123 mm | 94% | 4.3 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2008 | 8.9°C | 7.0°C | 5.0°C | 11.9°C | -0.3°C | 126 mm | 92% | 5.5 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2007 🔥 | 9.1°C | 7.3°C | 5.5°C | 12.1°C | -0.7°C | 108 mm | 90% | 5.8 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2006 | 6.6°C | 4.6°C | 2.5°C | 10.5°C | -1.6°C | 41 mm | 94% | 4.1 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2005 | 8.7°C | 6.6°C | 4.6°C | 12.2°C | -0.3°C | 70 mm | 91% | 5.5 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2004 | 8.1°C | 6.3°C | 4.5°C | 11.4°C | -2.0°C | 140 mm | 92% | 4.9 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2003 | 6.6°C | 4.8°C | 3.1°C | 11.9°C | -2.6°C | 106 mm | 92% | 5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2002 | 8.7°C | 6.6°C | 4.4°C | 12.2°C | -1.8°C | 111 mm | 94% | 4.9 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2001 | 6.2°C | 4.5°C | 2.7°C | 11.6°C | -0.9°C | 104 mm | 94% | 4.3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2000 | 7.2°C | 5.0°C | 2.7°C | 10.6°C | -0.8°C | 46 mm | 93% | 3.9 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1999 | 8.6°C | 6.5°C | 4.4°C | 11.6°C | -1.0°C | 124 mm | 93% | 4.9 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1998 | 7.8°C | 5.7°C | 3.6°C | 12.4°C | -1.1°C | 139 mm | 93% | 5.4 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1997 | 4.4°C | 2.4°C | 0.3°C | 9.6°C | -5.3°C | 21 mm | 95% | 3.7 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1996 | 7.0°C | 5.3°C | 3.7°C | 11.6°C | -3.9°C | 111 mm | 94% | 5.3 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1995 | 8.2°C | 5.9°C | 3.5°C | 11.6°C | -2.4°C | 171 mm | 93% | 5.5 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1994 | 7.7°C | 5.7°C | 3.7°C | 10.9°C | -0.2°C | 146 mm | 93% | 5.1 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1993 | 9.0°C | 6.6°C | 4.3°C | 12.2°C | -0.4°C | 127 mm | 93% | 5.3 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1992 | 6.0°C | 3.9°C | 1.7°C | 11.0°C | -2.9°C | 46 mm | 94% | 3.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1991 | 6.0°C | 3.9°C | 1.8°C | 11.7°C | -2.8°C | 106 mm | 91% | 4.4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1990 | 9.2°C | 7.1°C | 5.0°C | 11.8°C | 1.8°C | 139 mm | 93% | 5.3 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1989 | 8.8°C | 6.4°C | 3.9°C | 11.7°C | -0.5°C | 54 mm | 92% | 3.8 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1988 | 8.0°C | 5.9°C | 3.9°C | 12.0°C | 0.7°C | 167 mm | 92% | 5 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1987 ❄️ | 3.0°C | 0.9°C | -1.2°C | 11.1°C | -9.0°C | 32 mm | 92% | 4 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1986 | 6.6°C | 4.7°C | 2.9°C | 11.1°C | -1.5°C | 122 mm | 90% | 5.3 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1985 | 3.5°C | 1.3°C | -0.8°C | 11.2°C | -6.3°C | 91 mm | 94% | 3.7 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1984 | 7.0°C | 4.7°C | 2.5°C | 11.4°C | -3.3°C | 174 mm | 88% | 5.9 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1983 | 8.7°C | 6.8°C | 4.8°C | 11.7°C | 0.5°C | 113 mm | 92% | 5.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 6.0°C | 4.1°C | 2.2°C | 10.9°C | -6.4°C | 111 mm | 96% | 4.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 7.7°C | 5.5°C | 3.4°C | 10.0°C | -1.4°C | 58 mm | 91% | 4.4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 7.3°C with lows near 3.1°C (mean 5.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 107 mm of rainfall in Barnstaple, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 176 mm in 2016.
The hottest January reached 13.4°C in 2016. The coldest dipped to -9°C in 1987.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 0.7°C. Daytime highs moved from 6.6°C to 7.3°C and overnight lows from 2.4°C to 3°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Barnstaple and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 7.3°C daytime highs and 3.1°C at night.
Not quite — January is the 2nd coolest month in Barnstaple, averaging 5.2°C.
For January in Barnstaple, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 7.3°C and lows of 3.1°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 93% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 4.6 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 5.9 m/s (1984).
The wettest January on record was 2016 with 176 mm. On average, January sees 107 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 Barnstaple 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.
