January is one of the cooler months of the year in Bristol, with average highs near 6.9°C and lows around 1.9°C (mean 4.4°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 77 mm of rainfall and 94% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Bristol. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Bristol was 2007 — when the month averaged 6.8°C — while the coldest was 1987 at 0.1°C. Typical January days reach 6.9°C with nights near 1.9°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Bristol, averaging 77 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1995 with 131 mm, while the driest was 1997 at 19 mm.
Relative humidity in Bristol during January averages 94%. The most humid January was 2010 at 96%, and the least humid was 1984 at 91%.
January receives about 0.8 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Bristol. The sunniest January was 1985 at 1.1 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2013, 2014 and 2020, among others at 0.7.
Average wind speed in Bristol during January is 3.9 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 1983 and 2007 at 5.1 m/s, while the calmest was 2022 at 2.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 3.6°C | 4.5°C | 4.9°C | 4.3°C | 4.5°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg High | 6.0°C | 7.0°C | 7.3°C | 6.8°C | 7.1°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Low | 1.1°C | 2.1°C | 2.5°C | 1.7°C | 2.0°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 73 mm | 84 mm | 68 mm | 78 mm | 81 mm | +9 mm |
January temperatures in Bristol have risen by about 0.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -10.5°C (1982) to a record high of 13.3°C (2016).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 77 mm, with a wettest year of 131 mm.
A quieter season to visit Bristol
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Bristol. That said, January — with days averaging 6.9°C and nights around 1.9°C (mean 4.4°C) and moderate rainfall (77 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 | 6.3°C | 3.7°C | 1.0°C | 11.2°C | -3.4°C | 96 mm | 95% | 3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2024 | 7.1°C | 4.4°C | 1.8°C | 12.3°C | -3.4°C | 70 mm | 94% | 3.9 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2023 | 7.4°C | 4.9°C | 2.4°C | 12.2°C | -3.1°C | 92 mm | 94% | 3.9 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2022 | 7.3°C | 4.5°C | 1.7°C | 12.9°C | -2.2°C | 36 mm | 95% | 2.7 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2021 | 5.9°C | 3.4°C | 1.0°C | 11.0°C | -3.0°C | 112 mm | 95% | 3.7 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2020 | 8.6°C | 6.3°C | 4.0°C | 12.5°C | -0.3°C | 81 mm | 95% | 3.7 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2019 | 6.2°C | 3.7°C | 1.2°C | 10.4°C | -2.5°C | 40 mm | 94% | 2.9 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2018 | 8.0°C | 5.4°C | 2.8°C | 12.3°C | -1.8°C | 86 mm | 94% | 4.5 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2017 | 6.7°C | 4.1°C | 1.4°C | 11.0°C | -3.1°C | 70 mm | 95% | 2.9 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2016 | 8.0°C | 5.6°C | 3.2°C | 13.3°C | -3.0°C | 111 mm | 94% | 4.2 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2015 | 7.7°C | 4.8°C | 1.9°C | 12.5°C | -3.2°C | 96 mm | 92% | 4.3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2014 | 8.4°C | 5.9°C | 3.5°C | 11.5°C | -0.6°C | 118 mm | 94% | 4.3 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2013 | 5.6°C | 3.5°C | 1.5°C | 12.3°C | -4.4°C | 76 mm | 95% | 3.5 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2012 | 8.2°C | 5.4°C | 2.5°C | 11.6°C | -3.5°C | 48 mm | 93% | 4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2011 | 5.8°C | 3.2°C | 0.6°C | 11.5°C | -4.5°C | 75 mm | 95% | 3.4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2010 | 3.6°C | 1.0°C | -1.5°C | 8.8°C | -6.7°C | 59 mm | 96% | 3.1 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2009 | 5.3°C | 2.8°C | 0.4°C | 9.9°C | -7.0°C | 79 mm | 95% | 3.6 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2008 | 9.0°C | 6.6°C | 4.2°C | 12.2°C | -1.0°C | 106 mm | 93% | 4.9 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2007 🔥 | 9.2°C | 6.8°C | 4.5°C | 12.4°C | -1.8°C | 78 mm | 91% | 5.1 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2006 | 6.4°C | 3.8°C | 1.1°C | 11.1°C | -3.3°C | 24 mm | 95% | 3.3 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2005 | 8.4°C | 6.0°C | 3.5°C | 12.3°C | -2.1°C | 39 mm | 92% | 4.9 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2004 | 7.8°C | 5.5°C | 3.2°C | 11.9°C | -2.8°C | 96 mm | 93% | 4.3 m/s | 0.8 |
| 2003 | 6.4°C | 4.1°C | 1.8°C | 12.9°C | -3.2°C | 88 mm | 94% | 4.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2002 | 8.1°C | 5.6°C | 3.2°C | 12.4°C | -3.0°C | 69 mm | 95% | 4.1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2001 | 5.7°C | 3.5°C | 1.2°C | 11.5°C | -2.9°C | 74 mm | 95% | 3.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2000 | 7.1°C | 4.4°C | 1.7°C | 11.4°C | -1.8°C | 29 mm | 95% | 3.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1999 | 8.3°C | 5.9°C | 3.4°C | 12.0°C | -1.9°C | 108 mm | 94% | 4.4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1998 | 7.5°C | 5.0°C | 2.4°C | 12.8°C | -2.9°C | 103 mm | 94% | 4.4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1997 | 3.7°C | 1.3°C | -1.0°C | 8.1°C | -6.5°C | 19 mm | 95% | 3 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1996 | 6.0°C | 4.3°C | 2.5°C | 10.5°C | -5.1°C | 63 mm | 94% | 4.5 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1995 🌧️ | 7.8°C | 5.0°C | 2.2°C | 11.8°C | -3.5°C | 131 mm | 94% | 4.9 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1994 | 7.3°C | 4.8°C | 2.4°C | 11.1°C | -1.9°C | 96 mm | 94% | 4.4 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1993 | 8.7°C | 6.0°C | 3.4°C | 12.3°C | -2.7°C | 96 mm | 94% | 4.7 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1992 | 5.7°C | 3.3°C | 0.9°C | 10.9°C | -4.5°C | 42 mm | 95% | 3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1991 | 5.8°C | 3.3°C | 0.9°C | 11.7°C | -3.0°C | 82 mm | 92% | 3.8 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1990 | 9.0°C | 6.6°C | 4.3°C | 11.5°C | 0.1°C | 98 mm | 94% | 4.7 m/s | 0.8 |
| 1989 | 8.6°C | 5.8°C | 2.9°C | 11.5°C | -1.7°C | 39 mm | 93% | 3.3 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1988 | 7.5°C | 5.3°C | 3.0°C | 12.1°C | -1.7°C | 116 mm | 94% | 4.3 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1987 ❄️ | 2.7°C | 0.1°C | -2.4°C | 10.5°C | -10.4°C | 28 mm | 93% | 3.2 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1986 | 5.6°C | 3.3°C | 1.0°C | 11.2°C | -3.0°C | 92 mm | 93% | 4.6 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1985 | 2.7°C | 0.3°C | -2.1°C | 11.0°C | -7.7°C | 65 mm | 95% | 3.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1984 | 6.3°C | 3.7°C | 1.1°C | 11.5°C | -4.0°C | 118 mm | 91% | 4.9 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1983 | 8.8°C | 6.3°C | 3.8°C | 12.1°C | -1.1°C | 77 mm | 93% | 5.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 5.2°C | 2.8°C | 0.3°C | 10.9°C | -10.5°C | 77 mm | 96% | 3.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 7.0°C | 4.5°C | 1.9°C | 10.7°C | -2.8°C | 43 mm | 93% | 3.7 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 6.9°C with lows near 1.9°C (mean 4.4°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 77 mm of rainfall in Bristol, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 131 mm in 1995.
The hottest January reached 13.3°C in 2016. The coldest dipped to -10.5°C in 1982.
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°C to 6.8°C and overnight lows from 1°C to 1.6°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Bristol and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 6.9°C daytime highs and 1.9°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Bristol, averaging 4.4°C.
For January in Bristol, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 6.9°C and lows of 1.9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 94% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 3.9 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 5.1 m/s (1983).
The wettest January on record was 1995 with 131 mm. On average, January sees 77 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 Bristol 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.
