Scarborough Weather in January (1981–2025)

📍 54.28°N, 0.40°W •
📊

January at a Glance in Scarborough

(1981–2025)
Avg High
🔥
6.1°C
Avg Low
❄️
3.2°C
Avg Temp
🌡️
4.7°C
Avg Rain
🌧️
71 mm
Avg Humidity
💧
90%
Avg Wind
🌬️
6.3 m/s
Avg Solar
☀️
0.6
kWh/m²/day
vs Annual
📈
-4.7°C
temp difference
❄️Cold afternoons❄️Cold mornings☁️Cloudier skies🌧️Wet month🌬️Windy💦Humid air

Scarborough January Weather Overview

January is one of the cooler months of the year in Scarborough, with average highs near 6.1°C and lows around 3.2°C (mean 4.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 71 mm of rainfall and 90% relative humidity across the period.

Scarborough January Temperature History (1981–2025)

Range

January is one of the cooler months of the year in Scarborough. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Scarborough was 2007 — when the month averaged 6.8°C — while the coldest was 1987 at 1.6°C. Typical January days reach 6.1°C with nights near 3.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.

1981–1985 vs 2021–2025

Avg Temp3.7°C→4.9°C+1.2°C
Max Temp5.2°C→6.3°C+1.1°C
Min Temp2.1°C→3.4°C+1.3°C

Trend (per decade)

Avg Temp+0.3°C/decade ↗
Max Temp+0.3°C/decade ↗
Min Temp+0.3°C/decade ↗

Distribution of Avg Temp

1.0°C–2.5°C2 yr (4%)
2.5°C–4.0°C8 yr (18%)
4.0°C–5.5°C25 yr (56%)
5.5°C–7.0°C10 yr (22%)

Scarborough January Rainfall History (1981–2025)

Range

January is about average for rainfall in Scarborough, averaging 71 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2021 with 148 mm, while the driest was 1989 at 21 mm.

Scarborough January Humidity History (1981–2025)

Range

Relative humidity in Scarborough during January averages 90%. The most humid January was 2014 at 93%, and the least humid was 1985 at 85%.

Scarborough January Solar History (1981–2025)

Range

January receives about 0.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Scarborough. The sunniest January was 2022 at 0.8 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2010, 2013 and 2016, among others at 0.5.

Scarborough January Wind History (1981–2025)

Range

Average wind speed in Scarborough during January is 6.3 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 1993 and 2005 at 8.1 m/s, while the calmest was 1997 at 4.1 m/s.

What January Feels Like in Scarborough

🌅
Cold
Morning
🌞
Cold
Afternoon
🌆
Cold
Evening
Rain chanceModerate
Outdoor comfort★☆☆☆☆

How January Ranks in Scarborough

🥶1st coolest month of the year
🌧️4th wettest month of the year
☀️11th sunniest month of the year

Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.

Explore Scarborough Weather by Month

Scarborough January Averages by Decade

Metric1980s1990s2000s2010s2020sChange
Avg Temp3.8°C4.6°C5.4°C4.6°C5.1°C+1.3°C
Avg High5.2°C6.1°C6.8°C6.0°C6.6°C+1.4°C
Avg Low2.3°C3.1°C4.0°C3.2°C3.7°C+1.4°C
Avg Rain69 mm66 mm68 mm74 mm82 mm+13 mm

Extreme January Records in Scarborough

🔥Warmest January12.0°C2015
🧊Coldest January-3.6°C1982
🌧️Wettest January148 mm2021
🏜️Driest January21 mm1989
🌬️Windiest January8.1 m/s1993

Key Insights for January

✅

January temperatures in Scarborough have risen by about 1.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.

✅

January has ranged from a record low of -3.6°C (1982) to a record high of 12°C (2015).

✅

Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 71 mm, with a wettest year of 148 mm.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Scarborough?

A quieter season to visit Scarborough

If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Scarborough. That said, January — with days averaging 6.1°C and nights around 3.2°C (mean 4.7°C) and moderate rainfall (71 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.

See Scarborough's complete weather history All 12 months side by side, 1981–2025 records, annual trends and long-term averages in one place. View full history →

Scarborough Weather in January — In Depth

☀️ January climate overview

January is one of the cooler months of the year in Scarborough, with average highs near 6.1°C and lows around 3.2°C (mean 4.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 71 mm of rainfall and 90% relative humidity across the period.

🌧️ Rain, humidity & wind in January

January averages 71 mm of rainfall in Scarborough, about average for rainfall compared with the rest of the year. The wettest January on record saw 148 mm (2021), and the driest just 21 mm (1989). Humidity sits around 90% and average wind speed is 6.3 m/s, with solar radiation averaging 0.6 kWh/m²/day.

📈 How January has changed

Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 1.2°C. Daytime highs moved from 5.2°C to 6.3°C and overnight lows from 2.1°C to 3.4°C over the same span.
January Weather in Scarborough, Year by Year
🔥 warmest❄️ coldest🌧️ wettest
YearAvg HighAvg TempAvg LowHottest DayColdest DayRainfallHumidityWindSolar
20255.3°C3.9°C2.5°C9.1°C0.5°C101 mm91%5.3 m/s0.7
20246.8°C5.3°C3.7°C11.2°C0.7°C102 mm89%6.1 m/s0.6
20237.2°C5.6°C4.1°C11.3°C0.4°C59 mm91%6.6 m/s0.7
20227.0°C5.4°C3.7°C11.3°C1.1°C29 mm91%5.8 m/s0.8
2021 🌧️5.3°C4.2°C3.0°C9.4°C1.0°C148 mm88%5.4 m/s0.7
20208.0°C6.4°C4.9°C11.2°C2.8°C51 mm93%6.4 m/s0.7
20195.9°C4.6°C3.3°C9.9°C0.1°C39 mm88%5.6 m/s0.7
20186.4°C5.0°C3.6°C10.6°C1.0°C82 mm91%6.3 m/s0.6
20176.0°C4.7°C3.4°C9.7°C-0.4°C52 mm91%5.4 m/s0.6
20167.0°C5.5°C4.1°C11.9°C1.8°C136 mm90%6.7 m/s0.5
20156.6°C4.8°C2.9°C12.0°C0.9°C56 mm88%7.4 m/s0.7
20146.6°C5.2°C3.8°C9.1°C1.9°C121 mm93%6.4 m/s0.6
20135.1°C4.1°C3.1°C9.8°C-0.4°C69 mm88%5.7 m/s0.5
20127.0°C5.3°C3.7°C10.8°C1.0°C40 mm89%6.5 m/s0.7
20115.5°C4.0°C2.4°C10.1°C0.2°C57 mm90%5.3 m/s0.6
20103.8°C2.9°C1.9°C7.2°C-0.3°C88 mm87%5.6 m/s0.5
20095.1°C3.8°C2.5°C8.0°C-1.5°C69 mm91%5.9 m/s0.6
20087.6°C6.2°C4.7°C11.3°C1.7°C126 mm90%7.2 m/s0.6
2007 🔥8.5°C6.8°C5.1°C11.5°C2.2°C71 mm88%7.8 m/s0.7
20066.1°C4.9°C3.6°C9.4°C0.8°C30 mm90%5 m/s0.6
20057.9°C6.3°C4.7°C11.4°C2.2°C37 mm88%8.1 m/s0.7
20046.8°C5.4°C4.1°C10.0°C0.9°C118 mm92%6.3 m/s0.6
20036.7°C5.4°C4.2°C11.2°C1.1°C88 mm88%6.8 m/s0.6
20027.1°C5.5°C3.9°C10.7°C0.2°C51 mm92%6.3 m/s0.6
20015.3°C4.1°C3.0°C7.5°C1.0°C42 mm90%5.1 m/s0.7
20007.2°C5.5°C3.9°C9.9°C1.7°C52 mm91%6.6 m/s0.7
19996.9°C5.4°C3.8°C10.9°C0.7°C80 mm92%6.5 m/s0.7
19986.6°C5.3°C3.9°C11.4°C1.4°C92 mm90%6.2 m/s0.6
19974.5°C3.2°C1.9°C7.6°C-0.2°C22 mm90%4.1 m/s0.6
19965.3°C4.4°C3.6°C9.2°C0.6°C51 mm90%7.1 m/s0.5
19956.0°C4.3°C2.7°C10.1°C0.7°C99 mm90%7.6 m/s0.6
19946.1°C4.5°C3.0°C9.3°C0.8°C86 mm90%7 m/s0.7
19936.5°C4.7°C2.8°C11.9°C-2.1°C62 mm88%8.1 m/s0.6
19926.1°C4.6°C3.0°C10.3°C-1.2°C30 mm90%4.9 m/s0.7
19915.3°C3.6°C2.0°C10.3°C0.1°C57 mm87%6.1 m/s0.7
19907.6°C6.0°C4.4°C11.5°C1.7°C83 mm91%7.4 m/s0.6
19897.5°C5.8°C4.1°C10.3°C1.2°C21 mm92%6.4 m/s0.7
19886.3°C5.1°C3.8°C10.7°C1.0°C83 mm92%6 m/s0.6
1987 ❄️2.7°C1.6°C0.4°C7.5°C-3.2°C43 mm87%5.3 m/s0.5
19864.5°C3.3°C2.1°C9.3°C-0.6°C83 mm87%7.6 m/s0.6
19853.5°C2.3°C1.1°C7.1°C-2.0°C87 mm85%5.4 m/s0.7
19844.8°C3.3°C1.9°C10.1°C-2.0°C114 mm88%7.5 m/s0.5
19837.3°C5.4°C3.4°C11.0°C-0.1°C55 mm89%8 m/s—
19824.2°C2.8°C1.3°C7.9°C-3.6°C71 mm91%5.2 m/s—
19816.1°C4.5°C3.0°C9.9°C-0.1°C65 mm89%6.4 m/s—

Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.

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Scarborough January Weather — FAQ

What is the average temperature in Scarborough in January?▼

The average high in January is around 6.1°C with lows near 3.2°C (mean 4.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.

Does it rain a lot in Scarborough in January?▼

January averages 71 mm of rainfall in Scarborough, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 148 mm in 2021.

What was the hottest January on record in Scarborough?▼

The hottest January reached 12°C in 2015. The coldest dipped to -3.6°C in 1982.

Has January in Scarborough gotten warmer over time?▼

Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 1.2°C. Daytime highs moved from 5.2°C to 6.3°C and overnight lows from 2.1°C to 3.4°C over the same span.

Is January a good time to visit Scarborough?▼

January is one of the cooler months of the year in Scarborough and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 6.1°C daytime highs and 3.2°C at night.

Is January the coldest month in Scarborough?▼

Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Scarborough, averaging 4.7°C.

What should I pack for Scarborough in January?▼

For January in Scarborough, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 6.1°C and lows of 3.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.

Is Scarborough humid in January?▼

Relative humidity in January averages 90% — quite humid.

How windy is Scarborough in January?▼

Average wind speed in January is 6.3 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 8.1 m/s (1993).

Which January had the most rainfall in Scarborough?▼

The wettest January on record was 2021 with 148 mm. On average, January sees 71 mm.

Where does this January weather data come from?▼

All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.

Other England cities

Explore how the weather in Scarborough 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.