January is one of the cooler months of the year in Derry, with average highs near 6.4°C and lows around 3°C (mean 4.7°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 120 mm of rainfall and 91% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Derry. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Derry was 1989 — when the month averaged 6.7°C — while the coldest was 1985 at 1.2°C. Typical January days reach 6.4°C with nights near 3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
January is a relatively wet time of year in Derry, averaging 120 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1984 with 184 mm, while the driest was 1997 at 42 mm.
Relative humidity in Derry during January averages 91%. The most humid January was 1992 at 94%, and the least humid was 1993 at 88%.
January receives about 0.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Derry. The sunniest January was 1985 at 0.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1995, 2008 and 2013, among others at 0.5.
Average wind speed in Derry during January is 5.5 m/s. The windiest January was 1993 at 7.8 m/s, while the calmest was 1985 at 3.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 4.0°C | 4.6°C | 5.3°C | 4.5°C | 5.1°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg High | 5.8°C | 6.4°C | 7.0°C | 6.2°C | 6.8°C | +1°C |
| Avg Low | 2.3°C | 2.9°C | 3.6°C | 2.8°C | 3.4°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 127 mm | 125 mm | 124 mm | 119 mm | 95 mm | -32 mm |
January temperatures in Derry have risen by about 1.2°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -6.3°C (1985) to a record high of 12.6°C (2020).
Rainfall in January is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 120 mm, with a wettest year of 184 mm.
A quieter season to visit Derry
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Derry. That said, January — with days averaging 6.4°C and nights around 3°C (mean 4.7°C) and higher rainfall (120 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 | 6.5°C | 4.9°C | 3.3°C | 11.5°C | -0.2°C | 89 mm | 92% | 4.7 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2024 | 6.6°C | 4.9°C | 3.2°C | 11.9°C | -0.6°C | 91 mm | 90% | 5 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2023 | 7.1°C | 5.4°C | 3.8°C | 10.9°C | -0.4°C | 102 mm | 90% | 5.4 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2022 | 7.5°C | 5.7°C | 3.8°C | 11.8°C | 0.5°C | 69 mm | 91% | 5.2 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2021 | 5.4°C | 3.9°C | 2.4°C | 9.6°C | -0.5°C | 126 mm | 90% | 4.1 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2020 | 7.5°C | 5.7°C | 3.9°C | 12.6°C | 0.1°C | 92 mm | 92% | 6.1 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2019 | 6.7°C | 5.1°C | 3.5°C | 10.5°C | -0.8°C | 72 mm | 91% | 4.4 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2018 | 6.1°C | 4.6°C | 3.1°C | 10.8°C | -0.3°C | 173 mm | 91% | 5.8 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2017 | 7.0°C | 5.3°C | 3.6°C | 10.5°C | -0.5°C | 63 mm | 92% | 5 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2016 | 6.8°C | 5.0°C | 3.3°C | 12.5°C | 0.3°C | 160 mm | 92% | 5.6 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2015 | 6.2°C | 4.4°C | 2.6°C | 11.9°C | 0.1°C | 154 mm | 88% | 6.7 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2014 | 6.4°C | 4.7°C | 3.1°C | 9.5°C | 1.3°C | 118 mm | 93% | 5.4 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2013 | 6.0°C | 4.3°C | 2.6°C | 10.7°C | -1.7°C | 145 mm | 93% | 5.3 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2012 | 7.3°C | 5.4°C | 3.6°C | 10.4°C | 0.4°C | 136 mm | 91% | 6.1 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2011 | 5.4°C | 3.6°C | 1.7°C | 10.8°C | -1.4°C | 87 mm | 91% | 3.9 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2010 | 4.3°C | 2.8°C | 1.3°C | 8.6°C | -3.0°C | 81 mm | 91% | 4.4 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2009 | 6.0°C | 4.3°C | 2.6°C | 11.0°C | -0.8°C | 137 mm | 92% | 5.6 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2008 | 7.1°C | 5.4°C | 3.7°C | 11.8°C | -1.2°C | 173 mm | 91% | 6 m/s | 0.5 |
| 2007 | 8.1°C | 6.4°C | 4.7°C | 11.2°C | 1.0°C | 149 mm | 90% | 6.7 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2006 | 6.9°C | 5.0°C | 3.1°C | 11.4°C | -0.7°C | 78 mm | 93% | 4.8 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2005 | 8.2°C | 6.4°C | 4.6°C | 11.9°C | -0.2°C | 139 mm | 90% | 6.9 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2004 | 7.0°C | 5.5°C | 4.1°C | 10.4°C | -0.5°C | 169 mm | 91% | 5.3 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2003 | 6.5°C | 4.8°C | 3.2°C | 11.5°C | -2.0°C | 108 mm | 90% | 5.8 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2002 | 8.0°C | 6.2°C | 4.4°C | 11.1°C | -1.3°C | 124 mm | 92% | 6.1 m/s | 0.6 |
| 2001 | 4.8°C | 3.3°C | 1.8°C | 8.3°C | -1.8°C | 80 mm | 93% | 4.6 m/s | 0.7 |
| 2000 | 6.9°C | 5.4°C | 3.9°C | 9.9°C | 0.6°C | 88 mm | 91% | 5.4 m/s | 0.7 |
| 1999 | 6.3°C | 4.8°C | 3.2°C | 10.4°C | -0.2°C | 166 mm | 91% | 5.7 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1998 | 6.6°C | 4.8°C | 3.1°C | 12.1°C | -1.1°C | 133 mm | 91% | 5.1 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1997 | 5.4°C | 3.7°C | 2.0°C | 10.3°C | -1.8°C | 42 mm | 93% | 3.6 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1996 | 6.4°C | 4.9°C | 3.4°C | 10.1°C | -1.2°C | 99 mm | 93% | 5.9 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1995 | 6.3°C | 4.4°C | 2.5°C | 10.6°C | -1.0°C | 166 mm | 91% | 6 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1994 | 6.1°C | 4.5°C | 2.8°C | 9.4°C | 0.8°C | 130 mm | 91% | 6.2 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1993 | 7.6°C | 5.3°C | 3.1°C | 12.0°C | 0.1°C | 169 mm | 88% | 7.8 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1992 | 6.5°C | 4.9°C | 3.2°C | 11.2°C | -1.0°C | 97 mm | 94% | 4.5 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1991 | 5.1°C | 3.2°C | 1.3°C | 10.6°C | -1.2°C | 103 mm | 92% | 5.8 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1990 | 7.4°C | 5.7°C | 3.9°C | 11.5°C | 1.0°C | 146 mm | 91% | 6.9 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1989 🔥 | 8.5°C | 6.7°C | 4.9°C | 11.8°C | 0.5°C | 110 mm | 91% | 6.7 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1988 | 5.7°C | 4.2°C | 2.7°C | 10.9°C | 0.4°C | 167 mm | 92% | 5.4 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1987 | 4.3°C | 2.6°C | 0.8°C | 9.4°C | -4.6°C | 50 mm | 91% | 4.2 m/s | 0.6 |
| 1986 | 5.1°C | 3.5°C | 2.0°C | 10.4°C | -0.8°C | 165 mm | 89% | 6.2 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1985 ❄️ | 3.0°C | 1.2°C | -0.6°C | 9.5°C | -6.3°C | 88 mm | 90% | 3.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 1984 🌧️ | 5.1°C | 3.1°C | 1.2°C | 10.6°C | -5.1°C | 184 mm | 88% | 6.5 m/s | 0.5 |
| 1983 | 7.5°C | 5.6°C | 3.8°C | 11.5°C | -1.4°C | 138 mm | 89% | 7.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 5.1°C | 3.6°C | 2.1°C | 10.4°C | -5.5°C | 101 mm | 92% | 5.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 7.5°C | 5.7°C | 3.9°C | 10.8°C | -0.5°C | 136 mm | 90% | 6.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 6.4°C with lows near 3°C (mean 4.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 120 mm of rainfall in Derry, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 184 mm in 1984.
The hottest January reached 12.6°C in 2020. The coldest dipped to -6.3°C in 1985.
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 5.6°C to 6.6°C and overnight lows from 2.1°C to 3.3°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Derry and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 6.4°C daytime highs and 3°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Derry, averaging 4.7°C.
For January in Derry, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 6.4°C and lows of 3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 91% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 5.5 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 7.8 m/s (1993).
The wettest January on record was 1984 with 184 mm. On average, January sees 120 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 Derry 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.
