Saint Andrews Weather in January (1981–2025)

📍 56.34°N, 2.80°W •
📊

January at a Glance in Saint Andrews

(1981–2025)
Avg High
🔥
5.7°C
Avg Low
❄️
3.0°C
Avg Temp
🌡️
4.4°C
Avg Rain
🌧️
78 mm
Avg Humidity
💧
90%
Avg Wind
🌬️
6 m/s
Avg Solar
☀️
0.5
kWh/m²/day
vs Annual
📈
-4.3°C
temp difference
❄️Cold afternoons❄️Cold mornings☁️Cloudier skies🌧️Wet month🌬️Windy💦Humid air

Saint Andrews January Weather Overview

January is one of the cooler months of the year in Saint Andrews, with average highs near 5.7°C and lows around 3°C (mean 4.4°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 78 mm of rainfall and 90% relative humidity across the period.

Saint Andrews January Temperature History (1981–2025)

Range

January is one of the cooler months of the year in Saint Andrews. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Saint Andrews was 1989 — when the month averaged 6.4°C — while the coldest was 1987 at 1.8°C. Typical January days reach 5.7°C with nights near 3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.

1981–1985 vs 2021–2025

Avg Temp3.3°C→4.6°C+1.3°C
Max Temp4.8°C→5.9°C+1.1°C
Min Temp1.8°C→3.2°C+1.4°C

Trend (per decade)

Avg Temp+0.3°C/decade ↗
Max Temp+0.2°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°C11 yr (24%)
4.0°C–5.5°C26 yr (58%)
5.5°C–7.0°C6 yr (13%)

Saint Andrews January Rainfall History (1981–2025)

Range

January is about average for rainfall in Saint Andrews, averaging 78 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2016 with 197 mm, while the driest was 1997 at 32 mm.

Saint Andrews January Humidity History (1981–2025)

Range

Relative humidity in Saint Andrews during January averages 90%. The most humid January was 2002 at 93%, and the least humid were 1984 and 2010 at 87%.

Saint Andrews January Solar History (1981–2025)

Range

January receives about 0.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Saint Andrews. The sunniest Januarys were 2022, 2023 and 2025, among others at 0.6 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2013, 2014 and 2016, among others at 0.4.

Saint Andrews January Wind History (1981–2025)

Range

Average wind speed in Saint Andrews during January is 6 m/s. The windiest January was 1983 at 8.5 m/s, while the calmest was 1997 at 3.8 m/s.

What January Feels Like in Saint Andrews

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

How January Ranks in Saint Andrews

🥶2nd 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 Saint Andrews Weather by Month

Saint Andrews January Averages by Decade

Metric1980s1990s2000s2010s2020sChange
Avg Temp3.6°C4.4°C5.0°C4.2°C4.8°C+1.2°C
Avg High5.0°C5.7°C6.4°C5.5°C6.2°C+1.2°C
Avg Low2.3°C3.1°C3.6°C2.9°C3.5°C+1.2°C
Avg Rain74 mm82 mm77 mm88 mm64 mm-10 mm

Extreme January Records in Saint Andrews

🔥Warmest January11.7°C2020
🧊Coldest January-6.7°C1982
🌧️Wettest January197 mm2016
🏜️Driest January32 mm1997
🌬️Windiest January8.5 m/s1983

Key Insights for January

✅

January temperatures in Saint Andrews have risen by about 1.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.

✅

January has ranged from a record low of -6.7°C (1982) to a record high of 11.7°C (2020).

✅

Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 78 mm, with a wettest year of 197 mm.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Saint Andrews?

A quieter season to visit Saint Andrews

If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Saint Andrews. That said, January — with days averaging 5.7°C and nights around 3°C (mean 4.4°C) and moderate rainfall (78 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.

See Saint Andrews'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 →

Saint Andrews Weather in January — In Depth

☀️ January climate overview

January is one of the cooler months of the year in Saint Andrews, with average highs near 5.7°C and lows around 3°C (mean 4.4°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 78 mm of rainfall and 90% relative humidity across the period.

🌧️ Rain, humidity & wind in January

January averages 78 mm of rainfall in Saint Andrews, about average for rainfall compared with the rest of the year. The wettest January on record saw 197 mm (2016), and the driest just 32 mm (1997). Humidity sits around 90% and average wind speed is 6 m/s, with solar radiation averaging 0.5 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 1.3°C. Daytime highs moved from 4.8°C to 5.9°C and overnight lows from 1.8°C to 3.2°C over the same span.
January Weather in Saint Andrews, Year by Year
🔥 warmest❄️ coldest🌧️ wettest
YearAvg HighAvg TempAvg LowHottest DayColdest DayRainfallHumidityWindSolar
20255.7°C4.5°C3.2°C9.7°C0.3°C47 mm91%5.1 m/s0.6
20246.1°C4.7°C3.3°C11.1°C-1.2°C74 mm89%5.8 m/s0.5
20236.5°C5.1°C3.6°C10.1°C0.0°C74 mm91%6 m/s0.6
20227.1°C5.5°C3.9°C11.3°C1.3°C39 mm91%6.2 m/s0.6
20214.3°C3.2°C2.1°C7.0°C0.3°C92 mm89%4.8 m/s0.6
20207.5°C6.0°C4.6°C11.7°C1.7°C59 mm91%6.7 m/s0.5
20195.4°C4.1°C2.7°C9.5°C0.2°C35 mm89%4.8 m/s0.6
20185.6°C4.3°C3.0°C9.9°C0.5°C83 mm90%5.7 m/s0.5
20176.0°C4.7°C3.4°C9.7°C0.4°C56 mm91%5.2 m/s0.6
2016 🌧️5.9°C4.6°C3.3°C11.1°C0.2°C197 mm88%6.2 m/s0.4
20156.0°C4.5°C3.1°C11.3°C0.6°C72 mm88%7.5 m/s0.6
20146.2°C4.9°C3.6°C8.2°C1.9°C149 mm92%5.8 m/s0.4
20135.3°C4.2°C3.2°C9.9°C0.8°C110 mm89%5.6 m/s0.4
20126.3°C4.9°C3.4°C9.9°C1.5°C45 mm88%6.2 m/s0.5
20114.5°C3.1°C1.8°C9.3°C-2.0°C60 mm91%4.7 m/s0.5
20103.9°C2.9°C1.9°C7.0°C-0.5°C78 mm87%5.5 m/s0.5
20095.3°C4.1°C2.9°C9.6°C-0.8°C91 mm91%5.7 m/s0.5
20086.6°C5.2°C3.8°C10.9°C0.9°C142 mm91%6.6 m/s0.4
20077.6°C5.9°C4.3°C11.6°C1.0°C77 mm89%7.3 m/s0.5
20066.6°C5.3°C3.9°C10.7°C0.6°C39 mm90%4.7 m/s0.5
20057.5°C5.8°C4.0°C11.2°C1.0°C52 mm89%7.5 m/s0.5
20046.3°C5.0°C3.7°C10.1°C0.6°C101 mm92%5.6 m/s0.5
20036.2°C4.9°C3.7°C11.0°C0.1°C73 mm88%6.8 m/s0.5
20026.7°C5.0°C3.4°C10.3°C-0.1°C99 mm93%5.7 m/s0.4
20014.7°C3.7°C2.7°C6.7°C1.3°C52 mm91%4.4 m/s0.5
20006.6°C5.0°C3.3°C9.4°C1.6°C43 mm91%6.3 m/s0.6
19995.6°C4.5°C3.4°C8.5°C1.1°C97 mm91%6.2 m/s0.5
19986.1°C4.9°C3.7°C10.5°C1.1°C114 mm90%5.6 m/s0.5
19975.0°C3.7°C2.4°C9.8°C0.0°C32 mm92%3.8 m/s0.5
19965.7°C4.9°C4.1°C8.4°C1.7°C75 mm90%6.5 m/s0.4
19955.0°C3.5°C2.1°C9.3°C-1.4°C88 mm89%7 m/s0.4
19945.3°C4.0°C2.7°C8.5°C0.5°C88 mm90%6.9 m/s0.4
19936.5°C4.7°C2.9°C11.4°C0.0°C108 mm89%8.4 m/s0.5
19926.0°C4.5°C3.0°C11.0°C0.2°C55 mm92%5 m/s0.5
19914.9°C3.5°C2.1°C10.0°C0.0°C67 mm90%5.6 m/s0.4
19907.0°C5.7°C4.3°C11.4°C1.6°C92 mm91%7.2 m/s0.4
1989 🔥7.8°C6.4°C5.1°C10.6°C2.4°C39 mm91%7.1 m/s0.4
19885.8°C4.6°C3.5°C10.3°C1.0°C105 mm90%5.6 m/s0.5
1987 ❄️3.0°C1.8°C0.7°C6.7°C-2.9°C50 mm88%5.1 m/s0.5
19864.4°C3.2°C2.1°C9.0°C-0.6°C82 mm88%6.7 m/s0.4
19853.7°C2.5°C1.4°C7.1°C-1.9°C83 mm87%5.3 m/s0.6
19844.1°C2.6°C1.1°C9.4°C-2.6°C110 mm87%6.9 m/s0.5
19837.0°C5.3°C3.7°C10.6°C-0.4°C50 mm88%8.5 m/s—
19823.5°C2.0°C0.5°C9.3°C-6.7°C95 mm92%5.1 m/s—
19815.5°C3.9°C2.3°C9.1°C-1.7°C54 mm89%6.3 m/s—

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

Other Cities in Scotland

Saint Andrews January Weather — FAQ

What is the average temperature in Saint Andrews in January?▼

The average high in January is around 5.7°C with lows near 3°C (mean 4.4°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.

Does it rain a lot in Saint Andrews in January?▼

January averages 78 mm of rainfall in Saint Andrews, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 197 mm in 2016.

What was the hottest January on record in Saint Andrews?▼

The hottest January reached 11.7°C in 2020. The coldest dipped to -6.7°C in 1982.

Has January in Saint Andrews 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 1.3°C. Daytime highs moved from 4.8°C to 5.9°C and overnight lows from 1.8°C to 3.2°C over the same span.

Is January a good time to visit Saint Andrews?▼

January is one of the cooler months of the year in Saint Andrews and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 5.7°C daytime highs and 3°C at night.

Is January the coldest month in Saint Andrews?▼

Not quite — January is the 2nd coolest month in Saint Andrews, averaging 4.4°C.

What should I pack for Saint Andrews in January?▼

For January in Saint Andrews, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 5.7°C and lows of 3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.

Is Saint Andrews humid in January?▼

Relative humidity in January averages 90% — quite humid.

How windy is Saint Andrews in January?▼

Average wind speed in January is 6 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 8.5 m/s (1983).

Which January had the most rainfall in Saint Andrews?▼

The wettest January on record was 2016 with 197 mm. On average, January sees 78 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 Scotland cities

Explore how the weather in Saint Andrews 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.