January is one of the cooler months of the year in Fort Smith, with average highs near 8.1°C and lows around -2.3°C (mean 2.9°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 71 mm of rainfall and 83% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Fort Smith. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Fort Smith was 2006 — when the month averaged 7.6°C — while the coldest was 1985 at -2°C. Typical January days reach 8.1°C with nights near -2.3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
January is one of the drier months in Fort Smith, averaging 71 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1998 with 191 mm, while the driest was 1986 at 5 mm.
Relative humidity in Fort Smith during January averages 83%. The most humid January was 1998 at 91%, and the least humid was 2006 at 68%.
January receives about 2.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Fort Smith. The sunniest Januarys were 2014 and 2018 at 3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1993 at 1.8.
Average wind speed in Fort Smith during January is 1.9 m/s. The windiest January was 1996 at 2.5 m/s, while the calmest were 1991, 1992 and 1993, among others at 1.6 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 1.7°C | 3.1°C | 3.4°C | 3.1°C | 3.2°C | +1.5°C |
| Avg High | 6.8°C | 7.9°C | 8.9°C | 8.5°C | 8.5°C | +1.7°C |
| Avg Low | -3.4°C | -1.8°C | -2.0°C | -2.3°C | -2.1°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 54 mm | 92 mm | 71 mm | 55 mm | 88 mm | +34 mm |
January temperatures in Fort Smith have risen by about 2.1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -20.9°C (1985) to a record high of 24.1°C (2013).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 71 mm, with a wettest year of 191 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.4°C per decade while lows rose 0.2°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Fort Smith
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of September and June tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Fort Smith. That said, January — with days averaging 8.1°C and nights around -2.3°C (mean 2.9°C) and moderate rainfall (71 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 | 1.3°C | -3.9°C | 16.7°C | -12.6°C | 80 mm | 81% | 1.9 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2024 | 5.8°C | 0.7°C | -4.4°C | 16.2°C | -16.4°C | 111 mm | 82% | 2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2023 | 11.3°C | 5.8°C | 0.3°C | 21.4°C | -6.1°C | 68 mm | 85% | 2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2022 | 8.8°C | 2.6°C | -3.6°C | 17.8°C | -7.5°C | 48 mm | 76% | 2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2021 | 8.6°C | 3.7°C | -1.2°C | 17.5°C | -4.3°C | 71 mm | 85% | 1.9 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2020 | 10.2°C | 5.2°C | 0.3°C | 21.4°C | -5.8°C | 150 mm | 87% | 2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2019 | 7.5°C | 2.7°C | -2.0°C | 17.8°C | -7.6°C | 101 mm | 87% | 1.9 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2018 | 7.7°C | 1.7°C | -4.3°C | 19.7°C | -14.7°C | 56 mm | 74% | 2.1 m/s | 3 |
| 2017 | 12.1°C | 6.6°C | 1.0°C | 22.5°C | -9.2°C | 51 mm | 77% | 2.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2016 | 7.8°C | 3.0°C | -1.8°C | 18.2°C | -7.3°C | 20 mm | 87% | 2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2015 | 8.0°C | 2.9°C | -2.3°C | 18.3°C | -13.1°C | 56 mm | 80% | 1.7 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2014 | 6.3°C | 0.8°C | -4.8°C | 15.6°C | -14.1°C | 27 mm | 76% | 2.3 m/s | 3 |
| 2013 | 10.9°C | 4.9°C | -1.1°C | 24.1°C | -7.4°C | 73 mm | 80% | 2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2012 | 11.4°C | 5.5°C | -0.3°C | 18.1°C | -5.9°C | 95 mm | 82% | 2.2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2011 | 7.4°C | 1.9°C | -3.6°C | 20.7°C | -12.1°C | 10 mm | 78% | 1.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2010 | 5.8°C | 1.2°C | -3.3°C | 17.9°C | -12.7°C | 61 mm | 88% | 1.9 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2009 | 7.9°C | 1.9°C | -4.1°C | 21.9°C | -17.2°C | 64 mm | 77% | 2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2008 | 8.3°C | 3.0°C | -2.3°C | 20.6°C | -9.1°C | 28 mm | 80% | 2.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2007 | 4.6°C | 0.2°C | -4.3°C | 15.5°C | -15.7°C | 128 mm | 90% | 1.8 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2006 🔥 | 14.4°C | 7.6°C | 0.9°C | 22.1°C | -3.3°C | 60 mm | 68% | 2.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2005 | 10.0°C | 5.2°C | 0.4°C | 20.2°C | -11.2°C | 149 mm | 89% | 1.8 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2004 | 9.7°C | 4.4°C | -0.9°C | 21.9°C | -8.2°C | 72 mm | 81% | 2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2003 | 7.6°C | 2.0°C | -3.6°C | 16.2°C | -10.6°C | 7 mm | 79% | 1.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2002 | 9.7°C | 4.0°C | -1.7°C | 21.5°C | -11.9°C | 95 mm | 84% | 1.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2001 | 6.7°C | 1.6°C | -3.5°C | 13.9°C | -13.9°C | 61 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2000 | 9.8°C | 4.5°C | -0.8°C | 21.3°C | -7.4°C | 48 mm | 81% | 1.8 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1999 | 9.2°C | 4.2°C | -0.7°C | 20.4°C | -14.0°C | 63 mm | 87% | 2.1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1998 🌧️ | 10.0°C | 5.6°C | 1.1°C | 18.7°C | -4.2°C | 191 mm | 91% | 1.8 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1997 | 6.3°C | 1.4°C | -3.5°C | 20.9°C | -13.7°C | 20 mm | 84% | 2.1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1996 | 7.7°C | 1.9°C | -3.8°C | 18.3°C | -13.0°C | 72 mm | 80% | 2.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1995 | 7.8°C | 3.0°C | -1.7°C | 18.4°C | -7.6°C | 118 mm | 89% | 2.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1994 | 5.9°C | 1.5°C | -2.9°C | 19.5°C | -13.1°C | 61 mm | 85% | 2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1993 | 6.9°C | 2.5°C | -1.8°C | 13.6°C | -5.7°C | 91 mm | 87% | 1.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1992 | 7.5°C | 3.0°C | -1.4°C | 14.6°C | -9.3°C | 65 mm | 90% | 1.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1991 | 5.8°C | 1.5°C | -2.8°C | 9.9°C | -8.2°C | 74 mm | 87% | 1.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1990 | 12.2°C | 5.9°C | -0.4°C | 20.1°C | -5.4°C | 164 mm | 75% | 2.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1989 | 11.2°C | 5.5°C | -0.3°C | 18.3°C | -5.2°C | 91 mm | 84% | 1.7 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1988 | 5.0°C | 0.4°C | -4.1°C | 19.0°C | -14.7°C | 37 mm | 88% | 2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1987 | 6.8°C | 2.4°C | -2.0°C | 14.3°C | -6.7°C | 79 mm | 88% | 1.9 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1986 | 9.2°C | 3.4°C | -2.4°C | 18.0°C | -9.3°C | 5 mm | 84% | 1.8 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1985 ❄️ | 2.6°C | -2.0°C | -6.5°C | 8.3°C | -20.9°C | 38 mm | 87% | 2.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1984 | 5.3°C | 0.2°C | -4.9°C | 16.0°C | -16.0°C | 22 mm | 85% | 1.7 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1983 | 6.7°C | 2.2°C | -2.2°C | 12.8°C | -5.9°C | 53 mm | 87% | 1.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 5.4°C | -0.1°C | -5.6°C | 19.4°C | -18.1°C | 129 mm | 80% | 2.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 9.0°C | 3.0°C | -3.0°C | 17.7°C | -6.9°C | 31 mm | 75% | 1.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 8.1°C with lows near -2.3°C (mean 2.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 71 mm of rainfall in Fort Smith, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 191 mm in 1998.
The hottest January reached 24.1°C in 2013. The coldest dipped to -20.9°C in 1985.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 2.1°C. Daytime highs moved from 5.8°C to 8.2°C and overnight lows from -4.4°C to -2.6°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Fort Smith and one of the drier months, so plan for around 8.1°C daytime highs and -2.3°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Fort Smith, averaging 2.9°C.
For January in Fort Smith, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 8.1°C and lows of -2.3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 83% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 1.9 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 2.5 m/s (1996).
The wettest January on record was 1998 with 191 mm. On average, January sees 71 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 Fort Smith 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.
