January is one of the cooler months of the year in Lancaster, with average highs near 15.4°C and lows around 3°C (mean 9.2°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 65 mm of rainfall and 60% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Lancaster. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Lancaster was 2014 — when the month averaged 13.4°C — while the coldest was 1982 at 6.6°C. Typical January days reach 15.4°C with nights near 3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
January is a relatively wet time of year in Lancaster, averaging 65 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1995 with 290 mm, while the driest was 2003 at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Lancaster during January averages 60%. The most humid January was 1995 at 82%, and the least humid was 2014 at 37%.
January receives about 3.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Lancaster. The sunniest January was 2025 at 3.5 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1995 at 2.4.
Average wind speed in Lancaster during January is 2.5 m/s. The windiest January was 1989 at 3.2 m/s, while the calmest was 1998 at 1.8 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 8.4°C | 8.8°C | 9.3°C | 10.1°C | 9.5°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg High | 14.7°C | 14.7°C | 15.5°C | 16.4°C | 15.7°C | +1°C |
| Avg Low | 2.1°C | 2.8°C | 3.2°C | 3.8°C | 3.3°C | +1.2°C |
| Avg Rain | 51 mm | 98 mm | 58 mm | 64 mm | 45 mm | -6 mm |
January temperatures in Lancaster have risen by about 1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -4.9°C (1987) to a record high of 27.1°C (2003).
Rainfall in January is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 65 mm, with a wettest year of 290 mm.
A quieter season to visit Lancaster
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of June and September tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Lancaster. That said, January — with days averaging 15.4°C and nights around 3°C (mean 9.2°C) and moderate rainfall (65 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 | 16.8°C | 9.9°C | 3.0°C | 23.8°C | -1.0°C | 19 mm | 42% | 2.6 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2024 | 15.8°C | 9.8°C | 3.8°C | 22.9°C | -2.3°C | 37 mm | 69% | 2.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2023 | 12.1°C | 7.3°C | 2.5°C | 18.0°C | -2.0°C | 168 mm | 76% | 2.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2022 | 16.5°C | 10.0°C | 3.5°C | 22.1°C | -2.0°C | 3 mm | 58% | 2.3 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2021 | 16.4°C | 10.0°C | 3.7°C | 24.7°C | -3.6°C | 40 mm | 54% | 2.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2020 | 16.6°C | 9.9°C | 3.1°C | 21.5°C | -1.9°C | 5 mm | 66% | 2.1 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2019 | 15.2°C | 9.7°C | 4.2°C | 21.7°C | -1.9°C | 126 mm | 69% | 2.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2018 | 19.6°C | 12.9°C | 6.2°C | 25.1°C | -1.3°C | 47 mm | 50% | 2.1 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2017 | 12.6°C | 7.7°C | 2.7°C | 20.8°C | -2.7°C | 169 mm | 76% | 2.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2016 | 15.1°C | 9.1°C | 3.0°C | 21.2°C | -1.0°C | 82 mm | 69% | 2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2015 | 18.0°C | 11.5°C | 5.1°C | 23.0°C | -3.5°C | 30 mm | 55% | 1.9 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2014 🔥 | 20.7°C | 13.4°C | 6.1°C | 25.4°C | 1.6°C | 2 mm | 37% | 2.3 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2013 | 14.4°C | 7.8°C | 1.2°C | 22.0°C | -4.6°C | 24 mm | 51% | 2.5 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2012 | 18.6°C | 11.2°C | 3.9°C | 25.2°C | -3.8°C | 18 mm | 42% | 2.4 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2011 | 14.9°C | 8.7°C | 2.5°C | 23.3°C | -3.1°C | 15 mm | 62% | 2.4 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2010 | 15.0°C | 9.2°C | 3.4°C | 20.6°C | -2.1°C | 131 mm | 63% | 2.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2009 | 17.6°C | 11.0°C | 4.4°C | 22.4°C | -2.5°C | 12 mm | 49% | 2.7 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2008 | 12.4°C | 7.2°C | 2.0°C | 18.8°C | -3.0°C | 181 mm | 68% | 3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2007 | 14.0°C | 7.8°C | 1.5°C | 22.5°C | -4.6°C | 14 mm | 45% | 2.7 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2006 | 15.5°C | 9.1°C | 2.7°C | 22.3°C | -1.4°C | 37 mm | 59% | 2.9 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2005 | 13.8°C | 9.0°C | 4.1°C | 21.5°C | -0.8°C | 209 mm | 78% | 2.4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2004 | 15.8°C | 9.3°C | 2.8°C | 21.9°C | -2.8°C | 10 mm | 54% | 2.1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2003 | 20.2°C | 13.3°C | 6.4°C | 27.1°C | 1.1°C | 0 mm | 53% | 2.4 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2002 | 15.1°C | 8.4°C | 1.7°C | 23.5°C | -4.6°C | 14 mm | 51% | 2.1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2001 | 13.5°C | 7.7°C | 1.8°C | 23.3°C | -2.9°C | 79 mm | 58% | 2.2 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2000 | 16.7°C | 10.6°C | 4.5°C | 23.7°C | -0.4°C | 25 mm | 62% | 2.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1999 | 16.8°C | 10.3°C | 3.7°C | 23.4°C | -2.1°C | 43 mm | 54% | 2.4 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1998 | 15.2°C | 9.2°C | 3.2°C | 21.2°C | -2.0°C | 62 mm | 73% | 1.8 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1997 | 13.6°C | 8.6°C | 3.6°C | 20.2°C | -1.7°C | 104 mm | 75% | 2.7 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1996 | 16.5°C | 10.0°C | 3.6°C | 23.0°C | -3.0°C | 52 mm | 59% | 2.4 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1995 🌧️ | 12.1°C | 7.8°C | 3.5°C | 19.6°C | -1.5°C | 290 mm | 82% | 2.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1994 | 16.9°C | 10.0°C | 3.1°C | 23.0°C | -1.8°C | 14 mm | 45% | 2.4 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1993 | 11.6°C | 6.9°C | 2.2°C | 18.2°C | -4.1°C | 271 mm | 78% | 2.8 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1992 | 14.3°C | 7.9°C | 1.5°C | 20.8°C | -1.2°C | 58 mm | 56% | 2.9 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1991 | 15.2°C | 8.3°C | 1.4°C | 19.8°C | -1.5°C | 38 mm | 56% | 2.2 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1990 | 15.2°C | 8.6°C | 1.9°C | 25.5°C | -2.6°C | 52 mm | 56% | 2.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1989 | 13.1°C | 6.7°C | 0.4°C | 19.2°C | -4.5°C | 17 mm | 57% | 3.2 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1988 | 13.7°C | 7.5°C | 1.3°C | 20.5°C | -2.3°C | 60 mm | 62% | 2.8 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1987 | 13.7°C | 7.2°C | 0.8°C | 23.9°C | -4.9°C | 44 mm | 55% | 2.9 m/s | 3 |
| 1986 | 18.3°C | 11.8°C | 5.3°C | 23.5°C | 2.3°C | 65 mm | 59% | 2.5 m/s | 3 |
| 1985 | 13.1°C | 7.0°C | 0.8°C | 21.6°C | -4.4°C | 18 mm | 63% | 2.7 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1984 | 15.9°C | 9.4°C | 2.9°C | 21.5°C | -2.1°C | 2 mm | 54% | 3 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1983 | 15.0°C | 8.9°C | 2.9°C | 21.0°C | -3.8°C | 123 mm | 64% | 2.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 ❄️ | 13.1°C | 6.6°C | 0.2°C | 22.5°C | -4.5°C | 68 mm | 61% | 2.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 16.5°C | 10.3°C | 4.1°C | 22.4°C | -3.0°C | 63 mm | 55% | 2.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 15.4°C with lows near 3°C (mean 9.2°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 65 mm of rainfall in Lancaster, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 290 mm in 1995.
The hottest January reached 27.1°C in 2003. The coldest dipped to -4.9°C in 1987.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 1°C. Daytime highs moved from 14.7°C to 15.5°C and overnight lows from 2.2°C to 3.3°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Lancaster and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 15.4°C daytime highs and 3°C at night.
Not quite — January is the 2nd coolest month in Lancaster, averaging 9.2°C.
For January in Lancaster, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 15.4°C and lows of 3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 60% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in January is 2.5 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 3.2 m/s (1989).
The wettest January on record was 1995 with 290 mm. On average, January sees 65 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 Lancaster 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.
