January is one of the cooler months of the year in Dover, with average highs near 4.7°C and lows around -3.2°C (mean 0.8°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 81 mm of rainfall and 83% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Dover. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Dover was 2023 — when the month averaged 5.5°C — while the coldest was 1982 at -3.3°C. Typical January days reach 4.7°C with nights near -3.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
January is one of the drier months in Dover, averaging 81 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1987 with 155 mm, while the driest was 1981 at 12 mm.
Relative humidity in Dover during January averages 83%. The most humid January was 1984 at 90%, and the least humid was 2025 at 75%.
January receives about 2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Dover. The sunniest Januarys were 1995 and 2016 at 2.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2023 and 2024 at 1.6.
Average wind speed in Dover during January is 3.5 m/s. The windiest January was 2000 at 4.2 m/s, while the calmest was 1984 at 2.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -1.2°C | 1.7°C | 1.0°C | 0.5°C | 2.2°C | +3.4°C |
| Avg High | 2.7°C | 5.7°C | 4.9°C | 4.4°C | 6.2°C | +3.5°C |
| Avg Low | -5.1°C | -2.3°C | -2.8°C | -3.4°C | -1.7°C | +3.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 77 mm | 103 mm | 69 mm | 76 mm | 76 mm | -2 mm |
January temperatures in Dover have risen by about 3.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -20.8°C (1984) to a record high of 20.2°C (2002).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 81 mm, with a wettest year of 155 mm.
A quieter season to visit Dover
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of June and September tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Dover. That said, January — with days averaging 4.7°C and nights around -3.2°C (mean 0.8°C) and higher rainfall (81 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 | 3.0°C | -0.8°C | -4.6°C | 12.0°C | -10.4°C | 32 mm | 75% | 3.7 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2024 | 6.9°C | 2.8°C | -1.2°C | 20.2°C | -8.1°C | 154 mm | 88% | 3.3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2023 🔥 | 9.6°C | 5.5°C | 1.3°C | 16.6°C | -3.5°C | 58 mm | 86% | 3.2 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2022 | 4.0°C | -0.2°C | -4.3°C | 14.8°C | -12.4°C | 87 mm | 78% | 3.8 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2021 | 5.2°C | 1.9°C | -1.4°C | 11.4°C | -6.9°C | 57 mm | 84% | 3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2020 | 8.4°C | 4.0°C | -0.3°C | 18.4°C | -5.5°C | 65 mm | 81% | 3.3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2019 | 4.6°C | 0.7°C | -3.2°C | 15.3°C | -14.1°C | 86 mm | 84% | 3.6 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2018 | 4.4°C | -0.1°C | -4.6°C | 16.7°C | -16.7°C | 65 mm | 80% | 3.7 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2017 | 6.6°C | 3.1°C | -0.5°C | 17.3°C | -11.5°C | 81 mm | 84% | 3.4 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2016 | 4.4°C | 0.3°C | -3.7°C | 17.0°C | -10.7°C | 81 mm | 81% | 3.7 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2015 | 3.0°C | -0.7°C | -4.4°C | 16.9°C | -11.8°C | 123 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 2 |
| 2014 | 2.3°C | -1.9°C | -6.2°C | 16.3°C | -14.4°C | 66 mm | 83% | 3.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2013 | 6.1°C | 2.2°C | -1.7°C | 18.3°C | -9.7°C | 74 mm | 84% | 3.1 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2012 | 7.4°C | 3.1°C | -1.2°C | 17.5°C | -7.7°C | 50 mm | 83% | 3.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2011 | 1.9°C | -1.4°C | -4.8°C | 9.5°C | -11.3°C | 70 mm | 83% | 3.1 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2010 | 2.9°C | -0.5°C | -3.9°C | 15.0°C | -10.4°C | 63 mm | 87% | 3.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2009 | 2.4°C | -1.0°C | -4.5°C | 10.7°C | -13.6°C | 60 mm | 80% | 3 m/s | 2 |
| 2008 | 6.1°C | 2.1°C | -1.8°C | 17.0°C | -7.8°C | 43 mm | 80% | 3.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2007 | 7.6°C | 3.8°C | 0.0°C | 19.7°C | -9.4°C | 86 mm | 83% | 3.6 m/s | 2 |
| 2006 | 9.1°C | 4.5°C | 0.0°C | 15.3°C | -4.9°C | 81 mm | 85% | 3.7 m/s | 2 |
| 2005 | 4.6°C | 0.6°C | -3.4°C | 19.4°C | -15.6°C | 96 mm | 87% | 3.4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2004 | 1.3°C | -2.3°C | -6.0°C | 17.6°C | -13.3°C | 51 mm | 83% | 4.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2003 | 1.5°C | -1.8°C | -5.1°C | 12.9°C | -12.9°C | 48 mm | 83% | 3.7 m/s | 2 |
| 2002 | 8.4°C | 4.1°C | -0.2°C | 20.2°C | -7.1°C | 63 mm | 80% | 3.3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2001 | 4.2°C | 0.6°C | -3.1°C | 13.5°C | -7.8°C | 77 mm | 85% | 2.9 m/s | 2 |
| 2000 | 4.0°C | -0.1°C | -4.2°C | 18.2°C | -15.1°C | 86 mm | 83% | 4.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1999 | 7.7°C | 2.8°C | -2.2°C | 19.0°C | -10.0°C | 145 mm | 82% | 3.7 m/s | 2 |
| 1998 | 8.3°C | 4.5°C | 0.6°C | 18.7°C | -5.6°C | 153 mm | 87% | 3.4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1997 | 3.9°C | 0.1°C | -3.6°C | 15.6°C | -12.9°C | 70 mm | 85% | 3.9 m/s | 2 |
| 1996 | 2.7°C | -1.3°C | -5.3°C | 16.0°C | -16.5°C | 133 mm | 89% | 3.9 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1995 | 6.8°C | 3.2°C | -0.4°C | 18.3°C | -8.2°C | 84 mm | 82% | 3.8 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1994 | 1.2°C | -2.8°C | -6.8°C | 12.7°C | -20.7°C | 124 mm | 87% | 3.8 m/s | 2 |
| 1993 | 6.2°C | 2.7°C | -0.9°C | 15.8°C | -5.0°C | 75 mm | 84% | 3.4 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1992 | 6.1°C | 2.0°C | -2.1°C | 17.3°C | -9.7°C | 41 mm | 81% | 3.7 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1991 | 5.8°C | 1.8°C | -2.2°C | 16.7°C | -8.9°C | 120 mm | 83% | 3.4 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1990 | 8.2°C | 4.0°C | -0.3°C | 16.4°C | -4.0°C | 89 mm | 87% | 3.3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1989 | 6.5°C | 2.5°C | -1.5°C | 11.4°C | -9.2°C | 70 mm | 83% | 3.1 m/s | 2 |
| 1988 | 1.9°C | -2.0°C | -5.9°C | 13.0°C | -13.5°C | 86 mm | 83% | 3.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1987 🌧️ | 2.3°C | -1.2°C | -4.6°C | 12.7°C | -18.3°C | 155 mm | 90% | 3.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1986 | 4.0°C | 0.0°C | -4.0°C | 12.9°C | -11.6°C | 96 mm | 81% | 3.6 m/s | 2 |
| 1985 | 1.5°C | -2.4°C | -6.4°C | 17.5°C | -19.7°C | 73 mm | 81% | 3.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1984 | 1.0°C | -3.1°C | -7.1°C | 9.0°C | -20.8°C | 65 mm | 90% | 2.7 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1983 | 5.2°C | 1.5°C | -2.3°C | 12.2°C | -11.0°C | 54 mm | 83% | 3.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 ❄️ | 0.9°C | -3.3°C | -7.4°C | 16.4°C | -18.3°C | 83 mm | 83% | 4.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 1.2°C | -2.9°C | -6.9°C | 9.8°C | -15.7°C | 12 mm | 78% | 3.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 4.7°C with lows near -3.2°C (mean 0.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 81 mm of rainfall in Dover, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 155 mm in 1987.
The hottest January reached 20.2°C in 2002. The coldest dipped to -20.8°C in 1984.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 3.8°C. Daytime highs moved from 2°C to 5.7°C and overnight lows from -6°C to -2°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Dover and one of the drier months, so plan for around 4.7°C daytime highs and -3.2°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Dover, averaging 0.8°C.
For January in Dover, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 4.7°C and lows of -3.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 83% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 3.5 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 4.2 m/s (2000).
The wettest January on record was 1987 with 155 mm. On average, January sees 81 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 Dover 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.
