January is one of the cooler months of the year in Columbus, with average highs near 12.7°C and lows around 1.3°C (mean 7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 113 mm of rainfall and 83% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Columbus. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Columbus was 2017 — when the month averaged 10.8°C — while the coldest was 2014 at 3.1°C. Typical January days reach 12.7°C with nights near 1.3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Columbus, averaging 113 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2017 with 260 mm, while the driest was 1981 at 32 mm.
Relative humidity in Columbus during January averages 83%. The most humid January was 1998 at 89%, and the least humid was 1981 at 70%.
January receives about 2.8 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Columbus. The sunniest January was 2018 at 3.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1991 at 2.1.
Average wind speed in Columbus during January is 0.3 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 2023, 2024 and 2025, among others at 0.3 m/s, while the calmest were 2007, 2013 and 2015, among others at 0.2 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 5.4°C | 7.6°C | 7.4°C | 6.9°C | 7.8°C | +2.4°C |
| Avg High | 11.0°C | 13.1°C | 13.3°C | 12.6°C | 13.7°C | +2.7°C |
| Avg Low | -0.2°C | 2.1°C | 1.6°C | 1.2°C | 2.0°C | +2.2°C |
| Avg Rain | 96 mm | 142 mm | 88 mm | 114 mm | 132 mm | +36 mm |
January temperatures in Columbus have risen by about 2.7°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -17.2°C (1985) to a record high of 25.6°C (2022).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 113 mm, with a wettest year of 260 mm.
A quieter season to visit Columbus
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of May and September tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Columbus. That said, January — with days averaging 12.7°C and nights around 1.3°C (mean 7°C) and higher rainfall (113 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 | 10.8°C | 4.6°C | -1.5°C | 22.2°C | -14.1°C | 88 mm | 78% | 0.3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2024 | 13.1°C | 6.9°C | 0.7°C | 23.9°C | -8.3°C | 172 mm | 80% | 0.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2023 | 16.5°C | 10.6°C | 4.8°C | 23.1°C | -5.0°C | 204 mm | 85% | 0.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2022 | 12.8°C | 6.6°C | 0.5°C | 25.6°C | -6.0°C | 90 mm | 80% | 0.3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2021 | 13.6°C | 8.0°C | 2.5°C | 23.1°C | -4.2°C | 98 mm | 83% | 0.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2020 | 15.5°C | 10.1°C | 4.7°C | 24.2°C | -5.8°C | 140 mm | 85% | 0.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2019 | 13.7°C | 8.1°C | 2.5°C | 21.6°C | -5.4°C | 145 mm | 83% | 0.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2018 | 11.2°C | 5.2°C | -0.9°C | 21.6°C | -7.0°C | 63 mm | 73% | 0.3 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2017 🔥 🌧️ | 16.2°C | 10.8°C | 5.3°C | 23.4°C | -13.5°C | 260 mm | 87% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2016 | 11.2°C | 5.9°C | 0.6°C | 18.2°C | -5.5°C | 84 mm | 84% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2015 | 12.4°C | 6.6°C | 0.8°C | 20.8°C | -9.0°C | 74 mm | 82% | 0.2 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2014 ❄️ | 9.1°C | 3.1°C | -2.9°C | 19.3°C | -9.3°C | 71 mm | 78% | 0.3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2013 | 16.4°C | 10.7°C | 5.1°C | 24.2°C | -2.8°C | 94 mm | 85% | 0.2 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2012 | 15.7°C | 9.7°C | 3.6°C | 21.6°C | -5.3°C | 104 mm | 82% | 0.3 m/s | 3 |
| 2011 | 10.5°C | 4.7°C | -1.1°C | 19.1°C | -6.9°C | 76 mm | 81% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2010 | 9.8°C | 4.6°C | -0.6°C | 21.1°C | -9.4°C | 165 mm | 82% | 0.3 m/s | 3 |
| 2009 | 13.7°C | 7.6°C | 1.6°C | 22.5°C | -6.9°C | 71 mm | 82% | 0.3 m/s | 3 |
| 2008 | 11.5°C | 5.9°C | 0.3°C | 23.0°C | -7.9°C | 122 mm | 81% | 0.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2007 | 13.9°C | 8.1°C | 2.4°C | 23.0°C | -7.0°C | 104 mm | 82% | 0.2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2006 | 16.4°C | 10.5°C | 4.5°C | 23.4°C | -3.2°C | 95 mm | 83% | 0.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2005 | 15.0°C | 9.2°C | 3.4°C | 22.4°C | -6.7°C | 63 mm | 83% | 0.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2004 | 12.9°C | 6.8°C | 0.7°C | 22.1°C | -7.0°C | 84 mm | 80% | 0.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2003 | 10.6°C | 4.7°C | -1.1°C | 17.8°C | -8.3°C | 41 mm | 79% | 0.3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2002 | 14.7°C | 8.7°C | 2.6°C | 25.0°C | -6.6°C | 95 mm | 84% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2001 | 11.3°C | 5.4°C | -0.5°C | 22.1°C | -7.6°C | 82 mm | 83% | 0.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2000 | 13.1°C | 7.4°C | 1.7°C | 22.9°C | -6.2°C | 125 mm | 80% | 0.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1999 | 15.0°C | 8.9°C | 2.7°C | 22.7°C | -7.5°C | 156 mm | 83% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1998 | 14.0°C | 8.9°C | 3.8°C | 21.4°C | -5.5°C | 135 mm | 89% | 0.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1997 | 13.3°C | 8.0°C | 2.6°C | 22.3°C | -7.6°C | 148 mm | 82% | 0.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1996 | 12.4°C | 6.1°C | -0.2°C | 22.6°C | -6.5°C | 142 mm | 85% | 0.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1995 | 13.1°C | 7.1°C | 1.0°C | 21.0°C | -6.4°C | 99 mm | 83% | 0.3 m/s | 3 |
| 1994 | 10.3°C | 4.8°C | -0.6°C | 18.5°C | -9.8°C | 107 mm | 81% | 0.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1993 | 13.9°C | 9.1°C | 4.2°C | 18.4°C | -2.8°C | 101 mm | 88% | 0.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1992 | 11.7°C | 6.7°C | 1.7°C | 19.3°C | -6.4°C | 158 mm | 87% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1991 | 12.4°C | 7.7°C | 3.0°C | 20.0°C | -5.4°C | 217 mm | 87% | 0.3 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1990 | 14.6°C | 8.9°C | 3.2°C | 22.1°C | -4.9°C | 156 mm | 88% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1989 | 15.6°C | 9.6°C | 3.7°C | 22.2°C | -3.0°C | 47 mm | 82% | 0.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1988 | 9.6°C | 4.5°C | -0.7°C | 21.1°C | -6.0°C | 152 mm | 83% | 0.3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1987 | 10.6°C | 5.5°C | 0.4°C | 21.6°C | -6.9°C | 158 mm | 88% | 0.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1986 | 11.9°C | 5.7°C | -0.5°C | 20.1°C | -8.3°C | 37 mm | 80% | 0.3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1985 | 9.1°C | 3.4°C | -2.3°C | 21.5°C | -17.2°C | 93 mm | 79% | 0.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1984 | 10.4°C | 5.0°C | -0.4°C | 16.8°C | -8.0°C | 111 mm | 86% | 0.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1983 | 10.0°C | 5.1°C | 0.2°C | 18.4°C | -5.4°C | 105 mm | 88% | 0.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 10.9°C | 5.2°C | -0.4°C | 21.5°C | -13.7°C | 129 mm | 85% | 0.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 10.6°C | 4.2°C | -2.1°C | 18.2°C | -7.9°C | 32 mm | 70% | 0.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 12.7°C with lows near 1.3°C (mean 7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 113 mm of rainfall in Columbus, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 260 mm in 2017.
The hottest January reached 25.6°C in 2022. The coldest dipped to -17.2°C in 1985.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 2.7°C. Daytime highs moved from 10.2°C to 13.4°C and overnight lows from -1°C to 1.4°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Columbus and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 12.7°C daytime highs and 1.3°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Columbus, averaging 7°C.
For January in Columbus, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 12.7°C and lows of 1.3°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 83% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 0.3 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 0.3 m/s (1981).
The wettest January on record was 2017 with 260 mm. On average, January sees 113 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 Columbus 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.
