January is one of the cooler months of the year in Manhattan, with average highs near 3.6°C and lows around -6.4°C (mean -1.4°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 22 mm of rainfall and 76% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Manhattan. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Manhattan was 2006 — when the month averaged 4.9°C — while the coldest was 1985 at -6.3°C. Typical January days reach 3.6°C with nights near -6.4°C. The long-term January temperature trend is broadly flat.
January is one of the drier months in Manhattan, averaging 22 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2005 with 47 mm, while the driest was 1986 at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Manhattan during January averages 76%. The most humid January was 2005 at 89%, and the least humid was 1989 at 61%.
January receives about 2.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Manhattan. The sunniest Januarys were 1986 and 2025 at 2.7 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2005 at 1.8.
Average wind speed in Manhattan during January is 3.5 m/s. The windiest January was 2014 at 4.3 m/s, while the calmest were 1993 and 2005 at 2.9 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -1.8°C | -1.7°C | -0.8°C | -1.3°C | -1.4°C | +0.4°C |
| Avg High | 3.3°C | 3.2°C | 4.3°C | 3.8°C | 3.4°C | +0.1°C |
| Avg Low | -6.9°C | -6.6°C | -5.8°C | -6.4°C | -6.3°C | +0.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 18 mm | 24 mm | 20 mm | 18 mm | 34 mm | +16 mm |
January temperatures in Manhattan have risen by about 1.6°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -28°C (2024) to a record high of 20.9°C (2013).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 22 mm, with a wettest year of 47 mm.
A quieter season to visit Manhattan
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of September and June tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Manhattan. That said, January — with days averaging 3.6°C and nights around -6.4°C (mean -1.4°C) and low rainfall (22 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 | 1.2°C | -4.1°C | -9.3°C | 11.9°C | -20.8°C | 40 mm | 77% | 3.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2024 | 0.2°C | -4.6°C | -9.4°C | 16.9°C | -28.0°C | 43 mm | 87% | 3.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2023 | 5.5°C | 0.8°C | -3.9°C | 14.4°C | -12.6°C | 32 mm | 77% | 3.3 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2022 | 4.4°C | -1.1°C | -6.7°C | 15.5°C | -15.7°C | 9 mm | 64% | 3.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2021 | 5.2°C | 0.8°C | -3.6°C | 13.0°C | -12.0°C | 37 mm | 77% | 3.3 m/s | 2 |
| 2020 | 4.0°C | -0.5°C | -5.0°C | 12.3°C | -15.1°C | 44 mm | 83% | 3.5 m/s | 2 |
| 2019 | 3.1°C | -1.7°C | -6.5°C | 13.4°C | -17.6°C | 30 mm | 83% | 3.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2018 | 3.9°C | -1.8°C | -7.5°C | 15.6°C | -20.7°C | 12 mm | 69% | 3.7 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2017 | 4.7°C | 0.1°C | -4.4°C | 15.1°C | -12.9°C | 40 mm | 76% | 3.4 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2016 | 3.1°C | -1.4°C | -5.9°C | 13.8°C | -16.3°C | 20 mm | 83% | 3.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2015 | 5.3°C | -0.4°C | -6.0°C | 17.7°C | -16.3°C | 27 mm | 68% | 3.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2014 | 2.8°C | -3.0°C | -8.9°C | 14.5°C | -22.6°C | 9 mm | 65% | 4.3 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2013 | 5.9°C | 0.6°C | -4.7°C | 20.9°C | -10.8°C | 16 mm | 69% | 3.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2012 | 7.2°C | 1.7°C | -3.7°C | 16.6°C | -11.5°C | 2 mm | 70% | 3.6 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2011 | 1.3°C | -3.7°C | -8.7°C | 12.3°C | -18.4°C | 17 mm | 79% | 3.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2010 | 0.2°C | -3.8°C | -7.9°C | 12.5°C | -22.9°C | 10 mm | 86% | 3.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2009 | 3.4°C | -2.0°C | -7.4°C | 15.0°C | -16.1°C | 1 mm | 73% | 3.7 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2008 | 2.6°C | -2.5°C | -7.5°C | 17.7°C | -21.2°C | 13 mm | 81% | 3.8 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2007 | 2.9°C | -2.0°C | -6.9°C | 13.2°C | -15.5°C | 25 mm | 77% | 3.7 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2006 🔥 | 11.0°C | 4.9°C | -1.3°C | 16.1°C | -5.0°C | 9 mm | 68% | 3.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2005 🌧️ | 0.3°C | -4.3°C | -8.9°C | 18.0°C | -24.3°C | 47 mm | 89% | 2.9 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2004 | 2.7°C | -2.1°C | -6.9°C | 14.1°C | -20.5°C | 24 mm | 74% | 3.6 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2003 | 3.7°C | -1.2°C | -6.0°C | 16.4°C | -17.8°C | 7 mm | 71% | 3.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2002 | 6.2°C | 1.1°C | -3.9°C | 16.8°C | -11.6°C | 30 mm | 65% | 3.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2001 | 4.4°C | -0.5°C | -5.3°C | 12.6°C | -16.2°C | 30 mm | 79% | 3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2000 | 5.4°C | 0.5°C | -4.4°C | 14.7°C | -9.5°C | 8 mm | 71% | 3.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1999 | 2.2°C | -2.1°C | -6.4°C | 9.9°C | -18.9°C | 39 mm | 85% | 3.6 m/s | 2 |
| 1998 | 4.4°C | -0.2°C | -4.8°C | 14.5°C | -14.4°C | 40 mm | 85% | 3 m/s | 2 |
| 1997 | 2.3°C | -2.8°C | -8.0°C | 14.9°C | -18.6°C | 3 mm | 75% | 3.7 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1996 | 1.8°C | -3.4°C | -8.6°C | 14.8°C | -18.3°C | 12 mm | 70% | 4.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1995 | 4.1°C | -0.8°C | -5.6°C | 12.0°C | -15.5°C | 22 mm | 80% | 3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1994 | 0.6°C | -3.9°C | -8.3°C | 9.4°C | -17.2°C | 14 mm | 83% | 3.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1993 | 0.8°C | -3.9°C | -8.6°C | 10.1°C | -18.5°C | 34 mm | 88% | 2.9 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1992 | 6.7°C | 1.6°C | -3.5°C | 16.0°C | -13.2°C | 30 mm | 79% | 3.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1991 | 1.7°C | -3.7°C | -9.0°C | 9.7°C | -16.2°C | 16 mm | 77% | 3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1990 | 7.8°C | 2.2°C | -3.3°C | 15.5°C | -8.0°C | 26 mm | 71% | 3.9 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1989 | 8.9°C | 3.1°C | -2.6°C | 19.8°C | -6.8°C | 21 mm | 61% | 3.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1988 | 1.2°C | -3.7°C | -8.5°C | 14.7°C | -17.0°C | 16 mm | 80% | 3.6 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1987 | 3.8°C | -0.8°C | -5.4°C | 12.3°C | -12.4°C | 25 mm | 81% | 3.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1986 | 6.7°C | 1.0°C | -4.7°C | 15.6°C | -15.5°C | 0 mm | 75% | 3.7 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1985 ❄️ | -0.8°C | -6.3°C | -11.8°C | 8.8°C | -25.7°C | 25 mm | 82% | 3.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1984 | 2.1°C | -2.6°C | -7.3°C | 13.1°C | -18.9°C | 9 mm | 84% | 3.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1983 | 3.1°C | -1.1°C | -5.3°C | 11.9°C | -11.8°C | 31 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -0.7°C | -6.1°C | -11.6°C | 8.8°C | -25.8°C | 28 mm | 76% | 4 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 5.1°C | 0.0°C | -5.0°C | 16.5°C | -11.7°C | 9 mm | 68% | 3.2 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 3.6°C with lows near -6.4°C (mean -1.4°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 22 mm of rainfall in Manhattan, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 47 mm in 2005.
The hottest January reached 20.9°C in 2013. The coldest dipped to -28°C in 2024.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 1.6°C. Daytime highs moved from 1.8°C to 3.3°C and overnight lows from -8.2°C to -6.6°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Manhattan and one of the drier months, so plan for around 3.6°C daytime highs and -6.4°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Manhattan, averaging -1.4°C.
For January in Manhattan, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 3.6°C and lows of -6.4°C.
Relative humidity in January averages 76% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 3.5 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 4.3 m/s (2014).
The wettest January on record was 2005 with 47 mm. On average, January sees 22 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 Manhattan 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.
