January is one of the cooler months of the year in Wichita, with average highs near 6.1°C and lows around -4.8°C (mean 0.6°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 23 mm of rainfall and 73% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Wichita. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Wichita was 2006 — when the month averaged 6.5°C — while the coldest was 1985 at -3.6°C. Typical January days reach 6.1°C with nights near -4.8°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
January is one of the drier months in Wichita, averaging 23 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2017 with 72 mm, while the driest was 1986 at 0 mm.
Relative humidity in Wichita during January averages 73%. The most humid January was 2005 at 88%, and the least humid was 2022 at 61%.
January receives about 2.5 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Wichita. The sunniest January was 2012 at 3.1 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1993 and 2005 at 2.
Average wind speed in Wichita during January is 3.3 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 1996 and 2014 at 4 m/s, while the calmest was 2001 at 2.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 0.0°C | 0.4°C | 1.0°C | 0.9°C | 0.9°C | +0.9°C |
| Avg High | 5.6°C | 5.6°C | 6.5°C | 6.4°C | 6.3°C | +0.7°C |
| Avg Low | -5.6°C | -4.9°C | -4.5°C | -4.6°C | -4.5°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 18 mm | 23 mm | 27 mm | 18 mm | 31 mm | +13 mm |
January temperatures in Wichita have risen by about 1.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -21.7°C (2005) to a record high of 23.3°C (2013).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 23 mm, with a wettest year of 72 mm.
A quieter season to visit Wichita
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of September and May tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Wichita. That said, January — with days averaging 6.1°C and nights around -4.8°C (mean 0.6°C) and low rainfall (23 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 | 3.8°C | -1.3°C | -6.4°C | 12.4°C | -16.4°C | 22 mm | 72% | 3.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2024 | 3.8°C | -1.4°C | -6.5°C | 19.4°C | -19.1°C | 36 mm | 79% | 3.1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2023 | 8.8°C | 3.1°C | -2.7°C | 16.5°C | -11.4°C | 29 mm | 71% | 3.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2022 | 6.9°C | 0.9°C | -5.0°C | 17.2°C | -11.8°C | 3 mm | 61% | 3.4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2021 | 7.2°C | 2.0°C | -3.2°C | 12.5°C | -9.3°C | 54 mm | 76% | 3.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2020 | 7.2°C | 2.0°C | -3.2°C | 14.7°C | -8.1°C | 43 mm | 79% | 3.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2019 | 5.8°C | 0.7°C | -4.4°C | 15.4°C | -10.7°C | 30 mm | 79% | 3.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2018 | 6.6°C | 0.5°C | -5.5°C | 16.8°C | -16.4°C | 6 mm | 65% | 3.7 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2017 🌧️ | 7.3°C | 2.2°C | -2.9°C | 18.7°C | -11.9°C | 72 mm | 72% | 3.4 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2016 | 5.5°C | 0.7°C | -4.1°C | 18.8°C | -11.7°C | 10 mm | 78% | 3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2015 | 7.1°C | 1.3°C | -4.4°C | 19.9°C | -13.5°C | 20 mm | 64% | 3.1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2014 | 5.9°C | -0.1°C | -6.0°C | 16.8°C | -18.1°C | 3 mm | 62% | 4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2013 | 8.1°C | 2.4°C | -3.4°C | 23.3°C | -8.5°C | 14 mm | 68% | 3.2 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2012 | 9.9°C | 3.5°C | -2.9°C | 17.1°C | -8.4°C | 3 mm | 64% | 3.5 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2011 | 4.4°C | -0.9°C | -6.2°C | 16.7°C | -15.7°C | 8 mm | 72% | 3.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2010 | 3.3°C | -1.4°C | -6.0°C | 13.9°C | -18.6°C | 18 mm | 82% | 3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2009 | 5.6°C | 0.0°C | -5.6°C | 16.1°C | -12.4°C | 2 mm | 71% | 3.5 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2008 | 6.7°C | 0.8°C | -5.1°C | 19.5°C | -13.5°C | 14 mm | 72% | 3.9 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2007 | 4.6°C | -0.7°C | -6.0°C | 18.0°C | -16.1°C | 41 mm | 75% | 3.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2006 🔥 | 13.0°C | 6.5°C | -0.1°C | 19.9°C | -4.3°C | 7 mm | 62% | 3.7 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2005 | 3.0°C | -1.9°C | -6.8°C | 19.0°C | -21.7°C | 71 mm | 88% | 2.8 m/s | 2 |
| 2004 | 5.4°C | 0.3°C | -4.9°C | 17.0°C | -15.7°C | 47 mm | 74% | 3.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2003 | 5.8°C | 0.5°C | -4.9°C | 17.9°C | -14.3°C | 3 mm | 71% | 3.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2002 | 7.9°C | 2.2°C | -3.5°C | 19.1°C | -12.0°C | 34 mm | 63% | 3.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2001 | 5.7°C | 0.6°C | -4.5°C | 11.7°C | -12.5°C | 33 mm | 81% | 2.7 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2000 | 7.0°C | 1.6°C | -3.8°C | 18.0°C | -10.5°C | 19 mm | 75% | 2.9 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1999 | 5.2°C | 0.1°C | -5.0°C | 15.7°C | -15.6°C | 58 mm | 80% | 3.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1998 | 6.8°C | 1.9°C | -2.9°C | 17.0°C | -12.2°C | 36 mm | 84% | 3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1997 | 4.8°C | -0.5°C | -5.8°C | 16.5°C | -15.3°C | 5 mm | 72% | 3.5 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1996 | 4.0°C | -1.2°C | -6.5°C | 15.5°C | -15.9°C | 3 mm | 67% | 4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1995 | 6.5°C | 1.0°C | -4.4°C | 16.4°C | -12.7°C | 15 mm | 77% | 3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1994 | 4.0°C | -0.9°C | -5.7°C | 13.5°C | -14.0°C | 7 mm | 75% | 3.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1993 | 3.2°C | -1.4°C | -5.9°C | 11.8°C | -16.1°C | 31 mm | 83% | 2.9 m/s | 2 |
| 1992 | 8.4°C | 2.9°C | -2.7°C | 16.5°C | -9.8°C | 21 mm | 76% | 3.2 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1991 | 3.6°C | -1.6°C | -6.9°C | 10.8°C | -13.5°C | 12 mm | 75% | 2.8 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1990 | 9.2°C | 3.2°C | -2.8°C | 17.1°C | -8.9°C | 41 mm | 71% | 3.5 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1989 | 10.2°C | 3.8°C | -2.6°C | 19.2°C | -6.8°C | 20 mm | 65% | 3.3 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1988 | 3.1°C | -2.1°C | -7.3°C | 17.2°C | -17.0°C | 22 mm | 80% | 3.4 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1987 | 5.0°C | 0.0°C | -5.1°C | 13.7°C | -13.8°C | 36 mm | 81% | 3.2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1986 | 9.3°C | 2.9°C | -3.6°C | 19.5°C | -11.4°C | 0 mm | 69% | 3.4 m/s | 3 |
| 1985 ❄️ | 1.8°C | -3.6°C | -9.0°C | 8.8°C | -20.9°C | 14 mm | 76% | 3.4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1984 | 4.6°C | -0.9°C | -6.4°C | 16.0°C | -17.7°C | 6 mm | 79% | 3.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1983 | 5.5°C | 0.7°C | -4.1°C | 14.9°C | -7.4°C | 35 mm | 78% | 3.3 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 3.7°C | -2.3°C | -8.3°C | 15.1°C | -21.5°C | 25 mm | 69% | 3.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 7.5°C | 1.9°C | -3.8°C | 17.6°C | -8.8°C | 5 mm | 64% | 3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 6.1°C with lows near -4.8°C (mean 0.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 23 mm of rainfall in Wichita, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 72 mm in 2017.
The hottest January reached 23.3°C in 2013. The coldest dipped to -21.7°C in 2005.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 1.5°C. Daytime highs moved from 4.6°C to 6.1°C and overnight lows from -6.3°C to -4.8°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Wichita and one of the drier months, so plan for around 6.1°C daytime highs and -4.8°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Wichita, averaging 0.6°C.
For January in Wichita, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 6.1°C and lows of -4.8°C.
Relative humidity in January averages 73% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in January is 3.3 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 4 m/s (1996).
The wettest January on record was 2017 with 72 mm. On average, January sees 23 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 Wichita 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.
