January is one of the cooler months of the year in Portland, with average highs near 0.8°C and lows around -4.4°C (mean -1.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 104 mm of rainfall and 86% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Portland. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Portland was 2023 — when the month averaged 2.1°C — while the coldest was 1981 at -6.4°C. Typical January days reach 0.8°C with nights near -4.4°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Portland, averaging 104 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2019 with 253 mm, while the driest was 2004 at 16 mm.
Relative humidity in Portland during January averages 86%. The most humid January was 1982 at 94%, and the least humid was 2025 at 80%.
January receives about 1.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Portland. The sunniest Januarys were 2004 and 2025 at 1.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 1.2.
Average wind speed in Portland during January is 5.2 m/s. The windiest January was 1982 at 5.9 m/s, while the calmest was 2001 at 4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -3.2°C | -2.0°C | -2.1°C | -1.1°C | -0.2°C | +3°C |
| Avg High | -0.5°C | 0.9°C | 0.4°C | 1.4°C | 2.1°C | +2.6°C |
| Avg Low | -5.9°C | -4.9°C | -4.5°C | -3.6°C | -2.4°C | +3.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 86 mm | 119 mm | 76 mm | 130 mm | 112 mm | +27 mm |
January temperatures in Portland have risen by about 3.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -20.2°C (1994) to a record high of 12.4°C (2007).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 104 mm, with a wettest year of 253 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.6°C per decade while lows rose 0.9°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Portland
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Portland. That said, January — with days averaging 0.8°C and nights around -4.4°C (mean -1.8°C) and higher rainfall (104 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 | 0.3°C | -1.7°C | -3.7°C | 6.5°C | -8.2°C | 56 mm | 80% | 5.8 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2024 | 1.9°C | -0.1°C | -2.0°C | 9.7°C | -8.7°C | 176 mm | 82% | 5.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2023 🔥 | 4.1°C | 2.1°C | 0.2°C | 9.6°C | -4.8°C | 188 mm | 85% | 4.9 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2022 | 1.4°C | -1.9°C | -5.2°C | 9.4°C | -13.4°C | 78 mm | 85% | 5.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2021 | 1.8°C | -0.2°C | -2.2°C | 8.4°C | -9.5°C | 68 mm | 82% | 4.8 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2020 | 3.2°C | 0.8°C | -1.6°C | 12.2°C | -9.9°C | 108 mm | 84% | 4.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2019 🌧️ | 0.6°C | -2.3°C | -5.2°C | 8.4°C | -13.6°C | 253 mm | 85% | 5.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2018 | 0.7°C | -1.9°C | -4.5°C | 10.1°C | -15.3°C | 182 mm | 88% | 5.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2017 | 3.3°C | 1.4°C | -0.5°C | 10.3°C | -9.9°C | 144 mm | 82% | 5.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2016 | 2.6°C | 0.4°C | -1.8°C | 11.2°C | -9.9°C | 146 mm | 83% | 5.4 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2015 | 0.3°C | -2.7°C | -5.7°C | 8.3°C | -15.1°C | 154 mm | 85% | 5.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2014 | 0.2°C | -2.4°C | -4.9°C | 8.7°C | -15.0°C | 103 mm | 86% | 5.4 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2013 | 2.3°C | -0.4°C | -3.0°C | 11.8°C | -12.7°C | 38 mm | 83% | 5.3 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2012 | 3.4°C | 0.5°C | -2.4°C | 8.3°C | -10.2°C | 102 mm | 82% | 5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2011 | -0.1°C | -2.3°C | -4.4°C | 6.8°C | -15.7°C | 76 mm | 85% | 4.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2010 | 1.2°C | -1.1°C | -3.3°C | 9.4°C | -11.7°C | 103 mm | 85% | 5.3 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2009 | -1.0°C | -3.7°C | -6.5°C | 3.9°C | -12.2°C | 87 mm | 87% | 5.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2008 | 2.0°C | -0.5°C | -2.9°C | 10.2°C | -12.7°C | 87 mm | 83% | 4.9 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2007 | 1.9°C | -0.5°C | -3.0°C | 12.4°C | -13.1°C | 83 mm | 86% | 5.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2006 | 3.6°C | 1.5°C | -0.6°C | 10.8°C | -10.2°C | 112 mm | 86% | 4.9 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2005 | -0.3°C | -2.8°C | -5.4°C | 9.0°C | -13.9°C | 83 mm | 87% | 5.2 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2004 | -3.7°C | -6.3°C | -8.8°C | 5.8°C | -19.0°C | 16 mm | 88% | 5.6 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2003 | -2.7°C | -5.1°C | -7.5°C | 4.3°C | -15.1°C | 48 mm | 91% | 5.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2002 | 3.2°C | 1.2°C | -0.7°C | 7.0°C | -5.1°C | 89 mm | 84% | 4.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2001 | 0.6°C | -1.8°C | -4.2°C | 4.7°C | -7.8°C | 49 mm | 84% | 4 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2000 | 0.1°C | -2.7°C | -5.6°C | 10.4°C | -15.1°C | 105 mm | 89% | 5.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1999 | 1.7°C | -1.4°C | -4.6°C | 8.9°C | -15.4°C | 166 mm | 85% | 5.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1998 | 1.8°C | -0.7°C | -3.2°C | 6.8°C | -11.1°C | 140 mm | 88% | 4.8 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1997 | 1.2°C | -2.0°C | -5.3°C | 7.4°C | -15.4°C | 119 mm | 85% | 5.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1996 | 0.0°C | -3.0°C | -6.0°C | 10.0°C | -15.5°C | 134 mm | 89% | 5.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1995 | 2.1°C | 0.0°C | -2.1°C | 9.5°C | -11.0°C | 125 mm | 88% | 4.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1994 | -2.7°C | -6.2°C | -9.6°C | 7.3°C | -20.2°C | 139 mm | 93% | 5.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1993 | 1.0°C | -1.9°C | -4.9°C | 9.9°C | -16.1°C | 72 mm | 83% | 4.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1992 | 0.6°C | -2.4°C | -5.5°C | 8.7°C | -15.1°C | 98 mm | 86% | 5.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1991 | 0.1°C | -2.8°C | -5.6°C | 5.7°C | -13.0°C | 86 mm | 85% | 5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1990 | 2.8°C | 0.3°C | -2.3°C | 7.8°C | -11.4°C | 108 mm | 85% | 4.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1989 | 2.0°C | -0.9°C | -3.8°C | 6.0°C | -14.9°C | 39 mm | 83% | 5.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1988 | -0.1°C | -2.7°C | -5.2°C | 5.5°C | -18.3°C | 62 mm | 85% | 5.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1987 | 0.2°C | -2.3°C | -4.8°C | 5.3°C | -10.2°C | 147 mm | 88% | 5.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1986 | 1.3°C | -1.9°C | -5.0°C | 8.7°C | -17.0°C | 152 mm | 87% | 5.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1985 | -1.9°C | -4.3°C | -6.7°C | 5.7°C | -13.5°C | 31 mm | 87% | 5.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1984 | -0.9°C | -3.2°C | -5.4°C | 5.4°C | -14.2°C | 66 mm | 88% | 4.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1983 | 1.4°C | -1.0°C | -3.4°C | 10.6°C | -13.3°C | 120 mm | 84% | 4.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -2.7°C | -6.1°C | -9.6°C | 9.1°C | -16.1°C | 127 mm | 94% | 5.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 ❄️ | -3.6°C | -6.4°C | -9.3°C | 4.5°C | -18.4°C | 25 mm | 90% | 5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 0.8°C with lows near -4.4°C (mean -1.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 104 mm of rainfall in Portland, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 253 mm in 2019.
The hottest January reached 12.4°C in 2007. The coldest dipped to -20.2°C in 1994.
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 -1.5°C to 1.9°C and overnight lows from -6.9°C to -2.6°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Portland and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 0.8°C daytime highs and -4.4°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Portland, averaging -1.8°C.
For January in Portland, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 0.8°C and lows of -4.4°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 86% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 5.2 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 5.9 m/s (1982).
The wettest January on record was 2019 with 253 mm. On average, January sees 104 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 Portland 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.
