Brookline Weather in January (1981–2025)

📍 42.33°N, 71.13°W •
📊

January at a Glance in Brookline

(1981–2025)
Avg High
🔥
0.2°C
Avg Low
❄️
-7.9°C
Avg Temp
🌡️
-3.8°C
Avg Rain
🌧️
93 mm
Avg Humidity
💧
88%
Avg Wind
🌬️
1 m/s
Avg Solar
☀️
1.8
kWh/m²/day
vs Annual
📈
-13.1°C
temp difference
❄️Freezing afternoons🥶Freezing mornings☁️Cloudier skies🌧️Wet month🍃Light winds💦Humid air

Brookline January Weather Overview

January is one of the cooler months of the year in Brookline, with average highs near 0.2°C and lows around -7.9°C (mean -3.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 93 mm of rainfall and 88% relative humidity across the period.

Brookline January Temperature History (1981–2025)

Range

January is one of the cooler months of the year in Brookline. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Brookline was 2023 — when the month averaged 0.4°C — while the coldest was 1982 at -9.5°C. Typical January days reach 0.2°C with nights near -7.9°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.7°C per decade.

1981–1985 vs 2021–2025

Avg Temp-6.9°C→-2.4°C+4.5°C
Max Temp-2.7°C→1.3°C+4°C
Min Temp-11.2°C→-6.2°C+5°C

Trend (per decade)

Avg Temp+0.7°C/decade ↗
Max Temp+0.6°C/decade ↗
Min Temp+0.8°C/decade ↗

Distribution of Avg Temp

-10.0°C–-7.2°C6 yr (13%)
-7.2°C–-4.5°C11 yr (24%)
-4.5°C–-1.7°C17 yr (38%)
-1.7°C–1.0°C11 yr (24%)

Brookline January Rainfall History (1981–2025)

Range

January is about average for rainfall in Brookline, averaging 93 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2024 with 213 mm, while the driest was 1981 at 25 mm.

Brookline January Humidity History (1981–2025)

Range

Relative humidity in Brookline during January averages 88%. The most humid January was 2003 at 96%, and the least humid was 2025 at 79%.

Brookline January Solar History (1981–2025)

Range

January receives about 1.8 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Brookline. The sunniest Januarys were 2009, 2012 and 2025, among others at 2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1984 and 2023 at 1.5.

Brookline January Wind History (1981–2025)

Range

Average wind speed in Brookline during January is 1 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 2000, 2004 and 2025, among others at 1.2 m/s, while the calmest were 2001, 2002 and 2023, among others at 0.9 m/s.

What January Feels Like in Brookline

🌅
Freezing
Morning
🌞
Freezing
Afternoon
🌆
Freezing
Evening
Rain chanceHigh
Outdoor comfort★☆☆☆☆

How January Ranks in Brookline

🥶1st coolest month of the year
🌵2nd driest month of the year
☀️11th sunniest month of the year

Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.

Explore Brookline Weather by Month

Brookline January Averages by Decade

Metric1980s1990s2000s2010s2020sChange
Avg Temp-5.7°C-3.5°C-4.1°C-3.5°C-2.1°C+3.6°C
Avg High-1.4°C0.6°C-0.1°C0.6°C1.6°C+3°C
Avg Low-10.0°C-7.5°C-8.1°C-7.5°C-5.9°C+4.1°C
Avg Rain84 mm114 mm78 mm88 mm102 mm+18 mm

Extreme January Records in Brookline

🔥Warmest January18.0°C2007
🧊Coldest January-25.3°C1994
🌧️Wettest January213 mm2024
🏜️Driest January25 mm1981
🌬️Windiest January1.2 m/s1982

Key Insights for January

✅

January temperatures in Brookline have risen by about 4.5°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.

✅

January has ranged from a record low of -25.3°C (1994) to a record high of 18°C (2007).

✅

Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 93 mm, with a wettest year of 213 mm.

✅

Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.6°C per decade while lows rose 0.8°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Brookline?

A quieter season to visit Brookline

If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Brookline. That said, January — with days averaging 0.2°C and nights around -7.9°C (mean -3.8°C) and higher rainfall (93 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.

See Brookline's complete weather history All 12 months side by side, 1981–2025 records, annual trends and long-term averages in one place. View full history →

Brookline Weather in January — In Depth

☀️ January climate overview

January is one of the cooler months of the year in Brookline, with average highs near 0.2°C and lows around -7.9°C (mean -3.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 93 mm of rainfall and 88% relative humidity across the period.

🌧️ Rain, humidity & wind in January

January averages 93 mm of rainfall in Brookline, about average for rainfall compared with the rest of the year. The wettest January on record saw 213 mm (2024), and the driest just 25 mm (1981). Humidity sits around 88% and average wind speed is 1 m/s, with solar radiation averaging 1.8 kWh/m²/day.

📈 How January has changed

Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 4.5°C. Daytime highs moved from -2.7°C to 1.3°C and overnight lows from -11.2°C to -6.2°C over the same span.
January Weather in Brookline, Year by Year
🔥 warmest❄️ coldest🌧️ wettest
YearAvg HighAvg TempAvg LowHottest DayColdest DayRainfallHumidityWindSolar
20250.0°C-3.7°C-7.4°C7.3°C-15.7°C52 mm79%1.2 m/s2
2024 🌧️1.7°C-1.6°C-4.9°C11.4°C-11.9°C213 mm89%1 m/s1.6
2023 🔥3.8°C0.4°C-3.0°C12.1°C-9.3°C171 mm91%0.9 m/s1.5
2022-0.4°C-5.0°C-9.6°C8.1°C-17.5°C72 mm84%1.1 m/s1.9
20211.4°C-2.3°C-5.9°C8.3°C-15.7°C59 mm86%1 m/s1.9
20203.4°C-0.6°C-4.6°C16.5°C-13.4°C45 mm87%1 m/s1.9
20190.0°C-4.2°C-8.4°C12.2°C-19.4°C138 mm87%1.1 m/s1.9
20180.0°C-4.2°C-8.3°C13.9°C-22.7°C105 mm89%1.1 m/s1.8
20173.2°C-0.3°C-3.7°C13.7°C-15.6°C106 mm86%1 m/s1.7
20162.0°C-1.9°C-5.8°C12.8°C-15.6°C67 mm85%1.1 m/s1.9
2015-1.7°C-6.0°C-10.2°C6.5°C-20.3°C104 mm89%1.1 m/s1.7
2014-0.3°C-4.7°C-9.1°C12.9°C-23.5°C81 mm85%1.1 m/s1.8
20131.5°C-2.6°C-6.6°C14.9°C-19.0°C38 mm84%1 m/s1.9
20123.0°C-1.1°C-5.2°C9.0°C-14.7°C73 mm85%1 m/s2
2011-1.6°C-5.7°C-9.7°C8.9°C-24.3°C85 mm92%1 m/s1.9
20100.0°C-4.2°C-8.4°C11.5°C-16.6°C81 mm90%1.1 m/s1.9
2009-2.9°C-7.5°C-12.0°C1.6°C-21.6°C90 mm94%1 m/s2
20082.3°C-2.0°C-6.3°C15.0°C-16.5°C75 mm87%1 m/s1.8
20072.1°C-1.7°C-5.4°C18.0°C-17.4°C74 mm85%1 m/s1.8
20063.7°C-0.1°C-3.8°C13.1°C-13.1°C123 mm92%1 m/s1.6
2005-1.4°C-5.3°C-9.1°C12.2°C-20.2°C101 mm91%1.1 m/s1.8
2004-4.5°C-8.1°C-11.7°C8.5°C-22.2°C28 mm83%1.2 m/s1.8
2003-4.0°C-8.1°C-12.3°C2.6°C-23.0°C64 mm96%1.1 m/s1.9
20023.9°C0.3°C-3.3°C15.5°C-8.2°C74 mm86%0.9 m/s1.7
20010.2°C-4.0°C-8.2°C5.1°C-13.0°C59 mm92%0.9 m/s1.9
2000-0.6°C-4.8°C-9.1°C14.2°C-18.2°C89 mm85%1.2 m/s1.7
19991.9°C-2.6°C-7.1°C14.9°C-17.6°C161 mm84%1 m/s1.7
19982.3°C-1.3°C-4.9°C14.4°C-17.0°C146 mm91%1 m/s1.6
19970.4°C-3.6°C-7.7°C9.7°C-19.3°C88 mm85%1.1 m/s1.7
1996-1.2°C-5.5°C-9.7°C13.5°C-21.9°C169 mm93%1.1 m/s1.6
19952.9°C-0.6°C-4.0°C15.8°C-12.4°C106 mm88%0.9 m/s1.9
1994-4.2°C-9.1°C-14.0°C9.4°C-25.3°C136 mm95%1 m/s1.7
19930.9°C-3.1°C-7.2°C13.0°C-14.2°C63 mm86%1 m/s1.7
19920.5°C-3.7°C-7.9°C10.3°C-16.7°C77 mm85%1 m/s1.8
1991-0.3°C-4.5°C-8.7°C6.6°C-16.8°C84 mm87%1 m/s1.7
19903.1°C-0.6°C-4.3°C9.8°C-11.2°C111 mm89%0.9 m/s1.7
19892.4°C-1.9°C-6.1°C8.5°C-16.5°C26 mm83%1 m/s1.7
1988-1.5°C-5.8°C-10.1°C7.8°C-20.6°C71 mm91%1 m/s1.8
1987-1.4°C-5.7°C-9.9°C4.9°C-19.2°C158 mm95%1.1 m/s1.7
19860.9°C-3.5°C-7.9°C11.1°C-21.0°C123 mm86%1.1 m/s1.9
1985-2.4°C-6.3°C-10.2°C7.7°C-16.0°C31 mm84%1.1 m/s2
1984-2.4°C-6.6°C-10.9°C5.4°C-24.7°C62 mm94%0.9 m/s1.5
19830.7°C-3.1°C-6.9°C11.6°C-17.7°C129 mm86%1 m/s—
1982 ❄️-4.7°C-9.5°C-14.2°C7.4°C-21.9°C130 mm94%1.2 m/s—
1981-4.6°C-9.2°C-13.8°C5.4°C-21.3°C25 mm88%1 m/s—

Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.

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Brookline January Weather — FAQ

What is the average temperature in Brookline in January?▼

The average high in January is around 0.2°C with lows near -7.9°C (mean -3.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.

Does it rain a lot in Brookline in January?▼

January averages 93 mm of rainfall in Brookline, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 213 mm in 2024.

What was the hottest January on record in Brookline?▼

The hottest January reached 18°C in 2007. The coldest dipped to -25.3°C in 1994.

Has January in Brookline gotten warmer over time?▼

Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 4.5°C. Daytime highs moved from -2.7°C to 1.3°C and overnight lows from -11.2°C to -6.2°C over the same span.

Is January a good time to visit Brookline?▼

January is one of the cooler months of the year in Brookline and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 0.2°C daytime highs and -7.9°C at night.

Is January the coldest month in Brookline?▼

Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Brookline, averaging -3.8°C.

What should I pack for Brookline in January?▼

For January in Brookline, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 0.2°C and lows of -7.9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.

Is Brookline humid in January?▼

Relative humidity in January averages 88% — quite humid.

How windy is Brookline in January?▼

Average wind speed in January is 1 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 1.2 m/s (1982).

Which January had the most rainfall in Brookline?▼

The wettest January on record was 2024 with 213 mm. On average, January sees 93 mm.

Where does this January weather data come from?▼

All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.

Other Massachusetts cities

Explore how the weather in Brookline 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.