January is one of the cooler months of the year in New Bedford, with average highs near 3.2°C and lows around -1.9°C (mean 0.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 95 mm of rainfall and 82% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in New Bedford. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in New Bedford was 2023 — when the month averaged 4.4°C — while the coldest was 1981 at -3.8°C. Typical January days reach 3.2°C with nights near -1.9°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in New Bedford, averaging 95 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2023 with 211 mm, while the driest was 1985 at 36 mm.
Relative humidity in New Bedford during January averages 82%. The most humid Januarys were 1982 and 2023 at 86%, and the least humid was 2025 at 76%.
January receives about 1.8 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in New Bedford. The sunniest January was 2012 at 2.1 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 1.4.
Average wind speed in New Bedford during January is 6.2 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 1986 and 1997 at 7.1 m/s, while the calmest were 1984 and 2001 at 5.1 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -0.6°C | 1.1°C | 0.6°C | 0.7°C | 1.7°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg High | 2.2°C | 3.7°C | 3.1°C | 3.3°C | 4.0°C | +1.8°C |
| Avg Low | -3.3°C | -1.5°C | -1.9°C | -1.9°C | -0.6°C | +2.7°C |
| Avg Rain | 83 mm | 105 mm | 83 mm | 101 mm | 108 mm | +25 mm |
January temperatures in New Bedford have risen by about 3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -16.5°C (1994) to a record high of 13.5°C (2007).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 95 mm, with a wettest year of 211 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.3°C per decade while lows rose 0.5°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit New Bedford
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting New Bedford. That said, January — with days averaging 3.2°C and nights around -1.9°C (mean 0.7°C) and higher rainfall (95 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 | 1.8°C | -0.3°C | -2.5°C | 9.3°C | -7.2°C | 51 mm | 76% | 6.4 m/s | 2 |
| 2024 | 4.1°C | 1.9°C | -0.4°C | 12.7°C | -7.1°C | 178 mm | 82% | 6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2023 🔥 🌧️ | 6.6°C | 4.4°C | 2.2°C | 11.3°C | -1.3°C | 211 mm | 86% | 5.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2022 | 3.2°C | 0.1°C | -2.9°C | 10.2°C | -9.7°C | 97 mm | 80% | 6.3 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2021 | 3.6°C | 1.4°C | -0.8°C | 10.1°C | -10.1°C | 60 mm | 82% | 5.9 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2020 | 4.9°C | 2.7°C | 0.5°C | 12.9°C | -7.3°C | 50 mm | 82% | 5.5 m/s | 2 |
| 2019 | 3.1°C | 0.1°C | -2.8°C | 11.7°C | -13.1°C | 148 mm | 81% | 6.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2018 | 2.3°C | -0.3°C | -2.9°C | 11.4°C | -14.9°C | 136 mm | 85% | 6.7 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2017 | 5.0°C | 3.0°C | 0.9°C | 9.9°C | -9.2°C | 139 mm | 83% | 5.9 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2016 | 4.1°C | 1.9°C | -0.4°C | 12.6°C | -5.9°C | 105 mm | 80% | 6.4 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2015 | 2.1°C | -0.7°C | -3.6°C | 11.0°C | -13.7°C | 110 mm | 82% | 6.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2014 | 2.5°C | -0.5°C | -3.5°C | 10.9°C | -12.4°C | 87 mm | 83% | 6.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2013 | 3.7°C | 1.3°C | -1.2°C | 12.8°C | -10.9°C | 47 mm | 82% | 5.9 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2012 | 6.0°C | 3.1°C | 0.2°C | 11.9°C | -8.0°C | 81 mm | 81% | 6.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2011 | 1.6°C | -0.7°C | -2.9°C | 9.0°C | -13.5°C | 79 mm | 81% | 5.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2010 | 2.2°C | -0.1°C | -2.4°C | 11.1°C | -10.8°C | 74 mm | 83% | 6.1 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2009 | 1.4°C | -1.3°C | -3.9°C | 9.0°C | -10.3°C | 84 mm | 81% | 5.9 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2008 | 4.2°C | 1.7°C | -0.7°C | 11.9°C | -8.8°C | 59 mm | 80% | 6.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2007 | 5.1°C | 2.4°C | -0.3°C | 13.5°C | -11.7°C | 91 mm | 81% | 6.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2006 | 6.1°C | 3.8°C | 1.5°C | 12.4°C | -8.2°C | 135 mm | 86% | 6.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2005 | 2.4°C | -0.2°C | -2.7°C | 10.5°C | -11.4°C | 97 mm | 85% | 6.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2004 | -1.1°C | -3.6°C | -6.1°C | 8.7°C | -16.5°C | 51 mm | 86% | 7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2003 | 0.8°C | -1.7°C | -4.2°C | 7.1°C | -12.5°C | 59 mm | 82% | 6.9 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2002 | 6.1°C | 4.0°C | 2.0°C | 10.1°C | -2.6°C | 97 mm | 80% | 6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2001 | 2.6°C | 0.5°C | -1.6°C | 8.8°C | -6.8°C | 71 mm | 82% | 5.1 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2000 | 3.0°C | -0.1°C | -3.3°C | 13.0°C | -13.1°C | 91 mm | 83% | 7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1999 | 4.5°C | 1.5°C | -1.5°C | 12.0°C | -10.7°C | 114 mm | 80% | 6.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1998 | 5.0°C | 3.1°C | 1.3°C | 10.6°C | -9.0°C | 180 mm | 85% | 6.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1997 | 3.4°C | 0.6°C | -2.2°C | 9.6°C | -12.7°C | 84 mm | 81% | 7.1 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1996 | 2.8°C | -0.2°C | -3.2°C | 11.8°C | -13.8°C | 126 mm | 86% | 6.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1995 | 5.1°C | 3.1°C | 1.0°C | 12.2°C | -7.4°C | 68 mm | 83% | 6.3 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1994 | 0.9°C | -2.3°C | -5.6°C | 9.0°C | -16.5°C | 123 mm | 86% | 6.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1993 | 3.6°C | 1.1°C | -1.3°C | 12.4°C | -7.1°C | 59 mm | 81% | 6.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1992 | 3.2°C | 0.5°C | -2.2°C | 11.5°C | -10.9°C | 73 mm | 81% | 6.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1991 | 3.7°C | 1.0°C | -1.6°C | 8.3°C | -9.1°C | 80 mm | 80% | 6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1990 | 5.0°C | 2.7°C | 0.4°C | 10.6°C | -4.4°C | 139 mm | 86% | 5.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1989 | 4.5°C | 1.8°C | -0.8°C | 8.9°C | -11.2°C | 40 mm | 81% | 6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1988 | 1.7°C | -0.8°C | -3.3°C | 7.1°C | -13.9°C | 78 mm | 83% | 5.8 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1987 | 2.8°C | 0.4°C | -2.1°C | 9.2°C | -8.2°C | 158 mm | 83% | 6.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1986 | 3.8°C | 0.9°C | -2.0°C | 10.3°C | -13.6°C | 127 mm | 81% | 7.1 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1985 | 0.9°C | -1.8°C | -4.4°C | 10.5°C | -10.4°C | 36 mm | 81% | 6.4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1984 | 2.1°C | -0.3°C | -2.6°C | 8.3°C | -12.6°C | 74 mm | 84% | 5.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1983 | 3.9°C | 1.5°C | -0.9°C | 11.4°C | -11.5°C | 89 mm | 82% | 5.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 0.4°C | -3.1°C | -6.6°C | 11.7°C | -15.7°C | 106 mm | 86% | 7 m/s | — |
| 1981 ❄️ | -0.7°C | -3.8°C | -6.9°C | 5.4°C | -14.8°C | 42 mm | 84% | 5.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 3.2°C with lows near -1.9°C (mean 0.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 95 mm of rainfall in New Bedford, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 211 mm in 2023.
The hottest January reached 13.5°C in 2007. The coldest dipped to -16.5°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°C. Daytime highs moved from 1.3°C to 3.9°C and overnight lows from -4.3°C to -0.9°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in New Bedford and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 3.2°C daytime highs and -1.9°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in New Bedford, averaging 0.7°C.
For January in New Bedford, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 3.2°C and lows of -1.9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 82% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 6.2 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 7.1 m/s (1986).
The wettest January on record was 2023 with 211 mm. On average, January sees 95 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 New Bedford 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.
