January is one of the cooler months of the year in Plymouth, with average highs near 2.2°C and lows around -3.6°C (mean -0.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 101 mm of rainfall and 85% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Plymouth. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Plymouth was 2023 — when the month averaged 3.3°C — while the coldest was 1981 at -5.6°C. Typical January days reach 2.2°C with nights near -3.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.6°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Plymouth, averaging 101 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2023 with 197 mm, while the driest was 1989 at 39 mm.
Relative humidity in Plymouth during January averages 85%. The most humid January was 1982 at 91%, and the least humid was 2025 at 78%.
January receives about 1.8 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Plymouth. The sunniest January was 2012 at 2.1 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 1.4.
Average wind speed in Plymouth during January is 3.6 m/s. The windiest January was 1982 at 4.1 m/s, while the calmest were 1990 and 2001 at 3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -2.1°C | -0.4°C | -0.9°C | -0.4°C | 0.7°C | +2.8°C |
| Avg High | 1.0°C | 2.6°C | 2.0°C | 2.5°C | 3.4°C | +2.4°C |
| Avg Low | -5.2°C | -3.3°C | -3.7°C | -3.3°C | -2.0°C | +3.2°C |
| Avg Rain | 93 mm | 117 mm | 92 mm | 100 mm | 106 mm | +13 mm |
January temperatures in Plymouth have risen by about 3.4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -19.7°C (1994) to a record high of 14.5°C (2007).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 101 mm, with a wettest year of 197 mm.
A quieter season to visit Plymouth
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Plymouth. That said, January — with days averaging 2.2°C and nights around -3.6°C (mean -0.7°C) and higher rainfall (101 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 | 1.3°C | -1.3°C | -3.8°C | 9.2°C | -8.8°C | 56 mm | 78% | 3.9 m/s | 2 |
| 2024 | 3.4°C | 1.0°C | -1.5°C | 12.2°C | -8.3°C | 186 mm | 84% | 3.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2023 🔥 🌧️ | 5.8°C | 3.3°C | 0.8°C | 11.2°C | -2.7°C | 197 mm | 88% | 3.3 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2022 | 2.1°C | -1.2°C | -4.6°C | 10.2°C | -11.7°C | 94 mm | 82% | 3.8 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2021 | 2.9°C | 0.4°C | -2.0°C | 9.9°C | -10.9°C | 56 mm | 84% | 3.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2020 | 4.6°C | 1.9°C | -0.9°C | 14.5°C | -8.9°C | 47 mm | 84% | 3.2 m/s | 2 |
| 2019 | 2.2°C | -1.0°C | -4.3°C | 11.9°C | -14.6°C | 133 mm | 83% | 3.8 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2018 | 1.6°C | -1.3°C | -4.2°C | 12.5°C | -16.0°C | 126 mm | 86% | 3.9 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2017 | 4.6°C | 2.2°C | -0.2°C | 11.8°C | -10.6°C | 122 mm | 83% | 3.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2016 | 3.6°C | 0.8°C | -1.9°C | 12.8°C | -7.3°C | 91 mm | 82% | 3.8 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2015 | 0.9°C | -2.1°C | -5.2°C | 9.3°C | -15.3°C | 99 mm | 85% | 4 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2014 | 1.6°C | -1.8°C | -5.1°C | 10.9°C | -14.1°C | 105 mm | 86% | 3.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2013 | 3.1°C | 0.3°C | -2.5°C | 13.4°C | -12.6°C | 50 mm | 83% | 3.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2012 | 4.9°C | 1.7°C | -1.6°C | 10.9°C | -9.5°C | 84 mm | 83% | 3.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2011 | 0.7°C | -1.9°C | -4.6°C | 9.0°C | -15.9°C | 96 mm | 86% | 3.3 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2010 | 1.7°C | -1.0°C | -3.7°C | 11.8°C | -12.5°C | 91 mm | 86% | 3.7 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2009 | -0.1°C | -3.0°C | -5.9°C | 7.5°C | -11.8°C | 103 mm | 86% | 3.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2008 | 3.6°C | 0.6°C | -2.4°C | 12.6°C | -10.6°C | 79 mm | 84% | 3.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2007 | 3.9°C | 0.9°C | -2.0°C | 14.5°C | -13.3°C | 94 mm | 83% | 3.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2006 | 5.4°C | 2.7°C | 0.0°C | 12.4°C | -9.6°C | 156 mm | 88% | 3.5 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2005 | 1.2°C | -1.5°C | -4.2°C | 12.1°C | -13.0°C | 116 mm | 88% | 3.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2004 | -2.5°C | -5.2°C | -7.9°C | 8.5°C | -18.8°C | 43 mm | 86% | 4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2003 | -0.7°C | -3.4°C | -6.1°C | 5.4°C | -14.1°C | 65 mm | 86% | 3.9 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2002 | 5.1°C | 2.5°C | -0.2°C | 12.7°C | -4.5°C | 95 mm | 84% | 3.3 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2001 | 2.0°C | -0.7°C | -3.4°C | 8.1°C | -8.0°C | 76 mm | 86% | 3 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2000 | 1.8°C | -1.6°C | -5.1°C | 13.1°C | -14.8°C | 98 mm | 85% | 4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1999 | 3.4°C | 0.0°C | -3.4°C | 12.0°C | -12.7°C | 138 mm | 82% | 3.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1998 | 4.3°C | 2.0°C | -0.3°C | 11.1°C | -11.1°C | 185 mm | 86% | 3.5 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1997 | 2.2°C | -0.9°C | -4.0°C | 9.3°C | -14.5°C | 85 mm | 84% | 4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1996 | 1.9°C | -1.4°C | -4.6°C | 11.9°C | -16.1°C | 149 mm | 88% | 3.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1995 | 4.4°C | 1.9°C | -0.5°C | 12.7°C | -9.0°C | 93 mm | 85% | 3.4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1994 | -0.6°C | -4.2°C | -7.9°C | 9.3°C | -19.7°C | 141 mm | 90% | 3.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1993 | 2.6°C | -0.3°C | -3.1°C | 12.0°C | -10.0°C | 68 mm | 83% | 3.4 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1992 | 2.1°C | -1.1°C | -4.2°C | 10.6°C | -12.8°C | 78 mm | 84% | 3.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1991 | 2.1°C | -1.0°C | -4.0°C | 7.8°C | -10.9°C | 94 mm | 83% | 3.5 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1990 | 4.1°C | 1.4°C | -1.3°C | 10.4°C | -7.0°C | 142 mm | 87% | 3 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1989 | 3.7°C | 0.5°C | -2.6°C | 8.9°C | -13.0°C | 39 mm | 82% | 3.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1988 | 0.5°C | -2.5°C | -5.5°C | 7.1°C | -16.1°C | 81 mm | 87% | 3.4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1987 | 1.6°C | -1.2°C | -4.1°C | 7.4°C | -11.6°C | 175 mm | 87% | 3.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1986 | 2.6°C | -0.8°C | -4.2°C | 9.6°C | -16.1°C | 147 mm | 83% | 3.9 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1985 | -0.4°C | -3.4°C | -6.4°C | 9.2°C | -12.2°C | 40 mm | 84% | 3.7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1984 | 0.9°C | -1.8°C | -4.5°C | 7.4°C | -15.3°C | 76 mm | 89% | 3.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1983 | 3.0°C | 0.3°C | -2.5°C | 11.7°C | -12.9°C | 109 mm | 84% | 3.4 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -0.9°C | -4.6°C | -8.3°C | 12.2°C | -16.8°C | 125 mm | 91% | 4.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 ❄️ | -2.1°C | -5.6°C | -9.0°C | 5.9°C | -17.1°C | 43 mm | 87% | 3.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 2.2°C with lows near -3.6°C (mean -0.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 101 mm of rainfall in Plymouth, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 197 mm in 2023.
The hottest January reached 14.5°C in 2007. The coldest dipped to -19.7°C in 1994.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 3.4°C. Daytime highs moved from 0.1°C to 3.1°C and overnight lows from -6.1°C to -2.2°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Plymouth and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 2.2°C daytime highs and -3.6°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Plymouth, averaging -0.7°C.
For January in Plymouth, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 2.2°C and lows of -3.6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 85% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 3.6 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 4.1 m/s (1982).
The wettest January on record was 2023 with 197 mm. On average, January sees 101 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 Plymouth 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.
