January is one of the cooler months of the year in Billings, with average highs near 2.1°C and lows around -7.6°C (mean -2.7°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 16 mm of rainfall and 72% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Billings. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Billings was 2006 — when the month averaged 1.4°C — while the coldest was 1982 at -8.9°C. Typical January days reach 2.1°C with nights near -7.6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
January is one of the drier months in Billings, averaging 16 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1989 with 37 mm, while the driest was 1992 at 5 mm.
Relative humidity in Billings during January averages 72%. The most humid January was 1993 at 85%, and the least humid was 2002 at 63%.
January receives about 1.8 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Billings. The sunniest Januarys were 1993, 2001 and 2017 at 2.1 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1984 at 1.5.
Average wind speed in Billings during January is 3.5 m/s. The windiest January was 2009 at 4.6 m/s, while the calmest were 1981 and 1995 at 2.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -2.9°C | -3.8°C | -2.2°C | -2.7°C | -1.7°C | +1.2°C |
| Avg High | 2.1°C | 1.1°C | 2.7°C | 2.1°C | 2.9°C | +0.8°C |
| Avg Low | -7.8°C | -8.7°C | -7.1°C | -7.5°C | -6.4°C | +1.4°C |
| Avg Rain | 15 mm | 19 mm | 13 mm | 19 mm | 13 mm | -2 mm |
January temperatures in Billings have risen by about 1.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -30.8°C (2004) to a record high of 17.4°C (2024).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 16 mm, with a wettest year of 37 mm.
A quieter season to visit Billings
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Billings. That said, January — with days averaging 2.1°C and nights around -7.6°C (mean -2.7°C) and low rainfall (16 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 | 0.9°C | -3.6°C | -8.2°C | 9.9°C | -21.8°C | 23 mm | 72% | 3.8 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2024 | 1.5°C | -3.7°C | -9.0°C | 17.4°C | -30.4°C | 9 mm | 71% | 2.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2023 | 3.2°C | -1.2°C | -5.7°C | 10.5°C | -22.9°C | 13 mm | 70% | 3.2 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2022 | 3.4°C | -1.5°C | -6.5°C | 11.0°C | -22.6°C | 12 mm | 65% | 4 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2021 | 4.6°C | 0.2°C | -4.3°C | 11.4°C | -10.6°C | 11 mm | 68% | 3.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2020 | 4.1°C | -0.4°C | -4.9°C | 10.9°C | -17.4°C | 8 mm | 73% | 3.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2019 | 3.6°C | -1.1°C | -5.9°C | 8.5°C | -17.7°C | 17 mm | 73% | 3.6 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2018 | 1.5°C | -3.1°C | -7.7°C | 8.7°C | -24.3°C | 21 mm | 80% | 3.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2017 | -1.2°C | -6.2°C | -11.3°C | 9.3°C | -25.6°C | 18 mm | 78% | 3.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2016 | 3.4°C | -1.2°C | -5.9°C | 14.0°C | -13.6°C | 11 mm | 73% | 3.2 m/s | 2 |
| 2015 | 3.3°C | -2.1°C | -7.4°C | 17.3°C | -19.2°C | 22 mm | 77% | 3.5 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2014 | 3.1°C | -1.8°C | -6.7°C | 10.4°C | -21.1°C | 21 mm | 70% | 4.4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2013 | 2.2°C | -2.6°C | -7.5°C | 12.4°C | -17.2°C | 17 mm | 68% | 3.9 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2012 | 2.8°C | -1.8°C | -6.4°C | 11.7°C | -17.2°C | 20 mm | 66% | 4.2 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2011 | 1.0°C | -3.3°C | -7.7°C | 11.2°C | -21.4°C | 16 mm | 75% | 4.1 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2010 | 1.0°C | -3.7°C | -8.4°C | 8.3°C | -24.0°C | 26 mm | 80% | 2.7 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2009 | 2.2°C | -2.6°C | -7.3°C | 9.8°C | -17.7°C | 16 mm | 68% | 4.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2008 | 0.8°C | -4.4°C | -9.6°C | 7.6°C | -20.9°C | 14 mm | 68% | 3.7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2007 | 1.1°C | -3.7°C | -8.5°C | 10.4°C | -21.9°C | 8 mm | 67% | 4.1 m/s | 2 |
| 2006 🔥 | 5.7°C | 1.4°C | -2.8°C | 10.6°C | -6.7°C | 11 mm | 67% | 3.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2005 | 1.1°C | -3.9°C | -8.8°C | 15.9°C | -23.4°C | 12 mm | 76% | 2.9 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2004 | 0.2°C | -4.8°C | -9.7°C | 7.6°C | -30.8°C | 14 mm | 77% | 3 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2003 | 4.7°C | -0.7°C | -6.1°C | 13.1°C | -17.7°C | 26 mm | 71% | 3.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2002 | 2.8°C | -1.6°C | -6.0°C | 12.4°C | -13.0°C | 13 mm | 63% | 4.1 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2001 | 4.6°C | -0.6°C | -5.8°C | 11.7°C | -11.1°C | 6 mm | 67% | 3.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2000 | 3.3°C | -1.4°C | -6.1°C | 7.5°C | -12.3°C | 15 mm | 65% | 3.2 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1999 | 3.4°C | -1.7°C | -6.8°C | 9.5°C | -15.0°C | 21 mm | 71% | 3.4 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1998 | 1.6°C | -3.4°C | -8.3°C | 9.6°C | -24.4°C | 21 mm | 74% | 3.1 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1997 | -1.6°C | -6.5°C | -11.4°C | 9.2°C | -26.5°C | 29 mm | 80% | 3.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1996 | -2.4°C | -7.2°C | -12.1°C | 10.5°C | -28.1°C | 25 mm | 74% | 3.4 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1995 | 3.5°C | -1.4°C | -6.3°C | 11.0°C | -16.2°C | 19 mm | 75% | 2.5 m/s | 2 |
| 1994 | 2.1°C | -2.6°C | -7.2°C | 8.9°C | -19.0°C | 16 mm | 76% | 3.2 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1993 | -2.9°C | -7.9°C | -12.9°C | 8.2°C | -26.4°C | 21 mm | 85% | 2.7 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1992 | 5.2°C | -0.2°C | -5.6°C | 15.9°C | -15.5°C | 5 mm | 66% | 3.9 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1991 | -0.9°C | -5.8°C | -10.7°C | 9.5°C | -22.3°C | 18 mm | 74% | 3.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1990 | 2.6°C | -1.8°C | -6.2°C | 8.7°C | -16.9°C | 14 mm | 69% | 4.4 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1989 🌧️ | 1.2°C | -3.8°C | -8.8°C | 8.3°C | -21.3°C | 37 mm | 74% | 4.3 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1988 | 0.4°C | -4.7°C | -9.9°C | 10.6°C | -20.4°C | 14 mm | 68% | 3.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1987 | 2.8°C | -1.9°C | -6.6°C | 9.0°C | -17.2°C | 12 mm | 69% | 3.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1986 | 5.8°C | 1.1°C | -3.7°C | 12.3°C | -12.0°C | 11 mm | 68% | 3.5 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1985 | -0.8°C | -6.0°C | -11.2°C | 7.9°C | -24.8°C | 10 mm | 72% | 3.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1984 | 1.9°C | -2.8°C | -7.5°C | 11.4°C | -23.4°C | 15 mm | 76% | 4.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1983 | 4.7°C | 0.0°C | -4.7°C | 10.9°C | -9.3°C | 6 mm | 73% | 3.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 ❄️ | -3.5°C | -8.9°C | -14.2°C | 6.5°C | -26.1°C | 22 mm | 77% | 3.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 6.0°C | 1.3°C | -3.3°C | 13.4°C | -8.7°C | 7 mm | 66% | 2.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 2.1°C with lows near -7.6°C (mean -2.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 16 mm of rainfall in Billings, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 37 mm in 1989.
The hottest January reached 17.4°C in 2024. The coldest dipped to -30.8°C in 2004.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 1.3°C. Daytime highs moved from 1.7°C to 2.7°C and overnight lows from -8.2°C to -6.7°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Billings and one of the drier months, so plan for around 2.1°C daytime highs and -7.6°C at night.
Not quite — January is the 2nd coolest month in Billings, averaging -2.7°C.
For January in Billings, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 2.1°C and lows of -7.6°C.
Relative humidity in January averages 72% — moderately humid.
Average wind speed in January is 3.5 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 4.6 m/s (2009).
The wettest January on record was 1989 with 37 mm. On average, January sees 16 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 Billings 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.
