January is one of the cooler months of the year in Ithaca, with average highs near -2.5°C and lows around -9.8°C (mean -6.1°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 64 mm of rainfall and 92% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Ithaca. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Ithaca was 2006 — when the month averaged -1.5°C — while the coldest was 1994 at -12.8°C. Typical January days reach -2.5°C with nights near -9.8°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
January is one of the drier months in Ithaca, averaging 64 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2024 with 123 mm, while the driest was 1981 at 25 mm.
Relative humidity in Ithaca during January averages 92%. The most humid January was 2003 at 99%, and the least humid was 1989 at 85%.
January receives about 1.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Ithaca. The sunniest Januarys were 2015, 2018 and 2022, among others at 1.6 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2023 at 1.1.
Average wind speed in Ithaca during January is 1.1 m/s. The windiest January was 1997 at 1.5 m/s, while the calmest were 1984, 2001 and 2011 at 0.9 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -7.7°C | -5.7°C | -6.0°C | -6.2°C | -4.8°C | +2.9°C |
| Avg High | -3.9°C | -1.9°C | -2.4°C | -2.5°C | -1.4°C | +2.5°C |
| Avg Low | -11.5°C | -9.5°C | -9.6°C | -9.8°C | -8.3°C | +3.2°C |
| Avg Rain | 49 mm | 74 mm | 67 mm | 60 mm | 70 mm | +21 mm |
January temperatures in Ithaca have risen by about 3.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -30°C (1994) to a record high of 16.2°C (2018).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 64 mm, with a wettest year of 123 mm.
A quieter season to visit Ithaca
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Ithaca. That said, January — with days averaging -2.5°C and nights around -9.8°C (mean -6.1°C) and moderate rainfall (64 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 | -4.0°C | -7.0°C | -10.1°C | 2.8°C | -20.1°C | 40 mm | 89% | 1.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2024 🌧️ | -0.3°C | -3.3°C | -6.4°C | 8.8°C | -13.0°C | 123 mm | 91% | 1 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2023 | 1.5°C | -1.7°C | -4.9°C | 9.5°C | -11.5°C | 92 mm | 94% | 1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2022 | -4.5°C | -8.9°C | -13.4°C | 7.8°C | -23.6°C | 46 mm | 92% | 1.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2021 | -1.8°C | -4.8°C | -7.7°C | 2.4°C | -15.6°C | 49 mm | 94% | 1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2020 | 0.8°C | -3.2°C | -7.1°C | 16.1°C | -18.0°C | 68 mm | 91% | 1.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2019 | -3.5°C | -7.4°C | -11.3°C | 7.4°C | -20.5°C | 85 mm | 93% | 1.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2018 | -2.6°C | -6.6°C | -10.6°C | 16.2°C | -20.9°C | 76 mm | 91% | 1.2 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2017 | -0.2°C | -3.2°C | -6.1°C | 9.4°C | -15.3°C | 77 mm | 91% | 1.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2016 | -1.1°C | -4.8°C | -8.5°C | 9.8°C | -15.0°C | 37 mm | 86% | 1.2 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2015 | -4.5°C | -8.6°C | -12.8°C | 6.1°C | -19.6°C | 38 mm | 86% | 1.2 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2014 | -4.9°C | -9.1°C | -13.2°C | 6.3°C | -23.4°C | 53 mm | 89% | 1.2 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2013 | -0.9°C | -4.5°C | -8.0°C | 14.0°C | -19.4°C | 52 mm | 91% | 1.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2012 | 0.1°C | -3.5°C | -7.0°C | 8.2°C | -19.4°C | 78 mm | 91% | 1.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2011 | -4.5°C | -7.6°C | -10.8°C | 6.3°C | -21.2°C | 38 mm | 94% | 0.9 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2010 | -3.0°C | -6.5°C | -9.9°C | 9.3°C | -19.1°C | 64 mm | 93% | 1.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2009 | -5.6°C | -9.5°C | -13.4°C | 1.0°C | -24.2°C | 52 mm | 96% | 1.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2008 | -0.2°C | -3.8°C | -7.4°C | 13.8°C | -15.7°C | 44 mm | 91% | 1.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2007 | -0.3°C | -3.5°C | -6.7°C | 14.4°C | -16.2°C | 88 mm | 91% | 1.2 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2006 🔥 | 2.3°C | -1.5°C | -5.2°C | 10.2°C | -14.3°C | 94 mm | 93% | 1.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2005 | -3.8°C | -7.7°C | -11.7°C | 10.8°C | -23.4°C | 107 mm | 95% | 1.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2004 | -6.8°C | -9.7°C | -12.7°C | 10.4°C | -21.0°C | 60 mm | 95% | 1.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2003 | -6.3°C | -9.9°C | -13.5°C | 0.2°C | -22.6°C | 59 mm | 99% | 1.1 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2002 | 1.6°C | -2.1°C | -5.8°C | 10.8°C | -13.6°C | 62 mm | 90% | 1.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2001 | -1.5°C | -5.1°C | -8.6°C | 2.6°C | -13.4°C | 32 mm | 93% | 0.9 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2000 | -3.2°C | -6.9°C | -10.6°C | 12.6°C | -19.7°C | 74 mm | 89% | 1.4 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1999 | -2.2°C | -6.5°C | -10.7°C | 12.2°C | -20.3°C | 114 mm | 93% | 1.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1998 | 1.3°C | -2.3°C | -5.9°C | 12.5°C | -19.4°C | 102 mm | 94% | 1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1997 | -2.6°C | -6.4°C | -10.2°C | 9.3°C | -21.2°C | 40 mm | 89% | 1.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1996 | -4.1°C | -8.1°C | -12.1°C | 11.1°C | -21.8°C | 102 mm | 94% | 1.3 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1995 | 0.5°C | -2.8°C | -6.2°C | 14.4°C | -16.8°C | 58 mm | 91% | 1.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1994 ❄️ | -8.2°C | -12.8°C | -17.4°C | 0.4°C | -30.0°C | 84 mm | 98% | 1.1 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1993 | -0.9°C | -4.5°C | -8.2°C | 9.4°C | -15.5°C | 59 mm | 92% | 1.1 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1992 | -1.3°C | -5.0°C | -8.8°C | 10.0°C | -17.3°C | 53 mm | 90% | 1.2 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1991 | -2.6°C | -6.4°C | -10.2°C | 3.0°C | -18.0°C | 54 mm | 91% | 1.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1990 | 1.3°C | -2.2°C | -5.6°C | 7.8°C | -11.6°C | 73 mm | 91% | 1.2 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1989 | 0.3°C | -3.9°C | -8.1°C | 7.2°C | -18.2°C | 31 mm | 85% | 1.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1988 | -3.5°C | -7.3°C | -11.1°C | 7.1°C | -20.5°C | 36 mm | 89% | 1.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1987 | -3.8°C | -7.4°C | -11.0°C | 2.4°C | -23.3°C | 78 mm | 97% | 1.1 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1986 | -2.4°C | -6.2°C | -10.0°C | 7.5°C | -19.3°C | 62 mm | 91% | 1.2 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1985 | -4.5°C | -7.8°C | -11.1°C | 9.6°C | -21.8°C | 39 mm | 91% | 1.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1984 | -5.6°C | -9.8°C | -14.0°C | 1.0°C | -28.5°C | 36 mm | 97% | 0.9 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1983 | -2.1°C | -5.8°C | -9.4°C | 4.2°C | -19.0°C | 55 mm | 91% | 1.1 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -6.8°C | -10.7°C | -14.7°C | 3.0°C | -25.3°C | 76 mm | 92% | 1.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -6.7°C | -10.6°C | -14.4°C | 1.7°C | -22.9°C | 25 mm | 96% | 1 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around -2.5°C with lows near -9.8°C (mean -6.1°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 64 mm of rainfall in Ithaca, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 123 mm in 2024.
The hottest January reached 16.2°C in 2018. The coldest dipped to -30°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 -5.1°C to -1.8°C and overnight lows from -12.7°C to -8.5°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Ithaca and one of the drier months, so plan for around -2.5°C daytime highs and -9.8°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Ithaca, averaging -6.1°C.
For January in Ithaca, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -2.5°C and lows of -9.8°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 92% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 1.1 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 1.5 m/s (1997).
The wettest January on record was 2024 with 123 mm. On average, January sees 64 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 Ithaca 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.
