January is one of the cooler months of the year in Schenectady, with average highs near -2.2°C and lows around -11.5°C (mean -6.8°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 75 mm of rainfall and 91% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Schenectady. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Schenectady was 2006 — when the month averaged -1.7°C — while the coldest was 1982 at -13.9°C. Typical January days reach -2.2°C with nights near -11.5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.8°C per decade.
January is one of the drier months in Schenectady, averaging 75 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1999 with 143 mm, while the driest was 1981 at 18 mm.
Relative humidity in Schenectady during January averages 91%. The most humid January was 1982 at 99%, and the least humid was 1989 at 84%.
January receives about 1.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Schenectady. The sunniest Januarys were 2003, 2009 and 2016, among others at 1.8 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2023 at 1.2.
Average wind speed in Schenectady during January is 0.6 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 2018, 2019 and 2025, among others at 0.7 m/s, while the calmest were 1984 and 2023 at 0.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -8.9°C | -6.5°C | -6.9°C | -6.3°C | -5.1°C | +3.8°C |
| Avg High | -3.9°C | -1.8°C | -2.3°C | -1.8°C | -0.8°C | +3.1°C |
| Avg Low | -13.8°C | -11.2°C | -11.6°C | -10.8°C | -9.3°C | +4.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 64 mm | 97 mm | 76 mm | 67 mm | 70 mm | +6 mm |
January temperatures in Schenectady have risen by about 4.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -38.7°C (1994) to a record high of 17.6°C (2007).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 75 mm, with a wettest year of 143 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.6°C per decade while lows rose 1°C per decade, narrowing the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Schenectady
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Schenectady. That said, January — with days averaging -2.2°C and nights around -11.5°C (mean -6.8°C) and moderate rainfall (75 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 | -2.5°C | -6.4°C | -10.3°C | 4.5°C | -18.5°C | 38 mm | 85% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2024 | -0.2°C | -3.7°C | -7.2°C | 6.2°C | -16.6°C | 128 mm | 91% | 0.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2023 | 1.6°C | -2.2°C | -6.1°C | 8.9°C | -10.9°C | 106 mm | 92% | 0.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2022 | -3.6°C | -8.7°C | -13.8°C | 4.4°C | -23.3°C | 37 mm | 87% | 0.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2021 | -1.6°C | -6.1°C | -10.6°C | 3.5°C | -22.3°C | 56 mm | 93% | 0.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2020 | 1.2°C | -3.3°C | -7.8°C | 15.4°C | -16.6°C | 52 mm | 89% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2019 | -3.2°C | -7.8°C | -12.5°C | 6.3°C | -27.3°C | 117 mm | 90% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2018 | -2.2°C | -7.1°C | -12.0°C | 14.9°C | -29.6°C | 81 mm | 90% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2017 | 0.6°C | -3.0°C | -6.6°C | 9.4°C | -18.1°C | 76 mm | 89% | 0.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2016 | -0.2°C | -4.5°C | -8.7°C | 10.5°C | -20.6°C | 36 mm | 86% | 0.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2015 | -4.1°C | -8.8°C | -13.5°C | 3.2°C | -21.2°C | 63 mm | 87% | 0.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2014 | -3.2°C | -7.8°C | -12.5°C | 10.0°C | -27.6°C | 68 mm | 85% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2013 | -0.9°C | -5.7°C | -10.4°C | 11.4°C | -28.0°C | 44 mm | 88% | 0.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2012 | 0.8°C | -3.6°C | -8.0°C | 6.3°C | -22.6°C | 73 mm | 89% | 0.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2011 | -4.2°C | -8.7°C | -13.1°C | 4.7°C | -33.1°C | 56 mm | 94% | 0.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2010 | -1.8°C | -6.4°C | -10.9°C | 12.0°C | -20.3°C | 56 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2009 | -5.0°C | -10.2°C | -15.4°C | 1.1°C | -24.4°C | 65 mm | 97% | 0.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2008 | 0.1°C | -4.5°C | -9.2°C | 14.0°C | -26.6°C | 64 mm | 92% | 0.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2007 | -1.0°C | -5.9°C | -10.8°C | 17.6°C | -27.6°C | 104 mm | 94% | 0.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2006 🔥 | 2.7°C | -1.7°C | -6.2°C | 12.1°C | -17.9°C | 120 mm | 92% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2005 | -3.9°C | -8.6°C | -13.3°C | 7.2°C | -27.3°C | 91 mm | 92% | 0.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2004 | -6.7°C | -10.7°C | -14.8°C | 5.9°C | -26.4°C | 40 mm | 88% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2003 | -6.8°C | -12.0°C | -17.2°C | 0.1°C | -29.3°C | 65 mm | 99% | 0.6 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2002 | 2.1°C | -2.0°C | -6.1°C | 11.0°C | -21.4°C | 72 mm | 89% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2001 | -1.6°C | -6.4°C | -11.2°C | 2.7°C | -19.0°C | 37 mm | 96% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2000 | -2.9°C | -7.4°C | -12.0°C | 13.7°C | -23.3°C | 100 mm | 87% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1999 🌧️ | -2.1°C | -6.7°C | -11.4°C | 10.6°C | -23.1°C | 143 mm | 92% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1998 | 0.7°C | -3.8°C | -8.2°C | 14.5°C | -26.2°C | 135 mm | 93% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1997 | -2.4°C | -6.8°C | -11.2°C | 7.2°C | -24.7°C | 72 mm | 88% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1996 | -4.2°C | -9.4°C | -14.5°C | 12.3°C | -31.1°C | 133 mm | 93% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1995 | 1.1°C | -3.0°C | -7.1°C | 15.1°C | -16.1°C | 72 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1994 | -7.7°C | -13.8°C | -19.9°C | 1.4°C | -38.7°C | 109 mm | 97% | 0.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1993 | -0.7°C | -5.4°C | -10.2°C | 11.7°C | -21.0°C | 76 mm | 89% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1992 | -1.1°C | -5.9°C | -10.6°C | 10.8°C | -19.1°C | 55 mm | 87% | 0.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1991 | -2.8°C | -7.5°C | -12.1°C | 3.4°C | -24.6°C | 68 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1990 | 1.5°C | -2.5°C | -6.4°C | 9.2°C | -15.9°C | 111 mm | 91% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1989 | 0.6°C | -4.3°C | -9.1°C | 7.1°C | -20.5°C | 35 mm | 84% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1988 | -3.1°C | -7.8°C | -12.4°C | 6.1°C | -26.2°C | 51 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1987 | -3.9°C | -9.0°C | -14.1°C | 0.8°C | -27.8°C | 104 mm | 98% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1986 | -2.6°C | -7.7°C | -12.7°C | 7.4°C | -27.8°C | 99 mm | 93% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1985 | -4.0°C | -8.1°C | -12.1°C | 6.9°C | -21.1°C | 33 mm | 87% | 0.7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1984 | -5.3°C | -10.4°C | -15.5°C | 2.7°C | -29.4°C | 44 mm | 96% | 0.5 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1983 | -2.1°C | -6.8°C | -11.4°C | 7.0°C | -24.8°C | 92 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 ❄️ | -7.8°C | -13.9°C | -20.0°C | 0.2°C | -33.0°C | 97 mm | 99% | 0.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -6.8°C | -12.0°C | -17.2°C | 2.6°C | -28.6°C | 18 mm | 92% | 0.6 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 -11.5°C (mean -6.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 75 mm of rainfall in Schenectady, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 143 mm in 1999.
The hottest January reached 17.6°C in 2007. The coldest dipped to -38.7°C in 1994.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 4.8°C. Daytime highs moved from -5.2°C to -1.3°C and overnight lows from -15.2°C to -9.6°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Schenectady and one of the drier months, so plan for around -2.2°C daytime highs and -11.5°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Schenectady, averaging -6.8°C.
For January in Schenectady, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -2.2°C and lows of -11.5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 91% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 0.6 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 0.7 m/s (1982).
The wettest January on record was 1999 with 143 mm. On average, January sees 75 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 Schenectady 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.
