January is one of the cooler months of the year in Pittsburgh, with average highs near 1°C and lows around -6.9°C (mean -2.9°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 68 mm of rainfall and 87% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Pittsburgh. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Pittsburgh was 2006 — when the month averaged 2.1°C — while the coldest was 1994 at -8°C. Typical January days reach 1°C with nights near -6.9°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
January is one of the drier months in Pittsburgh, averaging 68 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2005 with 156 mm, while the driest was 1981 at 23 mm.
Relative humidity in Pittsburgh during January averages 87%. The most humid January was 1994 at 96%, and the least humid was 2000 at 82%.
January receives about 1.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Pittsburgh. The sunniest January was 2018 at 1.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2023 at 1.2.
Average wind speed in Pittsburgh during January is 0.7 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 1982 and 1997 at 0.9 m/s, while the calmest were 2001, 2011 and 2021, among others at 0.6 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -4.5°C | -2.5°C | -2.5°C | -3.3°C | -1.7°C | +2.8°C |
| Avg High | -0.5°C | 1.5°C | 1.4°C | 0.8°C | 2.1°C | +2.6°C |
| Avg Low | -8.5°C | -6.5°C | -6.5°C | -7.3°C | -5.5°C | +3°C |
| Avg Rain | 48 mm | 79 mm | 75 mm | 67 mm | 72 mm | +24 mm |
January temperatures in Pittsburgh have risen by about 3.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -32.1°C (1994) to a record high of 19.7°C (2002).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 68 mm, with a wettest year of 156 mm.
A quieter season to visit Pittsburgh
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Pittsburgh. That said, January — with days averaging 1°C and nights around -6.9°C (mean -2.9°C) and moderate rainfall (68 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 | -1.5°C | -5.4°C | -9.3°C | 9.4°C | -21.0°C | 35 mm | 84% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2024 | 2.3°C | -1.3°C | -4.9°C | 14.0°C | -15.0°C | 119 mm | 87% | 0.7 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2023 | 5.4°C | 1.8°C | -1.8°C | 16.4°C | -7.2°C | 105 mm | 89% | 0.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2022 | -0.7°C | -5.0°C | -9.3°C | 12.8°C | -18.4°C | 62 mm | 85% | 0.7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2021 | 2.1°C | -1.4°C | -4.9°C | 7.2°C | -11.4°C | 34 mm | 86% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2020 | 5.2°C | 1.2°C | -2.9°C | 17.3°C | -11.6°C | 75 mm | 85% | 0.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2019 | 1.0°C | -3.3°C | -7.6°C | 14.4°C | -23.0°C | 69 mm | 89% | 0.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2018 | 0.2°C | -4.2°C | -8.6°C | 16.5°C | -18.3°C | 82 mm | 86% | 0.7 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2017 | 4.4°C | 0.7°C | -3.0°C | 17.3°C | -13.0°C | 96 mm | 86% | 0.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2016 | 0.8°C | -3.5°C | -7.7°C | 13.6°C | -14.7°C | 38 mm | 83% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2015 | -0.2°C | -4.5°C | -8.8°C | 11.9°C | -18.1°C | 57 mm | 84% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2014 | -1.2°C | -5.9°C | -10.6°C | 8.4°C | -21.7°C | 43 mm | 83% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2013 | 2.0°C | -1.9°C | -5.8°C | 17.1°C | -17.0°C | 70 mm | 90% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2012 | 3.5°C | -0.6°C | -4.7°C | 11.6°C | -11.1°C | 91 mm | 88% | 0.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2011 | -1.4°C | -5.0°C | -8.7°C | 10.0°C | -17.5°C | 50 mm | 89% | 0.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2010 | -1.3°C | -4.6°C | -7.8°C | 6.3°C | -16.1°C | 72 mm | 90% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2009 | -2.5°C | -6.4°C | -10.3°C | 5.1°C | -22.3°C | 83 mm | 91% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2008 | 2.3°C | -1.7°C | -5.7°C | 17.2°C | -14.0°C | 52 mm | 85% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2007 | 3.8°C | 0.0°C | -3.9°C | 15.1°C | -13.9°C | 87 mm | 85% | 0.8 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2006 🔥 | 6.5°C | 2.1°C | -2.3°C | 16.3°C | -7.0°C | 91 mm | 88% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2005 🌧️ | 1.8°C | -2.4°C | -6.7°C | 17.7°C | -18.5°C | 156 mm | 91% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2004 | -2.6°C | -6.2°C | -9.8°C | 17.0°C | -16.9°C | 103 mm | 88% | 0.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2003 | -2.6°C | -5.9°C | -9.2°C | 7.2°C | -16.0°C | 47 mm | 85% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2002 | 4.9°C | 0.6°C | -3.6°C | 19.7°C | -11.2°C | 48 mm | 87% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2001 | 1.3°C | -2.7°C | -6.7°C | 8.6°C | -11.7°C | 43 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2000 | 1.5°C | -2.6°C | -6.7°C | 14.2°C | -14.2°C | 39 mm | 82% | 0.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1999 | 1.8°C | -2.7°C | -7.3°C | 17.6°C | -19.4°C | 120 mm | 92% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1998 | 4.8°C | 1.2°C | -2.5°C | 16.3°C | -13.5°C | 84 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1997 | 0.7°C | -3.3°C | -7.3°C | 17.9°C | -16.8°C | 51 mm | 85% | 0.9 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1996 | -1.1°C | -5.2°C | -9.3°C | 13.4°C | -18.6°C | 104 mm | 92% | 0.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1995 | 2.2°C | -1.7°C | -5.6°C | 15.9°C | -14.2°C | 58 mm | 88% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1994 ❄️ | -4.2°C | -8.0°C | -11.9°C | 9.3°C | -32.1°C | 83 mm | 96% | 0.7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1993 | 3.3°C | -0.5°C | -4.3°C | 12.6°C | -10.7°C | 65 mm | 85% | 0.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1992 | 2.0°C | -2.1°C | -6.1°C | 9.7°C | -13.4°C | 64 mm | 87% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1991 | 1.0°C | -3.0°C | -7.1°C | 8.6°C | -14.6°C | 79 mm | 90% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1990 | 4.4°C | 0.5°C | -3.4°C | 14.2°C | -10.0°C | 77 mm | 87% | 0.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1989 | 4.3°C | 0.1°C | -4.2°C | 9.9°C | -11.6°C | 58 mm | 85% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1988 | -0.2°C | -4.6°C | -9.1°C | 13.7°C | -19.3°C | 37 mm | 83% | 0.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1987 | -0.2°C | -3.7°C | -7.2°C | 8.3°C | -18.5°C | 59 mm | 92% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1986 | 0.1°C | -3.8°C | -7.7°C | 9.8°C | -15.4°C | 55 mm | 89% | 0.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1985 | -3.0°C | -6.6°C | -10.2°C | 16.2°C | -25.4°C | 41 mm | 90% | 0.8 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1984 | -2.4°C | -6.9°C | -11.3°C | 5.3°C | -27.1°C | 34 mm | 93% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1983 | 2.1°C | -1.6°C | -5.4°C | 7.5°C | -13.1°C | 30 mm | 84% | 0.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -2.4°C | -6.9°C | -11.4°C | 10.7°C | -25.4°C | 99 mm | 86% | 0.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -2.4°C | -6.2°C | -10.0°C | 7.2°C | -18.6°C | 23 mm | 89% | 0.7 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 1°C with lows near -6.9°C (mean -2.9°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 68 mm of rainfall in Pittsburgh, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 156 mm in 2005.
The hottest January reached 19.7°C in 2002. The coldest dipped to -32.1°C in 1994.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 3.3°C. Daytime highs moved from -1.6°C to 1.5°C and overnight lows from -9.7°C to -6°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Pittsburgh and one of the drier months, so plan for around 1°C daytime highs and -6.9°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Pittsburgh, averaging -2.9°C.
For January in Pittsburgh, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 1°C and lows of -6.9°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 87% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 0.7 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 0.9 m/s (1982).
The wettest January on record was 2005 with 156 mm. On average, January sees 68 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 Pittsburgh 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.
