January is one of the cooler months of the year in Scranton, with average highs near -1.6°C and lows around -9.5°C (mean -5.5°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 72 mm of rainfall and 90% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Scranton. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Scranton was 2023 — when the month averaged -0.5°C — while the coldest was 1994 at -11.8°C. Typical January days reach -1.6°C with nights near -9.5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.6°C per decade.
January is one of the drier months in Scranton, averaging 72 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1996 with 178 mm, while the driest was 1981 at 20 mm.
Relative humidity in Scranton during January averages 90%. The most humid January was 1994 at 99%, and the least humid were 2016 and 2025 at 84%.
January receives about 1.6 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Scranton. The sunniest January was 1985 at 1.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2023 at 1.3.
Average wind speed in Scranton during January is 0.8 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 1997, 2000 and 2004, among others at 0.9 m/s, while the calmest were 1984, 2001 and 2011 at 0.6 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -7.2°C | -5.0°C | -5.4°C | -5.6°C | -4.1°C | +3.1°C |
| Avg High | -3.2°C | -1.0°C | -1.6°C | -1.7°C | -0.4°C | +2.8°C |
| Avg Low | -11.3°C | -9.1°C | -9.3°C | -9.5°C | -7.8°C | +3.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 52 mm | 94 mm | 73 mm | 69 mm | 72 mm | +20 mm |
January temperatures in Scranton have risen by about 3.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -28.5°C (1984) to a record high of 16.8°C (1998).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 72 mm, with a wettest year of 178 mm.
A quieter season to visit Scranton
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Scranton. That said, January — with days averaging -1.6°C and nights around -9.5°C (mean -5.5°C) and moderate rainfall (72 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 | -3.0°C | -6.4°C | -9.8°C | 4.2°C | -20.0°C | 35 mm | 84% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2024 | 0.5°C | -3.0°C | -6.6°C | 11.8°C | -13.1°C | 161 mm | 92% | 0.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2023 🔥 | 2.9°C | -0.5°C | -3.8°C | 10.6°C | -10.1°C | 88 mm | 92% | 0.7 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2022 | -3.0°C | -7.5°C | -12.0°C | 9.8°C | -21.0°C | 40 mm | 88% | 0.8 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2021 | -1.3°C | -4.5°C | -7.6°C | 3.8°C | -13.8°C | 44 mm | 92% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2020 | 1.6°C | -2.6°C | -6.8°C | 15.3°C | -17.5°C | 64 mm | 89% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2019 | -2.3°C | -6.3°C | -10.2°C | 8.3°C | -21.7°C | 115 mm | 92% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2018 | -1.7°C | -6.0°C | -10.2°C | 16.7°C | -18.6°C | 86 mm | 87% | 0.8 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2017 | 0.7°C | -2.5°C | -5.7°C | 11.0°C | -17.0°C | 80 mm | 89% | 0.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2016 | -0.5°C | -4.4°C | -8.4°C | 10.6°C | -17.0°C | 52 mm | 84% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2015 | -3.8°C | -8.0°C | -12.1°C | 4.5°C | -18.8°C | 53 mm | 86% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2014 | -3.8°C | -8.2°C | -12.7°C | 8.9°C | -22.5°C | 63 mm | 86% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2013 | -0.8°C | -4.6°C | -8.5°C | 13.7°C | -17.9°C | 60 mm | 91% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2012 | 0.7°C | -3.0°C | -6.7°C | 8.2°C | -16.1°C | 67 mm | 90% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2011 | -3.7°C | -7.2°C | -10.8°C | 6.1°C | -26.0°C | 41 mm | 92% | 0.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2010 | -1.8°C | -5.6°C | -9.3°C | 11.5°C | -17.4°C | 71 mm | 89% | 0.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2009 | -5.0°C | -9.1°C | -13.1°C | 1.5°C | -25.8°C | 59 mm | 94% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2008 | 0.6°C | -3.4°C | -7.3°C | 14.6°C | -14.5°C | 54 mm | 90% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2007 | 1.3°C | -2.4°C | -6.0°C | 15.7°C | -16.2°C | 87 mm | 88% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2006 | 2.6°C | -1.4°C | -5.4°C | 11.1°C | -13.9°C | 127 mm | 93% | 0.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2005 | -3.0°C | -6.9°C | -10.8°C | 13.6°C | -22.5°C | 136 mm | 95% | 0.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2004 | -6.4°C | -9.6°C | -12.8°C | 8.9°C | -21.3°C | 62 mm | 94% | 0.9 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2003 | -5.5°C | -9.2°C | -12.9°C | 0.9°C | -21.9°C | 50 mm | 96% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2002 | 2.2°C | -1.7°C | -5.6°C | 13.6°C | -13.2°C | 49 mm | 89% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2001 | -0.6°C | -4.7°C | -8.8°C | 3.7°C | -14.4°C | 34 mm | 92% | 0.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2000 | -2.1°C | -6.0°C | -9.9°C | 13.0°C | -19.4°C | 72 mm | 87% | 0.9 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1999 | -0.9°C | -5.5°C | -10.1°C | 13.2°C | -18.2°C | 139 mm | 91% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1998 | 2.1°C | -1.9°C | -5.9°C | 16.8°C | -21.2°C | 107 mm | 94% | 0.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1997 | -2.1°C | -5.9°C | -9.8°C | 9.8°C | -23.5°C | 54 mm | 89% | 0.9 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1996 🌧️ | -3.3°C | -7.5°C | -11.8°C | 11.2°C | -22.7°C | 178 mm | 95% | 0.8 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1995 | 0.9°C | -2.8°C | -6.6°C | 13.6°C | -17.3°C | 82 mm | 91% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1994 ❄️ | -7.2°C | -11.8°C | -16.4°C | 0.3°C | -27.9°C | 109 mm | 99% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1993 | 0.1°C | -3.8°C | -7.7°C | 12.2°C | -16.3°C | 58 mm | 89% | 0.8 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1992 | -0.3°C | -4.2°C | -8.0°C | 11.3°C | -17.4°C | 56 mm | 87% | 0.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1991 | -1.3°C | -5.4°C | -9.5°C | 5.3°C | -17.4°C | 56 mm | 89% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1990 | 1.9°C | -1.7°C | -5.3°C | 10.2°C | -11.2°C | 98 mm | 91% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1989 | 1.0°C | -3.3°C | -7.6°C | 8.7°C | -16.1°C | 34 mm | 85% | 0.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1988 | -3.4°C | -7.2°C | -11.0°C | 5.6°C | -19.1°C | 44 mm | 90% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1987 | -3.6°C | -7.4°C | -11.2°C | 4.3°C | -26.7°C | 86 mm | 97% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1986 | -1.4°C | -5.5°C | -9.7°C | 8.9°C | -24.4°C | 78 mm | 89% | 0.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1985 | -3.9°C | -7.5°C | -11.1°C | 11.9°C | -23.9°C | 26 mm | 87% | 0.8 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1984 | -5.1°C | -9.7°C | -14.3°C | 3.2°C | -28.5°C | 36 mm | 97% | 0.6 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1983 | -1.3°C | -5.2°C | -9.2°C | 5.0°C | -18.7°C | 60 mm | 90% | 0.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -5.8°C | -9.9°C | -14.1°C | 6.4°C | -23.7°C | 83 mm | 90% | 0.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -5.4°C | -9.3°C | -13.3°C | 3.3°C | -21.1°C | 20 mm | 91% | 0.7 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around -1.6°C with lows near -9.5°C (mean -5.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 72 mm of rainfall in Scranton, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 178 mm in 1996.
The hottest January reached 16.8°C in 1998. The coldest dipped to -28.5°C in 1984.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 3.9°C. Daytime highs moved from -4.3°C to -0.8°C and overnight lows from -12.4°C to -8°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Scranton and one of the drier months, so plan for around -1.6°C daytime highs and -9.5°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Scranton, averaging -5.5°C.
For January in Scranton, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -1.6°C and lows of -9.5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 90% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 0.8 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 0.9 m/s (1982).
The wettest January on record was 1996 with 178 mm. On average, January sees 72 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 Scranton 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.
