January is one of the cooler months of the year in State College, with average highs near -1°C and lows around -8.7°C (mean -4.8°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 69 mm of rainfall and 90% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in State College. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in State College was 2023 — when the month averaged 0.3°C — while the coldest was 1994 at -10.8°C. Typical January days reach -1°C with nights near -8.7°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.6°C per decade.
January is one of the drier months in State College, averaging 69 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2005 with 145 mm, while the driest was 2025 at 20 mm.
Relative humidity in State College during January averages 90%. The most humid January was 1984 at 99%, and the least humid was 2025 at 84%.
January receives about 1.8 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in State College. The sunniest Januarys were 2008, 2022 and 2025, among others at 2 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2023 at 1.4.
Average wind speed in State College during January is 0.7 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 1982, 1997 and 2004 at 0.9 m/s, while the calmest were 1984, 1998 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 | -6.6°C | -4.5°C | -4.4°C | -5.0°C | -3.3°C | +3.3°C |
| Avg High | -2.6°C | -0.6°C | -0.6°C | -1.2°C | 0.3°C | +2.9°C |
| Avg Low | -10.5°C | -8.4°C | -8.1°C | -8.8°C | -6.9°C | +3.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 53 mm | 85 mm | 73 mm | 65 mm | 64 mm | +12 mm |
January temperatures in State College have risen by about 4°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -29.4°C (1994) to a record high of 17°C (2018).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 69 mm, with a wettest year of 145 mm.
A quieter season to visit State College
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of July and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting State College. That said, January — with days averaging -1°C and nights around -8.7°C (mean -4.8°C) and moderate rainfall (69 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 | -2.7°C | -6.1°C | -9.5°C | 7.1°C | -20.2°C | 20 mm | 84% | 0.8 m/s | 2 |
| 2024 | 0.5°C | -3.0°C | -6.4°C | 11.6°C | -16.3°C | 137 mm | 92% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2023 🔥 | 3.4°C | 0.3°C | -2.7°C | 15.1°C | -9.1°C | 78 mm | 91% | 0.7 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2022 | -2.3°C | -6.7°C | -11.1°C | 10.6°C | -19.6°C | 47 mm | 88% | 0.7 m/s | 2 |
| 2021 | 0.2°C | -3.1°C | -6.4°C | 4.9°C | -11.2°C | 43 mm | 90% | 0.7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2020 | 2.9°C | -1.3°C | -5.5°C | 16.0°C | -13.0°C | 61 mm | 88% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2019 | -1.5°C | -5.7°C | -9.9°C | 11.7°C | -23.3°C | 90 mm | 91% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2018 | -1.3°C | -5.6°C | -9.8°C | 17.0°C | -19.1°C | 69 mm | 88% | 0.8 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2017 | 1.3°C | -1.8°C | -4.9°C | 15.9°C | -14.7°C | 84 mm | 88% | 0.7 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2016 | -0.7°C | -4.7°C | -8.7°C | 11.6°C | -15.6°C | 54 mm | 85% | 0.7 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2015 | -2.5°C | -6.6°C | -10.7°C | 8.5°C | -18.7°C | 47 mm | 86% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2014 | -3.2°C | -7.7°C | -12.2°C | 6.2°C | -23.0°C | 38 mm | 86% | 0.8 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2013 | 0.0°C | -3.7°C | -7.4°C | 14.5°C | -15.6°C | 70 mm | 91% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2012 | 1.2°C | -2.6°C | -6.4°C | 9.5°C | -15.9°C | 86 mm | 90% | 0.8 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2011 | -2.8°C | -6.3°C | -9.7°C | 5.1°C | -18.9°C | 34 mm | 90% | 0.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2010 | -2.1°C | -5.4°C | -8.7°C | 8.3°C | -18.1°C | 76 mm | 91% | 0.8 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2009 | -4.4°C | -8.0°C | -11.7°C | 3.2°C | -22.5°C | 61 mm | 94% | 0.7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2008 | 0.9°C | -3.0°C | -6.8°C | 16.4°C | -14.0°C | 54 mm | 88% | 0.7 m/s | 2 |
| 2007 | 1.8°C | -1.9°C | -5.5°C | 13.3°C | -15.0°C | 107 mm | 89% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2006 | 3.6°C | -0.4°C | -4.4°C | 10.7°C | -12.2°C | 95 mm | 91% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2005 🌧️ | -1.1°C | -5.1°C | -9.1°C | 11.7°C | -19.4°C | 145 mm | 92% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2004 | -5.1°C | -8.6°C | -12.1°C | 15.1°C | -20.0°C | 98 mm | 91% | 0.9 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2003 | -4.5°C | -7.8°C | -11.1°C | 4.1°C | -16.4°C | 47 mm | 89% | 0.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2002 | 3.1°C | -0.8°C | -4.7°C | 15.4°C | -12.6°C | 51 mm | 87% | 0.7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2001 | 0.4°C | -3.5°C | -7.4°C | 6.2°C | -12.6°C | 34 mm | 87% | 0.7 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2000 | -0.9°C | -4.6°C | -8.4°C | 13.0°C | -17.8°C | 41 mm | 84% | 0.8 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1999 | -0.6°C | -5.1°C | -9.5°C | 13.4°C | -20.6°C | 119 mm | 93% | 0.7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1998 | 3.3°C | -0.3°C | -3.8°C | 16.3°C | -11.7°C | 85 mm | 92% | 0.6 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1997 | -1.6°C | -5.4°C | -9.2°C | 12.0°C | -19.1°C | 65 mm | 89% | 0.9 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1996 | -3.2°C | -7.4°C | -11.5°C | 9.8°C | -22.8°C | 128 mm | 94% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1995 | 0.7°C | -2.9°C | -6.5°C | 14.5°C | -15.2°C | 64 mm | 90% | 0.7 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1994 ❄️ | -6.7°C | -10.8°C | -14.9°C | 1.4°C | -29.4°C | 94 mm | 98% | 0.7 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1993 | 0.6°C | -3.1°C | -6.7°C | 10.2°C | -13.7°C | 73 mm | 89% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1992 | 0.2°C | -3.7°C | -7.6°C | 9.3°C | -15.8°C | 68 mm | 89% | 0.8 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1991 | -1.0°C | -5.0°C | -9.1°C | 4.6°C | -16.1°C | 78 mm | 91% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1990 | 2.5°C | -1.2°C | -4.9°C | 11.2°C | -10.5°C | 78 mm | 90% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1989 | 1.6°C | -2.8°C | -7.2°C | 7.7°C | -17.8°C | 54 mm | 88% | 0.7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1988 | -2.4°C | -6.6°C | -10.8°C | 11.2°C | -20.3°C | 37 mm | 89% | 0.7 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1987 | -2.4°C | -6.3°C | -10.2°C | 5.1°C | -27.0°C | 67 mm | 95% | 0.7 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1986 | -1.2°C | -5.1°C | -9.0°C | 10.1°C | -17.1°C | 63 mm | 90% | 0.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1985 | -4.4°C | -7.8°C | -11.3°C | 12.4°C | -26.3°C | 43 mm | 91% | 0.8 m/s | 2 |
| 1984 | -4.9°C | -9.7°C | -14.6°C | 1.0°C | -27.5°C | 41 mm | 99% | 0.6 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1983 | -0.3°C | -3.9°C | -7.4°C | 4.1°C | -18.9°C | 35 mm | 88% | 0.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -5.4°C | -9.5°C | -13.5°C | 5.0°C | -24.2°C | 109 mm | 92% | 0.9 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -4.0°C | -7.4°C | -10.9°C | 6.2°C | -18.8°C | 25 mm | 90% | 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 -8.7°C (mean -4.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 69 mm of rainfall in State College, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 145 mm in 2005.
The hottest January reached 17°C in 2018. The coldest dipped to -29.4°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°C. Daytime highs moved from -3.8°C to -0.2°C and overnight lows from -11.5°C to -7.2°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in State College and one of the drier months, so plan for around -1°C daytime highs and -8.7°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in State College, averaging -4.8°C.
For January in State College, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of -1°C and lows of -8.7°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 90% — 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 145 mm. On average, January sees 69 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 State College 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.
