January is one of the cooler months of the year in West Chester, with average highs near 2.6°C and lows around -5.7°C (mean -1.5°C). It is one of the drier months, averaging 81 mm of rainfall and 86% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in West Chester. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in West Chester was 2023 — when the month averaged 3.7°C — while the coldest was 1994 at -7.5°C. Typical January days reach 2.6°C with nights near -5.7°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.6°C per decade.
January is one of the drier months in West Chester, averaging 81 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2024 with 165 mm, while the driest was 1981 at 13 mm.
Relative humidity in West Chester during January averages 86%. The most humid January was 1994 at 95%, and the least humid was 2025 at 77%.
January receives about 2 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in West Chester. The sunniest Januarys were 1995 and 2016 at 2.3 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 2023 and 2024 at 1.6.
Average wind speed in West Chester during January is 1 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 2000, 2004 and 2025, among others at 1.1 m/s, while the calmest were 1984 and 2001 at 0.8 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | -3.6°C | -0.9°C | -1.3°C | -1.7°C | 0.2°C | +3.8°C |
| Avg High | 0.7°C | 3.3°C | 2.8°C | 2.4°C | 4.2°C | +3.5°C |
| Avg Low | -7.8°C | -5.0°C | -5.4°C | -5.8°C | -3.9°C | +3.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 68 mm | 106 mm | 71 mm | 80 mm | 80 mm | +12 mm |
January temperatures in West Chester have risen by about 4.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -26.9°C (1994) to a record high of 19.4°C (2002).
Rainfall in January is one of the drier months, averaging 81 mm, with a wettest year of 165 mm.
A quieter season to visit West Chester
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of June and August tend to be the most comfortable for visiting West Chester. That said, January — with days averaging 2.6°C and nights around -5.7°C (mean -1.5°C) and higher rainfall (81 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 | 1.4°C | -2.6°C | -6.6°C | 8.9°C | -15.3°C | 25 mm | 77% | 1.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2024 🌧️ | 4.5°C | 0.4°C | -3.7°C | 18.6°C | -13.0°C | 165 mm | 89% | 0.9 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2023 🔥 | 7.8°C | 3.7°C | -0.3°C | 15.2°C | -4.7°C | 83 mm | 88% | 0.9 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2022 | 1.9°C | -2.5°C | -7.0°C | 14.4°C | -16.7°C | 80 mm | 80% | 1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2021 | 3.4°C | 0.0°C | -3.4°C | 9.2°C | -9.6°C | 49 mm | 86% | 0.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2020 | 6.2°C | 1.9°C | -2.4°C | 17.9°C | -11.0°C | 78 mm | 83% | 0.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2019 | 2.5°C | -1.7°C | -5.9°C | 13.7°C | -18.5°C | 101 mm | 86% | 1 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2018 | 2.8°C | -2.0°C | -6.7°C | 17.1°C | -18.8°C | 63 mm | 81% | 1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2017 | 4.9°C | 1.3°C | -2.2°C | 14.9°C | -12.8°C | 78 mm | 85% | 1 m/s | 1.7 |
| 2016 | 2.3°C | -1.9°C | -6.1°C | 16.3°C | -13.8°C | 81 mm | 83% | 1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2015 | 0.6°C | -3.3°C | -7.2°C | 11.5°C | -14.1°C | 100 mm | 84% | 1 m/s | 2 |
| 2014 | 0.0°C | -4.4°C | -8.9°C | 13.1°C | -17.7°C | 83 mm | 85% | 1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2013 | 3.8°C | 0.1°C | -3.7°C | 18.1°C | -12.9°C | 92 mm | 86% | 0.9 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2012 | 4.9°C | 0.7°C | -3.6°C | 15.3°C | -11.8°C | 68 mm | 87% | 1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2011 | -0.2°C | -4.1°C | -8.0°C | 8.3°C | -16.4°C | 72 mm | 89% | 0.9 m/s | 1.9 |
| 2010 | 2.0°C | -1.8°C | -5.6°C | 14.3°C | -13.1°C | 61 mm | 86% | 1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2009 | -0.3°C | -4.1°C | -8.0°C | 6.3°C | -16.2°C | 64 mm | 85% | 0.9 m/s | 2 |
| 2008 | 4.2°C | 0.0°C | -4.2°C | 15.8°C | -13.4°C | 39 mm | 84% | 0.9 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2007 | 5.8°C | 1.8°C | -2.3°C | 18.9°C | -12.8°C | 83 mm | 85% | 0.9 m/s | 2 |
| 2006 | 7.4°C | 2.8°C | -1.8°C | 15.9°C | -7.0°C | 113 mm | 87% | 1 m/s | 2 |
| 2005 | 2.0°C | -2.1°C | -6.3°C | 18.3°C | -19.7°C | 108 mm | 90% | 0.9 m/s | 1.8 |
| 2004 | -1.3°C | -5.1°C | -8.8°C | 13.0°C | -17.1°C | 47 mm | 85% | 1.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2003 | -0.4°C | -4.0°C | -7.6°C | 9.0°C | -14.9°C | 50 mm | 84% | 1 m/s | 2 |
| 2002 | 6.3°C | 1.9°C | -2.5°C | 19.4°C | -10.2°C | 64 mm | 83% | 0.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2001 | 2.5°C | -1.7°C | -5.9°C | 9.6°C | -14.0°C | 69 mm | 89% | 0.8 m/s | 2 |
| 2000 | 1.9°C | -2.3°C | -6.5°C | 16.8°C | -17.8°C | 76 mm | 84% | 1.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1999 | 4.5°C | -0.3°C | -5.1°C | 17.7°C | -12.7°C | 163 mm | 84% | 1 m/s | 2 |
| 1998 | 6.9°C | 2.8°C | -1.2°C | 19.0°C | -9.0°C | 109 mm | 88% | 0.9 m/s | 1.8 |
| 1997 | 2.2°C | -1.9°C | -6.0°C | 15.3°C | -18.6°C | 78 mm | 85% | 1.1 m/s | 2 |
| 1996 | 0.1°C | -4.2°C | -8.4°C | 14.4°C | -21.3°C | 154 mm | 93% | 1.1 m/s | 1.7 |
| 1995 | 4.7°C | 1.0°C | -2.6°C | 17.5°C | -11.0°C | 93 mm | 85% | 1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1994 ❄️ | -2.6°C | -7.5°C | -12.3°C | 10.8°C | -26.9°C | 141 mm | 95% | 1 m/s | 2 |
| 1993 | 4.3°C | 0.6°C | -3.1°C | 14.7°C | -7.7°C | 61 mm | 85% | 0.9 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1992 | 4.2°C | -0.1°C | -4.4°C | 16.4°C | -12.6°C | 49 mm | 83% | 1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1991 | 3.0°C | -1.1°C | -5.1°C | 10.8°C | -12.0°C | 95 mm | 86% | 0.9 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1990 | 6.0°C | 2.0°C | -2.1°C | 14.9°C | -5.3°C | 116 mm | 88% | 0.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1989 | 4.4°C | 0.2°C | -3.9°C | 10.5°C | -13.9°C | 62 mm | 84% | 0.9 m/s | 2 |
| 1988 | 0.3°C | -3.9°C | -8.0°C | 10.1°C | -14.9°C | 70 mm | 86% | 0.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1987 | 0.1°C | -3.7°C | -7.6°C | 11.5°C | -24.9°C | 112 mm | 94% | 1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1986 | 2.3°C | -2.1°C | -6.4°C | 11.0°C | -16.5°C | 100 mm | 85% | 0.9 m/s | 2 |
| 1985 | -0.3°C | -4.4°C | -8.5°C | 15.4°C | -21.2°C | 37 mm | 82% | 1.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1984 | -1.1°C | -5.7°C | -10.2°C | 7.6°C | -24.6°C | 42 mm | 93% | 0.8 m/s | 1.9 |
| 1983 | 3.1°C | -0.9°C | -4.8°C | 11.0°C | -13.7°C | 74 mm | 85% | 0.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | -1.9°C | -6.3°C | -10.7°C | 13.7°C | -20.0°C | 98 mm | 87% | 1.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | -0.8°C | -5.3°C | -9.7°C | 7.9°C | -18.7°C | 13 mm | 82% | 0.9 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 2.6°C with lows near -5.7°C (mean -1.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 81 mm of rainfall in West Chester, one of the drier months. The wettest on record was 165 mm in 2024.
The hottest January reached 19.4°C in 2002. The coldest dipped to -26.9°C in 1994.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 4.3°C. Daytime highs moved from -0.2°C to 3.8°C and overnight lows from -8.8°C to -4.2°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in West Chester and one of the drier months, so plan for around 2.6°C daytime highs and -5.7°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in West Chester, averaging -1.5°C.
For January in West Chester, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 2.6°C and lows of -5.7°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 86% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 1 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 1.1 m/s (1982).
The wettest January on record was 2024 with 165 mm. On average, January sees 81 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 West Chester 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.
