January is one of the cooler months of the year in Cleveland, with average highs near 8.6°C and lows around -1.5°C (mean 3.6°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 121 mm of rainfall and 84% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Cleveland. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Cleveland was 2017 — when the month averaged 8.5°C — while the coldest was 1985 at -0.5°C. Typical January days reach 8.6°C with nights near -1.5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.5°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Cleveland, averaging 121 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2013 with 245 mm, while the driest was 1986 at 29 mm.
Relative humidity in Cleveland during January averages 84%. The most humid January was 1998 at 90%, and the least humid was 1981 at 77%.
January receives about 2.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Cleveland. The sunniest January was 2014 at 2.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1991 and 1993 at 2.
Average wind speed in Cleveland during January is 0.6 m/s. The windiest January was 1982 at 0.7 m/s, while the calmest were 2015, 2016 and 2021, among others at 0.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 1.8°C | 4.1°C | 4.1°C | 3.5°C | 4.5°C | +2.7°C |
| Avg High | 6.9°C | 9.0°C | 9.3°C | 8.5°C | 9.6°C | +2.7°C |
| Avg Low | -3.3°C | -0.7°C | -1.2°C | -1.5°C | -0.7°C | +2.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 111 mm | 154 mm | 99 mm | 116 mm | 125 mm | +15 mm |
January temperatures in Cleveland have risen by about 3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -20.2°C (1994) to a record high of 23.5°C (2022).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 121 mm, with a wettest year of 245 mm.
A quieter season to visit Cleveland
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of September and May tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Cleveland. That said, January — with days averaging 8.6°C and nights around -1.5°C (mean 3.6°C) and higher rainfall (121 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 | 7.1°C | 1.6°C | -3.8°C | 15.6°C | -13.2°C | 68 mm | 78% | 0.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2024 | 8.2°C | 3.0°C | -2.2°C | 20.1°C | -13.3°C | 166 mm | 83% | 0.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2023 | 12.8°C | 7.7°C | 2.6°C | 19.9°C | -4.8°C | 161 mm | 85% | 0.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2022 | 8.2°C | 2.9°C | -2.5°C | 23.5°C | -7.4°C | 122 mm | 83% | 0.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2021 | 9.9°C | 4.7°C | -0.5°C | 20.5°C | -5.1°C | 83 mm | 85% | 0.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2020 | 11.6°C | 7.0°C | 2.4°C | 20.5°C | -5.3°C | 153 mm | 86% | 0.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2019 | 9.2°C | 4.5°C | -0.2°C | 17.4°C | -6.5°C | 150 mm | 84% | 0.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2018 | 7.1°C | 1.4°C | -4.3°C | 17.3°C | -13.7°C | 36 mm | 78% | 0.6 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2017 🔥 | 13.2°C | 8.5°C | 3.9°C | 21.6°C | -10.5°C | 111 mm | 85% | 0.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2016 | 7.3°C | 2.6°C | -2.2°C | 15.8°C | -8.7°C | 78 mm | 84% | 0.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2015 | 8.3°C | 3.0°C | -2.3°C | 16.7°C | -12.9°C | 97 mm | 82% | 0.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2014 | 5.2°C | -0.4°C | -6.0°C | 14.7°C | -15.2°C | 64 mm | 78% | 0.6 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2013 🌧️ | 11.0°C | 6.1°C | 1.1°C | 21.7°C | -5.7°C | 245 mm | 88% | 0.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2012 | 11.9°C | 6.5°C | 1.2°C | 18.8°C | -6.0°C | 154 mm | 85% | 0.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2011 | 6.7°C | 1.9°C | -3.0°C | 17.9°C | -10.1°C | 89 mm | 83% | 0.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2010 | 5.5°C | 1.0°C | -3.6°C | 15.4°C | -12.1°C | 138 mm | 84% | 0.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2009 | 8.5°C | 3.0°C | -2.4°C | 18.7°C | -13.4°C | 130 mm | 84% | 0.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2008 | 8.5°C | 3.2°C | -2.0°C | 19.9°C | -9.8°C | 75 mm | 78% | 0.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2007 | 10.3°C | 5.0°C | -0.3°C | 19.7°C | -7.8°C | 65 mm | 82% | 0.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2006 | 12.6°C | 7.1°C | 1.6°C | 20.0°C | -4.5°C | 126 mm | 84% | 0.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2005 | 11.0°C | 6.2°C | 1.4°C | 19.1°C | -7.4°C | 66 mm | 85% | 0.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2004 | 8.7°C | 3.4°C | -1.9°C | 20.1°C | -7.8°C | 84 mm | 81% | 0.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2003 | 6.4°C | 1.3°C | -3.8°C | 14.9°C | -13.8°C | 49 mm | 81% | 0.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2002 | 10.9°C | 5.2°C | -0.4°C | 22.2°C | -8.2°C | 161 mm | 85% | 0.5 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2001 | 7.6°C | 2.5°C | -2.7°C | 16.2°C | -10.0°C | 119 mm | 84% | 0.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2000 | 8.8°C | 3.6°C | -1.6°C | 20.6°C | -10.3°C | 119 mm | 80% | 0.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1999 | 10.8°C | 5.9°C | 0.9°C | 21.1°C | -10.9°C | 212 mm | 86% | 0.6 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1998 | 10.7°C | 6.1°C | 1.5°C | 19.3°C | -6.9°C | 155 mm | 90% | 0.5 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1997 | 8.6°C | 3.4°C | -1.8°C | 19.8°C | -13.7°C | 136 mm | 85% | 0.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1996 | 7.2°C | 2.2°C | -2.7°C | 18.1°C | -10.4°C | 214 mm | 89% | 0.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1995 | 9.0°C | 4.2°C | -0.6°C | 17.8°C | -8.5°C | 137 mm | 84% | 0.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1994 | 4.9°C | 0.1°C | -4.8°C | 13.6°C | -20.2°C | 163 mm | 86% | 0.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1993 | 10.0°C | 5.4°C | 0.8°C | 15.9°C | -4.8°C | 132 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 2 |
| 1992 | 9.1°C | 4.0°C | -1.0°C | 16.0°C | -9.6°C | 126 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1991 | 8.8°C | 4.5°C | 0.3°C | 14.5°C | -6.0°C | 83 mm | 88% | 0.5 m/s | 2 |
| 1990 | 10.6°C | 5.6°C | 0.7°C | 18.2°C | -5.1°C | 184 mm | 89% | 0.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1989 | 11.7°C | 6.3°C | 0.9°C | 18.1°C | -4.7°C | 148 mm | 82% | 0.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1988 | 5.2°C | 0.3°C | -4.5°C | 16.6°C | -13.5°C | 149 mm | 85% | 0.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1987 | 7.1°C | 2.6°C | -1.9°C | 13.2°C | -8.5°C | 145 mm | 88% | 0.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1986 | 7.8°C | 2.2°C | -3.4°C | 17.1°C | -15.1°C | 29 mm | 79% | 0.6 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1985 ❄️ | 4.3°C | -0.5°C | -5.4°C | 18.8°C | -20.0°C | 112 mm | 82% | 0.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1984 | 6.1°C | 1.2°C | -3.7°C | 14.0°C | -12.7°C | 92 mm | 87% | 0.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1983 | 7.4°C | 2.8°C | -1.8°C | 13.4°C | -8.8°C | 68 mm | 86% | 0.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 6.3°C | 0.7°C | -5.0°C | 18.1°C | -20.0°C | 215 mm | 84% | 0.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 6.3°C | 0.7°C | -4.9°C | 15.6°C | -13.5°C | 39 mm | 77% | 0.5 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 8.6°C with lows near -1.5°C (mean 3.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 121 mm of rainfall in Cleveland, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 245 mm in 2013.
The hottest January reached 23.5°C in 2022. The coldest dipped to -20.2°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°C. Daytime highs moved from 6.1°C to 9.2°C and overnight lows from -4.2°C to -1.3°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Cleveland and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 8.6°C daytime highs and -1.5°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Cleveland, averaging 3.6°C.
For January in Cleveland, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 8.6°C and lows of -1.5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 84% — 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 2013 with 245 mm. On average, January sees 121 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 Cleveland 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.
