January is one of the cooler months of the year in Columbia, with average highs near 7.4°C and lows around -2.2°C (mean 2.6°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 113 mm of rainfall and 85% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Columbia. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Columbia was 2017 — when the month averaged 7.2°C — while the coldest was 1985 at -2.3°C. Typical January days reach 7.4°C with nights near -2.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Columbia, averaging 113 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1999 with 248 mm, while the driest was 1986 at 16 mm.
Relative humidity in Columbia during January averages 85%. The most humid January was 1991 at 91%, and the least humid was 1981 at 77%.
January receives about 2.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Columbia. The sunniest January was 1986 at 2.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1999, 2020 and 2024, among others at 2.
Average wind speed in Columbia during January is 1.8 m/s. The windiest January was 1982 at 2.3 m/s, while the calmest were 1984, 2001 and 2011 at 1.5 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 0.9°C | 3.2°C | 3.2°C | 2.5°C | 3.2°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg High | 5.8°C | 7.9°C | 8.1°C | 7.3°C | 8.3°C | +2.5°C |
| Avg Low | -4.0°C | -1.4°C | -1.7°C | -2.4°C | -1.7°C | +2.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 94 mm | 132 mm | 101 mm | 106 mm | 144 mm | +50 mm |
January temperatures in Columbia have risen by about 2.9°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -25°C (1994) to a record high of 23.3°C (2022).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 113 mm, with a wettest year of 248 mm.
A quieter season to visit Columbia
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of September and June tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Columbia. That said, January — with days averaging 7.4°C and nights around -2.2°C (mean 2.6°C) and higher rainfall (113 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 | 6.3°C | 1.0°C | -4.3°C | 16.4°C | -14.2°C | 86 mm | 79% | 1.6 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2024 | 6.7°C | 1.4°C | -3.8°C | 17.6°C | -16.5°C | 163 mm | 83% | 2 m/s | 2 |
| 2023 | 11.7°C | 6.8°C | 1.9°C | 20.6°C | -4.6°C | 165 mm | 87% | 1.8 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2022 | 5.7°C | 0.6°C | -4.5°C | 23.3°C | -11.9°C | 180 mm | 87% | 1.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2021 | 8.9°C | 3.9°C | -1.0°C | 21.2°C | -5.1°C | 76 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2020 | 10.2°C | 5.8°C | 1.5°C | 19.8°C | -8.5°C | 195 mm | 90% | 1.8 m/s | 2 |
| 2019 | 8.0°C | 3.4°C | -1.2°C | 18.2°C | -10.2°C | 131 mm | 86% | 1.8 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2018 | 5.7°C | 0.5°C | -4.8°C | 18.0°C | -15.1°C | 47 mm | 82% | 1.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2017 🔥 | 11.6°C | 7.2°C | 2.8°C | 20.6°C | -13.0°C | 104 mm | 86% | 1.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2016 | 6.1°C | 1.5°C | -3.0°C | 16.5°C | -10.5°C | 73 mm | 86% | 1.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2015 | 7.0°C | 2.1°C | -2.8°C | 17.4°C | -16.5°C | 81 mm | 84% | 1.7 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2014 | 4.3°C | -1.0°C | -6.3°C | 14.0°C | -15.3°C | 60 mm | 78% | 2 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2013 | 9.2°C | 4.4°C | -0.4°C | 21.4°C | -6.9°C | 191 mm | 87% | 1.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2012 | 11.0°C | 5.5°C | -0.1°C | 17.6°C | -6.9°C | 146 mm | 86% | 1.9 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2011 | 6.1°C | 1.3°C | -3.4°C | 18.0°C | -9.4°C | 89 mm | 83% | 1.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2010 | 3.9°C | -0.3°C | -4.4°C | 16.5°C | -14.7°C | 136 mm | 86% | 1.7 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2009 | 7.0°C | 1.8°C | -3.4°C | 19.0°C | -15.6°C | 91 mm | 85% | 1.8 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2008 | 6.9°C | 1.9°C | -3.1°C | 19.5°C | -11.9°C | 81 mm | 79% | 1.8 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2007 | 8.8°C | 4.2°C | -0.5°C | 18.6°C | -9.1°C | 77 mm | 83% | 1.8 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2006 | 12.2°C | 6.6°C | 1.0°C | 21.0°C | -4.4°C | 174 mm | 83% | 2.1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2005 | 9.4°C | 5.0°C | 0.6°C | 18.7°C | -11.2°C | 101 mm | 89% | 2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2004 | 8.4°C | 3.3°C | -1.8°C | 20.5°C | -7.9°C | 74 mm | 81% | 1.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2003 | 4.7°C | -0.1°C | -4.8°C | 15.3°C | -15.3°C | 43 mm | 84% | 1.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2002 | 9.9°C | 4.9°C | 0.0°C | 21.6°C | -9.1°C | 180 mm | 87% | 1.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2001 | 5.6°C | 1.1°C | -3.3°C | 17.1°C | -10.0°C | 100 mm | 86% | 1.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2000 | 8.5°C | 3.5°C | -1.6°C | 20.3°C | -10.8°C | 88 mm | 80% | 1.9 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1999 🌧️ | 9.9°C | 5.0°C | 0.1°C | 19.7°C | -12.5°C | 248 mm | 88% | 2.2 m/s | 2 |
| 1998 | 10.2°C | 5.7°C | 1.3°C | 19.9°C | -7.3°C | 147 mm | 90% | 1.6 m/s | 2 |
| 1997 | 6.8°C | 2.0°C | -2.9°C | 19.8°C | -15.6°C | 129 mm | 88% | 2.1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1996 | 5.5°C | 1.1°C | -3.3°C | 17.6°C | -11.0°C | 136 mm | 89% | 2 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1995 | 7.8°C | 3.2°C | -1.3°C | 18.4°C | -10.6°C | 126 mm | 86% | 1.8 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1994 | 3.7°C | -1.1°C | -5.8°C | 15.3°C | -25.0°C | 154 mm | 88% | 1.8 m/s | 2 |
| 1993 | 9.3°C | 4.4°C | -0.4°C | 16.7°C | -6.1°C | 90 mm | 85% | 1.8 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1992 | 7.5°C | 3.1°C | -1.3°C | 14.3°C | -11.0°C | 90 mm | 89% | 1.7 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1991 | 7.6°C | 3.4°C | -0.8°C | 13.5°C | -6.6°C | 74 mm | 91% | 1.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1990 | 10.2°C | 5.2°C | 0.2°C | 16.7°C | -5.8°C | 130 mm | 88% | 1.8 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1989 | 10.3°C | 5.3°C | 0.3°C | 17.8°C | -4.8°C | 173 mm | 87% | 1.7 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1988 | 4.5°C | -0.1°C | -4.8°C | 18.3°C | -12.4°C | 103 mm | 86% | 1.9 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1987 | 5.9°C | 1.8°C | -2.3°C | 12.7°C | -12.2°C | 86 mm | 90% | 1.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1986 | 7.5°C | 2.0°C | -3.6°C | 18.1°C | -14.2°C | 16 mm | 78% | 1.8 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1985 ❄️ | 2.2°C | -2.3°C | -6.8°C | 17.4°C | -22.1°C | 79 mm | 87% | 2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1984 | 4.0°C | -0.4°C | -4.9°C | 13.6°C | -19.5°C | 55 mm | 90% | 1.5 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1983 | 6.1°C | 1.8°C | -2.5°C | 12.4°C | -9.6°C | 74 mm | 88% | 1.7 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 6.0°C | 0.0°C | -6.0°C | 18.9°C | -22.1°C | 208 mm | 84% | 2.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 5.4°C | 0.0°C | -5.4°C | 15.4°C | -14.4°C | 50 mm | 77% | 1.6 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 7.4°C with lows near -2.2°C (mean 2.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 113 mm of rainfall in Columbia, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 248 mm in 1999.
The hottest January reached 23.3°C in 2022. The coldest dipped to -25°C in 1994.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 2.9°C. Daytime highs moved from 4.7°C to 7.9°C and overnight lows from -5.1°C to -2.3°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Columbia and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 7.4°C daytime highs and -2.2°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Columbia, averaging 2.6°C.
For January in Columbia, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 7.4°C and lows of -2.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 85% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 1.8 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 2.3 m/s (1982).
The wettest January on record was 1999 with 248 mm. On average, January sees 113 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 Columbia 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.
