January is one of the cooler months of the year in Knoxville, with average highs near 7.4°C and lows around -2.5°C (mean 2.5°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 108 mm of rainfall and 83% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Knoxville. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Knoxville was 2017 — when the month averaged 7°C — while the coldest was 1985 at -1.7°C. Typical January days reach 7.4°C with nights near -2.5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Knoxville, averaging 108 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2013 with 263 mm, while the driest was 1986 at 29 mm.
Relative humidity in Knoxville during January averages 83%. The most humid January was 1996 at 88%, and the least humid was 1981 at 77%.
January receives about 2.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Knoxville. The sunniest January was 2014 at 2.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1993 at 2.1.
Average wind speed in Knoxville during January is 1 m/s. The windiest January was 1982 at 1.3 m/s, while the calmest was 1998 at 0.8 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 0.8°C | 3.2°C | 2.9°C | 2.2°C | 3.2°C | +2.4°C |
| Avg High | 5.9°C | 8.2°C | 8.0°C | 7.1°C | 8.1°C | +2.2°C |
| Avg Low | -4.2°C | -1.8°C | -2.1°C | -2.7°C | -1.7°C | +2.5°C |
| Avg Rain | 89 mm | 126 mm | 101 mm | 106 mm | 123 mm | +34 mm |
January temperatures in Knoxville have risen by about 2.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -22.6°C (1994) to a record high of 23°C (2022).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 108 mm, with a wettest year of 263 mm.
A quieter season to visit Knoxville
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of September and June tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Knoxville. That said, January — with days averaging 7.4°C and nights around -2.5°C (mean 2.5°C) and higher rainfall (108 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 | 5.2°C | 0.1°C | -5.1°C | 15.0°C | -14.1°C | 73 mm | 77% | 0.9 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2024 | 7.2°C | 2.0°C | -3.2°C | 21.0°C | -15.1°C | 149 mm | 83% | 1.1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2023 | 11.4°C | 6.6°C | 1.8°C | 19.6°C | -5.5°C | 151 mm | 85% | 1.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2022 | 6.7°C | 1.5°C | -3.6°C | 23.0°C | -8.1°C | 122 mm | 83% | 1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2021 | 8.2°C | 3.3°C | -1.6°C | 17.3°C | -6.1°C | 77 mm | 85% | 0.9 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2020 | 10.1°C | 5.6°C | 1.2°C | 21.2°C | -8.1°C | 167 mm | 86% | 1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2019 | 7.8°C | 3.2°C | -1.3°C | 17.1°C | -10.1°C | 128 mm | 84% | 1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2018 | 6.0°C | 0.4°C | -5.3°C | 18.9°C | -15.4°C | 46 mm | 79% | 1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2017 🔥 | 11.4°C | 7.0°C | 2.7°C | 19.1°C | -12.8°C | 97 mm | 84% | 1.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2016 | 5.7°C | 1.0°C | -3.7°C | 14.9°C | -11.9°C | 69 mm | 83% | 0.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2015 | 6.8°C | 1.7°C | -3.3°C | 16.4°C | -15.6°C | 81 mm | 81% | 0.9 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2014 | 4.0°C | -1.4°C | -6.9°C | 13.6°C | -17.5°C | 64 mm | 77% | 1.1 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2013 🌧️ | 9.3°C | 4.4°C | -0.5°C | 21.9°C | -7.2°C | 263 mm | 87% | 1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2012 | 10.5°C | 5.1°C | -0.2°C | 17.7°C | -6.8°C | 125 mm | 84% | 1.1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2011 | 5.2°C | 0.6°C | -4.0°C | 17.0°C | -11.7°C | 64 mm | 84% | 0.9 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2010 | 3.8°C | -0.3°C | -4.3°C | 14.8°C | -11.7°C | 123 mm | 84% | 1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2009 | 6.7°C | 1.6°C | -3.5°C | 18.2°C | -15.9°C | 138 mm | 84% | 1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2008 | 7.6°C | 2.2°C | -3.1°C | 19.5°C | -11.2°C | 84 mm | 77% | 1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2007 | 9.3°C | 4.2°C | -0.9°C | 21.0°C | -9.6°C | 59 mm | 80% | 1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2006 | 11.8°C | 6.2°C | 0.7°C | 18.8°C | -5.0°C | 126 mm | 82% | 1.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2005 | 9.6°C | 4.9°C | 0.2°C | 19.3°C | -11.7°C | 76 mm | 85% | 1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2004 | 7.1°C | 2.1°C | -2.9°C | 19.7°C | -9.8°C | 76 mm | 80% | 1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2003 | 4.5°C | 0.0°C | -4.4°C | 13.7°C | -14.8°C | 62 mm | 81% | 1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2002 | 9.8°C | 4.5°C | -0.9°C | 21.4°C | -9.7°C | 173 mm | 82% | 1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2001 | 6.3°C | 1.4°C | -3.5°C | 16.8°C | -9.9°C | 95 mm | 81% | 0.9 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2000 | 7.3°C | 2.2°C | -2.9°C | 20.4°C | -12.8°C | 120 mm | 78% | 1.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1999 | 9.9°C | 4.8°C | -0.2°C | 20.1°C | -10.6°C | 172 mm | 84% | 1.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1998 | 9.9°C | 5.1°C | 0.4°C | 20.0°C | -9.7°C | 132 mm | 87% | 0.8 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1997 | 7.5°C | 2.2°C | -3.1°C | 19.2°C | -15.9°C | 104 mm | 83% | 1.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1996 | 6.3°C | 1.1°C | -4.0°C | 17.4°C | -16.5°C | 175 mm | 88% | 1.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1995 | 8.4°C | 3.4°C | -1.5°C | 18.7°C | -11.9°C | 129 mm | 81% | 1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1994 | 3.7°C | -1.0°C | -5.7°C | 15.0°C | -22.6°C | 148 mm | 87% | 1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1993 | 9.8°C | 4.6°C | -0.5°C | 16.9°C | -5.6°C | 97 mm | 85% | 0.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1992 | 7.9°C | 2.9°C | -2.2°C | 14.8°C | -11.6°C | 92 mm | 85% | 1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1991 | 8.2°C | 3.6°C | -1.0°C | 13.9°C | -7.3°C | 78 mm | 87% | 0.9 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1990 | 9.9°C | 4.8°C | -0.2°C | 17.8°C | -5.7°C | 133 mm | 87% | 1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1989 | 10.7°C | 5.3°C | -0.1°C | 18.2°C | -5.2°C | 139 mm | 81% | 1 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1988 | 4.6°C | -0.3°C | -5.2°C | 15.3°C | -12.9°C | 101 mm | 82% | 1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1987 | 5.9°C | 1.5°C | -2.9°C | 13.4°C | -12.2°C | 117 mm | 87% | 1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1986 | 6.5°C | 1.1°C | -4.4°C | 15.8°C | -15.7°C | 29 mm | 78% | 1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1985 ❄️ | 3.1°C | -1.7°C | -6.4°C | 18.8°C | -22.5°C | 99 mm | 82% | 1.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1984 | 5.4°C | 0.5°C | -4.4°C | 14.8°C | -16.0°C | 62 mm | 84% | 0.9 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1983 | 6.8°C | 1.9°C | -2.9°C | 13.7°C | -12.1°C | 52 mm | 84% | 0.9 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 5.2°C | -0.3°C | -5.9°C | 17.4°C | -21.2°C | 166 mm | 83% | 1.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 4.6°C | -0.7°C | -6.0°C | 14.4°C | -14.3°C | 35 mm | 77% | 0.9 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 -2.5°C (mean 2.5°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 108 mm of rainfall in Knoxville, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 263 mm in 2013.
The hottest January reached 23°C in 2022. The coldest dipped to -22.6°C in 1994.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 2.8°C. Daytime highs moved from 5°C to 7.7°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 Knoxville and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 7.4°C daytime highs and -2.5°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Knoxville, averaging 2.5°C.
For January in Knoxville, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 7.4°C and lows of -2.5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 83% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 1 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 1.3 m/s (1982).
The wettest January on record was 2013 with 263 mm. On average, January sees 108 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 Knoxville 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.
