January is one of the cooler months of the year in Memphis, with average highs near 8.6°C and lows around -1.2°C (mean 3.7°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 103 mm of rainfall and 84% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Memphis. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Memphis was 2006 — when the month averaged 8.3°C — while the coldest was 1985 at -1.3°C. Typical January days reach 8.6°C with nights near -1.2°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.4°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Memphis, averaging 103 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2013 with 206 mm, while the driest was 1986 at 15 mm.
Relative humidity in Memphis during January averages 84%. The most humid January was 1983 at 91%, and the least humid was 1986 at 77%.
January receives about 2.4 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Memphis. The sunniest January was 1986 at 2.9 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1994, 1999 and 2020 at 2.
Average wind speed in Memphis during January is 3 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 1982 and 1999 at 3.7 m/s, while the calmest were 1984, 1992 and 2011 at 2.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 2.0°C | 4.2°C | 4.4°C | 3.7°C | 4.2°C | +2.2°C |
| Avg High | 6.8°C | 9.0°C | 9.2°C | 8.8°C | 9.2°C | +2.4°C |
| Avg Low | -2.7°C | -0.6°C | -0.5°C | -1.3°C | -0.8°C | +1.9°C |
| Avg Rain | 83 mm | 123 mm | 97 mm | 87 mm | 136 mm | +53 mm |
January temperatures in Memphis have risen by about 2.8°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -20.9°C (2024) to a record high of 24.2°C (2022).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 103 mm, with a wettest year of 206 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.5°C per decade while lows rose 0.3°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Memphis
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of September and May tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Memphis. That said, January — with days averaging 8.6°C and nights around -1.2°C (mean 3.7°C) and higher rainfall (103 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 | 7.2°C | 2.2°C | -2.7°C | 19.0°C | -12.2°C | 82 mm | 81% | 2.7 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2024 | 6.4°C | 1.1°C | -4.2°C | 16.1°C | -20.9°C | 188 mm | 84% | 2.9 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2023 | 12.4°C | 7.7°C | 2.9°C | 22.5°C | -4.4°C | 180 mm | 86% | 3.1 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2022 | 8.4°C | 2.6°C | -3.1°C | 24.2°C | -9.2°C | 109 mm | 79% | 3.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2021 | 9.7°C | 4.8°C | -0.1°C | 22.1°C | -4.6°C | 65 mm | 85% | 2.9 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2020 | 11.3°C | 6.7°C | 2.1°C | 21.9°C | -5.8°C | 191 mm | 89% | 2.8 m/s | 2 |
| 2019 | 9.1°C | 4.3°C | -0.4°C | 17.4°C | -5.8°C | 109 mm | 86% | 2.9 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2018 | 6.7°C | 1.4°C | -3.9°C | 19.0°C | -15.3°C | 85 mm | 81% | 3.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2017 | 12.6°C | 7.8°C | 3.1°C | 22.1°C | -10.8°C | 92 mm | 84% | 3.1 m/s | 2.1 |
| 2016 | 8.3°C | 3.6°C | -1.2°C | 20.3°C | -6.1°C | 52 mm | 84% | 3.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2015 | 8.8°C | 3.5°C | -1.7°C | 18.7°C | -11.9°C | 38 mm | 79% | 2.8 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2014 | 6.2°C | 0.5°C | -5.2°C | 15.7°C | -14.4°C | 53 mm | 77% | 3.4 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2013 🌧️ | 10.8°C | 5.6°C | 0.4°C | 23.1°C | -5.5°C | 206 mm | 85% | 3.1 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2012 | 12.6°C | 6.9°C | 1.1°C | 19.2°C | -5.9°C | 74 mm | 85% | 3.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2011 | 7.2°C | 2.4°C | -2.4°C | 18.5°C | -10.5°C | 51 mm | 82% | 2.4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 2010 | 5.3°C | 1.1°C | -3.1°C | 17.3°C | -11.8°C | 110 mm | 86% | 3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2009 | 7.4°C | 2.4°C | -2.5°C | 19.6°C | -11.3°C | 76 mm | 83% | 3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2008 | 8.1°C | 3.3°C | -1.6°C | 20.9°C | -7.4°C | 97 mm | 81% | 3.1 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2007 | 9.1°C | 4.7°C | 0.3°C | 18.3°C | -6.6°C | 125 mm | 86% | 2.8 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2006 🔥 | 14.1°C | 8.3°C | 2.4°C | 20.3°C | -3.2°C | 187 mm | 78% | 3.6 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2005 | 10.3°C | 6.1°C | 1.8°C | 20.9°C | -6.8°C | 114 mm | 88% | 3.3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 2004 | 9.4°C | 4.5°C | -0.5°C | 22.8°C | -7.3°C | 91 mm | 81% | 3.1 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2003 | 5.7°C | 1.1°C | -3.5°C | 16.0°C | -13.7°C | 21 mm | 84% | 2.9 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2002 | 10.9°C | 6.0°C | 1.2°C | 23.2°C | -8.3°C | 135 mm | 86% | 3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 2001 | 6.7°C | 2.1°C | -2.5°C | 17.2°C | -11.5°C | 84 mm | 86% | 2.5 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2000 | 10.2°C | 5.1°C | -0.1°C | 22.8°C | -5.9°C | 44 mm | 79% | 3 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1999 | 11.2°C | 6.0°C | 0.8°C | 21.3°C | -13.3°C | 200 mm | 86% | 3.7 m/s | 2 |
| 1998 | 11.2°C | 6.5°C | 1.8°C | 20.7°C | -5.4°C | 147 mm | 89% | 2.7 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1997 | 7.0°C | 2.2°C | -2.6°C | 21.2°C | -15.5°C | 115 mm | 88% | 3.4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1996 | 8.1°C | 3.1°C | -1.9°C | 20.2°C | -11.9°C | 104 mm | 84% | 3.6 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1995 | 9.3°C | 4.6°C | -0.1°C | 21.5°C | -6.7°C | 131 mm | 86% | 3.2 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1994 | 5.9°C | 1.6°C | -2.8°C | 18.8°C | -15.6°C | 144 mm | 86% | 3 m/s | 2 |
| 1993 | 9.6°C | 4.6°C | -0.4°C | 19.1°C | -6.0°C | 107 mm | 85% | 2.9 m/s | 2.1 |
| 1992 | 8.4°C | 3.8°C | -0.9°C | 14.3°C | -8.8°C | 80 mm | 88% | 2.4 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1991 | 7.5°C | 3.2°C | -1.1°C | 15.3°C | -5.5°C | 80 mm | 90% | 2.5 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1990 | 12.1°C | 6.8°C | 1.4°C | 19.7°C | -5.1°C | 124 mm | 84% | 3.3 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1989 | 11.0°C | 6.2°C | 1.4°C | 19.7°C | -4.0°C | 195 mm | 88% | 2.6 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1988 | 5.0°C | 0.8°C | -3.3°C | 20.2°C | -12.8°C | 100 mm | 88% | 3.2 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1987 | 7.8°C | 3.1°C | -1.5°C | 18.6°C | -7.3°C | 49 mm | 87% | 2.9 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1986 | 9.6°C | 3.8°C | -2.0°C | 20.6°C | -11.2°C | 15 mm | 77% | 2.9 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1985 ❄️ | 3.1°C | -1.3°C | -5.6°C | 18.1°C | -18.6°C | 81 mm | 86% | 3.2 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1984 | 4.5°C | 0.1°C | -4.3°C | 14.6°C | -14.3°C | 50 mm | 89% | 2.4 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1983 | 6.1°C | 2.2°C | -1.8°C | 13.5°C | -5.4°C | 69 mm | 91% | 2.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 7.1°C | 1.4°C | -4.2°C | 19.5°C | -17.9°C | 148 mm | 80% | 3.7 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 7.0°C | 2.0°C | -3.0°C | 17.2°C | -13.0°C | 38 mm | 78% | 2.5 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 -1.2°C (mean 3.7°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 103 mm of rainfall in Memphis, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 206 mm in 2013.
The hottest January reached 24.2°C in 2022. The coldest dipped to -20.9°C in 2024.
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 5.6°C to 8.8°C and overnight lows from -3.8°C to -1.4°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Memphis and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 8.6°C daytime highs and -1.2°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Memphis, averaging 3.7°C.
For January in Memphis, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 8.6°C and lows of -1.2°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 84% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 3 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 3.7 m/s (1982).
The wettest January on record was 2013 with 206 mm. On average, January sees 103 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 Memphis 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.
