January is one of the cooler months of the year in Richmond, with average highs near 17.1°C and lows around 6°C (mean 11.6°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 98 mm of rainfall and 80% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Richmond. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Richmond was 2006 — when the month averaged 15.1°C — while the coldest was 1985 at 7.6°C. Typical January days reach 17.1°C with nights near 6°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.3°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Richmond, averaging 98 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1991 with 260 mm, while the driest was 2009 at 9 mm.
Relative humidity in Richmond during January averages 80%. The most humid January was 1998 at 87%, and the least humid was 2006 at 71%.
January receives about 2.9 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Richmond. The sunniest January was 2009 at 3.4 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 1993 at 2.2.
Average wind speed in Richmond during January is 2.9 m/s. The windiest Januarys were 1996, 1999 and 2000, among others at 3.3 m/s, while the calmest was 1981 at 2.3 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 10.4°C | 12.0°C | 12.1°C | 11.2°C | 12.3°C | +1.9°C |
| Avg High | 15.8°C | 17.3°C | 17.5°C | 16.9°C | 18.0°C | +2.2°C |
| Avg Low | 4.9°C | 6.7°C | 6.7°C | 5.5°C | 6.5°C | +1.6°C |
| Avg Rain | 81 mm | 132 mm | 85 mm | 89 mm | 107 mm | +26 mm |
January temperatures in Richmond have risen by about 2.3°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -8.9°C (1982) to a record high of 29.2°C (2022).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 98 mm, with a wettest year of 260 mm.
Daytime highs and overnight lows have shifted differently — highs rose about 0.4°C per decade while lows rose 0.2°C per decade, widening the gap between day and night.
A quieter season to visit Richmond
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of April and October tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Richmond. That said, January — with days averaging 17.1°C and nights around 6°C (mean 11.6°C) and higher rainfall (98 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 | 15.6°C | 9.9°C | 4.3°C | 26.0°C | -5.8°C | 98 mm | 77% | 3.1 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2024 | 16.6°C | 10.7°C | 4.9°C | 24.3°C | -6.7°C | 212 mm | 78% | 3.2 m/s | 3 |
| 2023 | 20.1°C | 14.6°C | 9.1°C | 25.8°C | 0.4°C | 117 mm | 82% | 3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2022 | 17.9°C | 11.5°C | 5.1°C | 29.2°C | -2.3°C | 66 mm | 71% | 3 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2021 | 18.0°C | 12.2°C | 6.4°C | 24.9°C | -1.5°C | 42 mm | 79% | 2.8 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2020 | 19.9°C | 14.6°C | 9.2°C | 26.6°C | 2.1°C | 108 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2019 | 17.0°C | 11.4°C | 5.9°C | 23.8°C | -1.2°C | 106 mm | 83% | 2.8 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2018 | 15.1°C | 9.1°C | 3.1°C | 23.3°C | -7.4°C | 61 mm | 75% | 2.8 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2017 | 20.0°C | 14.6°C | 9.3°C | 25.2°C | -7.0°C | 119 mm | 80% | 3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2016 | 17.1°C | 11.3°C | 5.5°C | 24.6°C | -1.2°C | 64 mm | 81% | 2.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2015 | 15.1°C | 9.8°C | 4.5°C | 23.5°C | -2.0°C | 109 mm | 81% | 2.5 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2014 | 15.9°C | 9.6°C | 3.3°C | 23.0°C | -4.0°C | 31 mm | 75% | 3 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2013 | 17.9°C | 12.9°C | 7.9°C | 25.8°C | -1.5°C | 117 mm | 82% | 3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2012 | 20.0°C | 14.0°C | 7.9°C | 25.0°C | -0.5°C | 117 mm | 79% | 2.9 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2011 | 16.6°C | 10.4°C | 4.2°C | 23.7°C | -4.3°C | 88 mm | 76% | 2.7 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2010 | 14.6°C | 9.1°C | 3.6°C | 22.9°C | -6.1°C | 73 mm | 82% | 2.8 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2009 | 18.9°C | 12.2°C | 5.6°C | 26.4°C | -1.0°C | 9 mm | 72% | 2.8 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2008 | 16.2°C | 10.8°C | 5.5°C | 24.9°C | -2.4°C | 139 mm | 80% | 3.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2007 | 14.7°C | 10.1°C | 5.6°C | 24.5°C | -1.0°C | 166 mm | 85% | 2.8 m/s | 2.4 |
| 2006 🔥 | 21.2°C | 15.1°C | 9.0°C | 26.1°C | 2.3°C | 47 mm | 71% | 3.1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2005 | 18.0°C | 13.1°C | 8.2°C | 24.7°C | 0.0°C | 61 mm | 85% | 3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2004 | 17.4°C | 12.7°C | 7.9°C | 24.2°C | -1.7°C | 140 mm | 82% | 2.9 m/s | 2.5 |
| 2003 | 14.7°C | 9.7°C | 4.7°C | 23.6°C | -3.4°C | 57 mm | 85% | 2.8 m/s | 3 |
| 2002 | 18.7°C | 12.8°C | 6.9°C | 25.5°C | -5.1°C | 55 mm | 82% | 3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 2001 | 14.9°C | 9.9°C | 5.0°C | 22.0°C | -4.6°C | 130 mm | 84% | 2.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2000 | 20.5°C | 14.5°C | 8.5°C | 27.4°C | -2.4°C | 43 mm | 74% | 3.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1999 | 19.2°C | 13.6°C | 8.0°C | 25.5°C | -4.1°C | 52 mm | 83% | 3.3 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1998 | 19.4°C | 14.2°C | 8.9°C | 23.6°C | 1.5°C | 142 mm | 87% | 3 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1997 | 15.4°C | 10.4°C | 5.5°C | 26.6°C | -3.3°C | 116 mm | 82% | 3 m/s | 2.5 |
| 1996 | 17.3°C | 10.8°C | 4.4°C | 24.2°C | -6.4°C | 60 mm | 77% | 3.3 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1995 | 17.3°C | 11.8°C | 6.4°C | 24.5°C | -0.9°C | 113 mm | 82% | 3.1 m/s | 3 |
| 1994 | 16.9°C | 11.6°C | 6.2°C | 23.4°C | -3.3°C | 69 mm | 82% | 3.3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1993 | 16.9°C | 11.8°C | 6.7°C | 24.8°C | -0.6°C | 171 mm | 85% | 2.6 m/s | 2.2 |
| 1992 | 15.2°C | 10.7°C | 6.2°C | 22.2°C | -3.5°C | 212 mm | 85% | 2.4 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1991 🌧️ | 15.9°C | 10.9°C | 5.9°C | 23.9°C | -0.6°C | 260 mm | 85% | 2.8 m/s | 2.4 |
| 1990 | 19.3°C | 13.9°C | 8.5°C | 25.5°C | -0.3°C | 127 mm | 80% | 2.9 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1989 | 20.0°C | 14.8°C | 9.5°C | 27.8°C | 0.3°C | 167 mm | 84% | 2.8 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1988 | 14.7°C | 9.1°C | 3.5°C | 22.8°C | -3.1°C | 48 mm | 79% | 3 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1987 | 15.1°C | 10.1°C | 5.0°C | 21.7°C | -2.7°C | 91 mm | 85% | 2.6 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1986 | 17.4°C | 11.7°C | 6.0°C | 24.0°C | -0.6°C | 35 mm | 80% | 2.4 m/s | 3.3 |
| 1985 ❄️ | 13.2°C | 7.6°C | 2.0°C | 24.3°C | -7.3°C | 76 mm | 81% | 2.8 m/s | 2.9 |
| 1984 | 13.4°C | 8.4°C | 3.3°C | 21.5°C | -5.9°C | 104 mm | 82% | 2.8 m/s | 2.7 |
| 1983 | 15.4°C | 9.9°C | 4.4°C | 22.4°C | -0.3°C | 87 mm | 83% | 2.5 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 17.1°C | 11.2°C | 5.3°C | 24.7°C | -8.9°C | 47 mm | 80% | 3.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 16.2°C | 10.5°C | 4.7°C | 22.5°C | 0.0°C | 75 mm | 76% | 2.3 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 17.1°C with lows near 6°C (mean 11.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 98 mm of rainfall in Richmond, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 260 mm in 1991.
The hottest January reached 29.2°C in 2022. The coldest dipped to -8.9°C in 1982.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 2.3°C. Daytime highs moved from 15.1°C to 17.6°C and overnight lows from 3.9°C to 6°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Richmond and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 17.1°C daytime highs and 6°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Richmond, averaging 11.6°C.
For January in Richmond, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 17.1°C and lows of 6°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 80% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 2.9 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 3.3 m/s (1994).
The wettest January on record was 1991 with 260 mm. On average, January sees 98 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 Richmond 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.
