January is one of the cooler months of the year in Kennewick, with average highs near 5.5°C and lows around -1.9°C (mean 1.8°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 37 mm of rainfall and 81% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Kennewick. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Kennewick was 2020 — when the month averaged 5.4°C — while the coldest was 1993 at -4°C. Typical January days reach 5.5°C with nights near -1.9°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
January is a relatively wet time of year in Kennewick, averaging 37 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1995 with 71 mm, while the driest was 1985 at 10 mm.
Relative humidity in Kennewick during January averages 81%. The most humid January was 2004 at 86%, and the least humid was 2008 at 74%.
January receives about 1.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Kennewick. The sunniest Januarys were 1985 and 2025 at 1.6 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2004 at 0.9.
Average wind speed in Kennewick during January is 2.5 m/s. The windiest January was 1990 at 3.6 m/s, while the calmest was 1985 at 1.7 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 1.3°C | 1.8°C | 1.7°C | 1.9°C | 2.6°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg High | 5.0°C | 5.6°C | 5.3°C | 5.5°C | 6.4°C | +1.4°C |
| Avg Low | -2.5°C | -2.0°C | -1.9°C | -1.8°C | -1.2°C | +1.3°C |
| Avg Rain | 35 mm | 41 mm | 38 mm | 35 mm | 36 mm | +1 mm |
January temperatures in Kennewick have risen by about 1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -19.3°C (1996) to a record high of 18.8°C (1995).
Rainfall in January is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 37 mm, with a wettest year of 71 mm.
A quieter season to visit Kennewick
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and July tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Kennewick. That said, January — with days averaging 5.5°C and nights around -1.9°C (mean 1.8°C) and moderate rainfall (37 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 | 4.3°C | 0.2°C | -3.9°C | 9.9°C | -8.9°C | 32 mm | 83% | 1.8 m/s | 1.6 |
| 2024 | 4.1°C | 0.8°C | -2.6°C | 16.0°C | -15.1°C | 62 mm | 83% | 2.6 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2023 | 7.4°C | 3.3°C | -0.8°C | 14.2°C | -6.5°C | 25 mm | 78% | 2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2022 | 5.3°C | 1.6°C | -2.0°C | 13.7°C | -12.4°C | 30 mm | 84% | 2.1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2021 | 7.9°C | 4.0°C | 0.1°C | 13.9°C | -4.5°C | 28 mm | 75% | 2.2 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2020 🔥 | 9.1°C | 5.4°C | 1.7°C | 18.5°C | -4.3°C | 41 mm | 75% | 3.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2019 | 6.7°C | 2.9°C | -0.9°C | 12.5°C | -4.0°C | 47 mm | 80% | 2.1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2018 | 7.8°C | 4.2°C | 0.5°C | 15.2°C | -6.5°C | 39 mm | 82% | 2.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2017 | -0.1°C | -3.6°C | -7.1°C | 8.0°C | -15.3°C | 40 mm | 83% | 2 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2016 | 6.3°C | 2.5°C | -1.2°C | 13.3°C | -10.3°C | 41 mm | 84% | 2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2015 | 6.0°C | 2.6°C | -0.9°C | 16.1°C | -8.8°C | 24 mm | 86% | 1.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2014 | 4.8°C | 1.5°C | -1.7°C | 11.4°C | -6.0°C | 23 mm | 82% | 2.5 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2013 | 3.2°C | -0.5°C | -4.2°C | 10.6°C | -9.9°C | 18 mm | 82% | 2.3 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2012 | 6.7°C | 2.5°C | -1.6°C | 15.9°C | -5.5°C | 42 mm | 75% | 2.6 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2011 | 6.5°C | 2.6°C | -1.3°C | 15.2°C | -11.0°C | 28 mm | 79% | 2.7 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2010 | 7.6°C | 3.9°C | 0.1°C | 15.1°C | -6.6°C | 47 mm | 81% | 2 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2009 | 4.3°C | 0.5°C | -3.2°C | 13.2°C | -12.6°C | 40 mm | 81% | 3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2008 | 4.5°C | 0.8°C | -3.0°C | 11.2°C | -10.5°C | 45 mm | 74% | 2.8 m/s | 1.5 |
| 2007 | 4.0°C | 0.0°C | -4.1°C | 12.2°C | -11.3°C | 15 mm | 78% | 2.5 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2006 | 8.7°C | 5.0°C | 1.2°C | 13.4°C | -2.3°C | 54 mm | 80% | 3.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2005 | 5.5°C | 1.4°C | -2.7°C | 13.6°C | -10.1°C | 19 mm | 79% | 2.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 2004 | 2.7°C | -0.1°C | -2.9°C | 13.2°C | -17.7°C | 58 mm | 86% | 2.5 m/s | 0.9 |
| 2003 | 7.1°C | 3.9°C | 0.6°C | 16.7°C | -3.6°C | 66 mm | 85% | 2 m/s | 1.1 |
| 2002 | 6.5°C | 2.9°C | -0.7°C | 15.1°C | -5.4°C | 22 mm | 78% | 2.9 m/s | 1.4 |
| 2001 | 4.0°C | 0.7°C | -2.7°C | 10.4°C | -7.7°C | 20 mm | 85% | 1.8 m/s | 1.2 |
| 2000 | 5.6°C | 2.0°C | -1.6°C | 12.2°C | -5.8°C | 44 mm | 83% | 2.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1999 | 7.6°C | 3.8°C | 0.1°C | 13.8°C | -5.9°C | 27 mm | 77% | 2.8 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1998 | 6.7°C | 2.8°C | -1.1°C | 13.4°C | -13.6°C | 52 mm | 79% | 2.8 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1997 | 4.5°C | 0.8°C | -3.0°C | 14.1°C | -13.9°C | 49 mm | 81% | 2.9 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1996 | 4.2°C | 0.7°C | -2.8°C | 13.7°C | -19.3°C | 48 mm | 80% | 2.7 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1995 🌧️ | 5.1°C | 1.2°C | -2.6°C | 18.8°C | -11.9°C | 71 mm | 85% | 2.2 m/s | 1.4 |
| 1994 | 8.9°C | 4.6°C | 0.3°C | 14.3°C | -4.6°C | 33 mm | 81% | 2.2 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1993 ❄️ | -0.1°C | -4.0°C | -7.9°C | 10.6°C | -17.0°C | 43 mm | 86% | 2.2 m/s | 1.5 |
| 1992 | 6.5°C | 3.0°C | -0.5°C | 15.1°C | -5.8°C | 25 mm | 79% | 2.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1991 | 4.6°C | 0.5°C | -3.5°C | 14.8°C | -11.1°C | 22 mm | 78% | 2.3 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1990 | 7.9°C | 4.2°C | 0.5°C | 16.0°C | -3.9°C | 36 mm | 76% | 3.6 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1989 | 7.3°C | 3.4°C | -0.5°C | 14.1°C | -5.5°C | 38 mm | 78% | 3.1 m/s | 1.1 |
| 1988 | 3.4°C | -0.3°C | -4.0°C | 11.8°C | -12.3°C | 37 mm | 80% | 2.4 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1987 | 4.3°C | 0.5°C | -3.3°C | 12.3°C | -8.7°C | 47 mm | 80% | 2.2 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1986 | 6.7°C | 3.0°C | -0.7°C | 15.6°C | -6.3°C | 52 mm | 86% | 2.3 m/s | 1.2 |
| 1985 | 0.1°C | -3.4°C | -6.9°C | 6.0°C | -12.4°C | 10 mm | 85% | 1.7 m/s | 1.6 |
| 1984 | 4.9°C | 1.0°C | -3.0°C | 13.4°C | -14.5°C | 17 mm | 85% | 2.6 m/s | 1.3 |
| 1983 | 7.7°C | 3.8°C | -0.1°C | 14.6°C | -8.7°C | 48 mm | 83% | 2.6 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 4.4°C | 0.8°C | -2.7°C | 10.1°C | -15.7°C | 40 mm | 81% | 3.3 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 6.4°C | 2.6°C | -1.1°C | 13.0°C | -4.0°C | 26 mm | 85% | 1.8 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 5.5°C with lows near -1.9°C (mean 1.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 37 mm of rainfall in Kennewick, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 71 mm in 1995.
The hottest January reached 18.8°C in 1995. The coldest dipped to -19.3°C in 1996.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 1°C. Daytime highs moved from 4.7°C to 5.8°C and overnight lows from -2.8°C to -1.8°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Kennewick and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 5.5°C daytime highs and -1.9°C at night.
Not quite — January is the 2nd coolest month in Kennewick, averaging 1.8°C.
For January in Kennewick, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 5.5°C and lows of -1.9°C.
Relative humidity in January averages 81% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 2.5 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 3.6 m/s (1990).
The wettest January on record was 1995 with 71 mm. On average, January sees 37 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 Kennewick 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.
