Richland Weather in January (1981–2025)

📍 46.29°N, 119.30°W •
📊

January at a Glance in Richland

(1981–2025)
Avg High
🔥
4.3°C
Avg Low
❄️
-3.0°C
Avg Temp
🌡️
0.6°C
Avg Rain
🌧️
35 mm
Avg Humidity
💧
84%
Avg Wind
🌬️
2.2 m/s
Avg Solar
☀️
1.3
kWh/m²/day
vs Annual
📈
-11.3°C
temp difference
❄️Cold afternoons🥶Freezing mornings☁️Cloudier skies🌦️Some rain🍃Light winds💦Humid air

Richland January Weather Overview

January is one of the cooler months of the year in Richland, with average highs near 4.3°C and lows around -3°C (mean 0.6°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 35 mm of rainfall and 84% relative humidity across the period.

Richland January Temperature History (1981–2025)

Range

January is one of the cooler months of the year in Richland. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Richland was 2020 — when the month averaged 4.2°C — while the coldest was 1993 at -4.9°C. Typical January days reach 4.3°C with nights near -3°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.

1981–1985 vs 2021–2025

Avg Temp-0.2°C→0.9°C+1.1°C
Max Temp3.6°C→4.5°C+0.9°C
Min Temp-3.9°C→-2.7°C+1.2°C

Trend (per decade)

Avg Temp+0.2°C/decade ↗
Max Temp+0.2°C/decade ↗
Min Temp+0.3°C/decade ↗

Distribution of Avg Temp

-5.0°C–-2.5°C3 yr (7%)
-2.5°C–0.0°C16 yr (36%)
0.0°C–2.5°C17 yr (38%)
2.5°C–5.0°C9 yr (20%)

Richland January Rainfall History (1981–2025)

Range

January is a relatively wet time of year in Richland, averaging 35 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 2003 with 69 mm, while the driest was 1985 at 10 mm.

Richland January Humidity History (1981–2025)

Range

Relative humidity in Richland during January averages 84%. The most humid January was 1986 at 90%, and the least humid was 2008 at 78%.

Richland January Solar History (1981–2025)

Range

January receives about 1.3 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Richland. The sunniest Januarys were 1985 and 2025 at 1.6 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest was 2004 at 0.9.

Richland January Wind History (1981–2025)

Range

Average wind speed in Richland during January is 2.2 m/s. The windiest January was 1990 at 3.3 m/s, while the calmest were 2022, 2023 and 2025, among others at 1.6 m/s.

What January Feels Like in Richland

🌅
Freezing
Morning
🌞
Cold
Afternoon
🌆
Freezing
Evening
Rain chanceLow
Outdoor comfort★★★☆☆

How January Ranks in Richland

🥶2nd coolest month of the year
🌧️3rd wettest month of the year
☀️11th sunniest month of the year

Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.

Explore Richland Weather by Month

Richland January Averages by Decade

Metric1980s1990s2000s2010s2020sChange
Avg Temp0.1°C0.5°C0.7°C0.8°C1.5°C+1.4°C
Avg High3.8°C4.2°C4.2°C4.3°C5.1°C+1.3°C
Avg Low-3.6°C-3.3°C-2.8°C-2.7°C-2.1°C+1.5°C
Avg Rain30 mm38 mm37 mm33 mm35 mm+5 mm

Extreme January Records in Richland

🔥Warmest January17.7°C2020
🧊Coldest January-22.6°C1996
🌧️Wettest January69 mm2003
🏜️Driest January10 mm1985
🌬️Windiest January3.3 m/s1990

Key Insights for January

✅

January temperatures in Richland have risen by about 1.1°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.

✅

January has ranged from a record low of -22.6°C (1996) to a record high of 17.7°C (2020).

✅

Rainfall in January is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 35 mm, with a wettest year of 69 mm.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Richland?

A quieter season to visit Richland

If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of August and June tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Richland. That said, January — with days averaging 4.3°C and nights around -3°C (mean 0.6°C) and moderate rainfall (35 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.

See Richland's complete weather history All 12 months side by side, 1981–2025 records, annual trends and long-term averages in one place. View full history →

Richland Weather in January — In Depth

☀️ January climate overview

January is one of the cooler months of the year in Richland, with average highs near 4.3°C and lows around -3°C (mean 0.6°C). It is a relatively wet time of year, averaging 35 mm of rainfall and 84% relative humidity across the period.

🌧️ Rain, humidity & wind in January

January averages 35 mm of rainfall in Richland, a relatively wet time of year compared with the rest of the year. The wettest January on record saw 69 mm (2003), and the driest just 10 mm (1985). Humidity sits around 84% and average wind speed is 2.2 m/s, with solar radiation averaging 1.3 kWh/m²/day.

📈 How January has changed

Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 1.1°C. Daytime highs moved from 3.6°C to 4.5°C and overnight lows from -3.9°C to -2.7°C over the same span.
January Weather in Richland, Year by Year
🔥 warmest❄️ coldest🌧️ wettest
YearAvg HighAvg TempAvg LowHottest DayColdest DayRainfallHumidityWindSolar
20253.3°C-0.8°C-4.8°C9.5°C-9.5°C29 mm84%1.6 m/s1.6
20243.0°C-0.2°C-3.5°C13.5°C-16.9°C54 mm84%2.3 m/s1.1
20236.0°C2.3°C-1.4°C11.9°C-8.3°C23 mm81%1.6 m/s1.5
20223.7°C0.4°C-2.9°C11.7°C-12.8°C30 mm86%1.6 m/s1.1
20216.7°C3.0°C-0.7°C12.8°C-4.3°C30 mm79%2 m/s1.3
2020 🔥7.9°C4.2°C0.4°C17.7°C-5.0°C43 mm80%3 m/s1.2
20195.3°C1.8°C-1.6°C9.6°C-4.5°C40 mm84%2 m/s1.1
20186.7°C3.1°C-0.5°C12.4°C-7.7°C41 mm87%2.5 m/s1.2
2017-1.2°C-4.6°C-8.0°C6.4°C-17.0°C36 mm85%2 m/s1.3
20165.0°C1.5°C-2.0°C11.7°C-11.3°C43 mm87%1.7 m/s1.2
20154.9°C1.8°C-1.4°C10.8°C-8.8°C28 mm87%1.6 m/s1.1
20144.3°C0.9°C-2.4°C12.2°C-6.5°C21 mm84%2.1 m/s1.2
20132.0°C-1.6°C-5.2°C10.5°C-10.1°C14 mm85%1.8 m/s1.1
20124.8°C1.1°C-2.6°C11.6°C-7.8°C39 mm79%2.3 m/s1.4
20115.2°C1.3°C-2.7°C13.7°C-13.1°C29 mm82%2.3 m/s1.3
20106.2°C2.8°C-0.7°C13.3°C-9.3°C42 mm84%1.8 m/s1.2
20092.9°C-0.7°C-4.3°C9.9°C-13.2°C37 mm83%2.4 m/s1.3
20083.0°C-0.5°C-4.0°C8.5°C-10.0°C38 mm78%2.4 m/s1.5
20073.1°C-0.9°C-4.8°C10.5°C-11.7°C13 mm80%2.3 m/s1.3
20067.7°C3.9°C0.0°C12.9°C-3.6°C56 mm86%2.6 m/s1.3
20054.4°C0.4°C-3.5°C11.8°C-11.9°C19 mm82%2.2 m/s1.3
20041.7°C-1.2°C-4.0°C11.7°C-19.3°C54 mm88%2 m/s0.9
2003 🌧️6.2°C3.0°C-0.3°C15.6°C-3.7°C69 mm87%1.8 m/s1.1
20025.6°C2.0°C-1.6°C11.7°C-6.1°C21 mm81%2.5 m/s1.4
20013.0°C-0.3°C-3.5°C9.2°C-8.7°C18 mm87%1.7 m/s1.2
20004.8°C1.1°C-2.5°C9.1°C-7.6°C42 mm85%2.4 m/s1.3
19996.1°C2.4°C-1.2°C11.2°C-6.4°C29 mm83%2.3 m/s1.1
19985.5°C1.5°C-2.4°C11.4°C-14.4°C40 mm84%2.5 m/s1.3
19973.2°C-0.4°C-3.9°C11.3°C-13.9°C45 mm84%2.7 m/s1.4
19961.9°C-1.6°C-5.0°C11.6°C-22.6°C48 mm83%2.5 m/s1.2
19953.6°C-0.1°C-3.9°C17.0°C-12.8°C68 mm88%2 m/s1.4
19947.5°C3.4°C-0.7°C13.3°C-4.3°C31 mm85%1.7 m/s1.3
1993 ❄️-1.0°C-4.9°C-8.9°C8.9°C-19.2°C33 mm88%2.3 m/s1.5
19925.3°C1.9°C-1.5°C12.8°C-7.8°C28 mm85%1.9 m/s1.2
19913.1°C-0.8°C-4.7°C11.4°C-11.1°C22 mm81%1.9 m/s1.3
19907.2°C3.3°C-0.5°C13.8°C-4.4°C38 mm79%3.3 m/s1.2
19895.8°C2.2°C-1.5°C11.5°C-5.8°C27 mm81%2.5 m/s1.1
19882.6°C-1.3°C-5.1°C10.8°C-12.8°C26 mm83%2.2 m/s1.3
19873.0°C-0.8°C-4.6°C9.6°C-11.3°C44 mm84%2 m/s1.3
19864.9°C1.5°C-1.8°C12.1°C-8.6°C54 mm90%2 m/s1.2
1985-0.8°C-4.4°C-8.0°C3.1°C-14.6°C10 mm87%1.6 m/s1.6
19843.7°C-0.1°C-4.0°C13.3°C-14.9°C17 mm87%2.3 m/s1.3
19836.1°C2.5°C-1.1°C11.8°C-8.7°C46 mm88%2.3 m/s—
19822.6°C-1.1°C-4.9°C9.1°C-19.0°C30 mm85%2.8 m/s—
19816.2°C2.3°C-1.6°C12.6°C-5.0°C16 mm86%1.7 m/s—

Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.

Other Cities in Washington

Richland January Weather — FAQ

What is the average temperature in Richland in January?▼

The average high in January is around 4.3°C with lows near -3°C (mean 0.6°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.

Does it rain a lot in Richland in January?▼

January averages 35 mm of rainfall in Richland, a relatively wet time of year. The wettest on record was 69 mm in 2003.

What was the hottest January on record in Richland?▼

The hottest January reached 17.7°C in 2020. The coldest dipped to -22.6°C in 1996.

Has January in Richland gotten warmer over time?▼

Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 1.1°C. Daytime highs moved from 3.6°C to 4.5°C and overnight lows from -3.9°C to -2.7°C over the same span.

Is January a good time to visit Richland?▼

January is one of the cooler months of the year in Richland and a relatively wet time of year, so plan for around 4.3°C daytime highs and -3°C at night.

Is January the coldest month in Richland?▼

Not quite — January is the 2nd coolest month in Richland, averaging 0.6°C.

What should I pack for Richland in January?▼

For January in Richland, pack warm layers and a jacket for chilly mornings, with typical highs of 4.3°C and lows of -3°C.

Is Richland humid in January?▼

Relative humidity in January averages 84% — quite humid.

How windy is Richland in January?▼

Average wind speed in January is 2.2 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 3.3 m/s (1990).

Which January had the most rainfall in Richland?▼

The wettest January on record was 2003 with 69 mm. On average, January sees 35 mm.

Where does this January weather data come from?▼

All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.

Other Washington cities

Explore how the weather in Richland 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.