New York City weather in January
In January, New York City has an average high of 4 °C38 °F and an average low of −1 °C29 °F, with about 99 mm3.9 in of precipitation. January is the coldest month of the year and ranks 10th for precipitation.
How January compares with other months
Compared with December, January is 3.4 °C6.2 °F cooler on average and drier by 33 mm1.3 in. Compared with February, January is about the same temperature. Daylight lasts about 9.6 hours around the middle of the month. Average relative humidity is 82% and the average cloud amount 62%.
Is January a good time to visit New York City?
January is not among the most comfortable months by our comfort score: it is cool (average high 4 °C38 °F), nights are cold (average low −1 °C29 °F) and it is fairly wet (99 mm3.9 in). The most comfortable months in New York City are June and September.
What to wear in January
For New York City in January, pack a winter coat, hat, gloves and warm, non-slip boots, shoes with good grip, as frost is common and an umbrella or light rain jacket.
January in nearby places
| Place | High °C°F | Low °C°F | Precip. mmin |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | 438 | −129 | 993.9 |
| Manhattan | 236 | −621 | 813.2 |
| Brooklyn | 438 | −129 | 993.9 |
| Staten Island | 337 | −523 | 823.2 |
| Paterson | 236 | −620 | 783.1 |
| Stamford | 236 | −622 | 813.2 |
| Bridgeport | 337 | −327 | 813.2 |
| New Haven | 235 | −720 | 763.0 |
| Waterbury | 134 | −719 | 763.0 |
Nearby places that are more than 1 °C1.8 °F cooler: Manhattan, Staten Island, Paterson and Stamford.
Other months in New York City
- January4 °C38 °F / −1 °C29 °F
- February4 °C39 °F / −1 °C30 °F
- March7 °C44 °F / 1 °C35 °F
- April12 °C54 °F / 6 °C43 °F
- May17 °C63 °F / 12 °C53 °F
- June22 °C72 °F / 17 °C63 °F
- July26 °C79 °F / 21 °C70 °F
- August26 °C79 °F / 21 °C70 °F
- September23 °C74 °F / 18 °C64 °F
- October18 °C64 °F / 12 °C54 °F
- November12 °C53 °F / 7 °C44 °F
- December7 °C44 °F / 2 °C36 °F
Frequently asked questions
How warm is New York City in January?
In January the average high in New York City is 4 °C (38 °F) and the average low is -1 °C (29 °F).
Does it rain a lot in New York City in January?
On average about 99 mm (3.9 in) of precipitation falls in January; it ranks 10th of the 12 months.
Is January the warmest month in New York City?
No. The warmest month in New York City is July, with an average high of 26 °C (79 °F). The coldest month is January, with an average low of -1 °C (29 °F).
How long is the day in New York City in January?
In the middle of January the day in New York City lasts about 9.6 hours from sunrise to sunset. The value is calculated from the position of the city and the sun.
How humid is New York City in January?
The average relative humidity in January is about 82%. This is a long-term average for the whole day.
How cloudy is New York City in January?
On average about 62% of the sky is covered by cloud in January. This is the mean cloud amount from satellite data, not the number of sunny days.
About this data
All figures are 25-year averages (January 2001 – December 2025) from the NASA POWER project. Temperature, humidity, wind and precipitation come from the MERRA-2 reanalysis (precipitation is the bias-corrected MERRA-2 product), cloud and solar values from CERES satellite data. They describe a grid cell of roughly 50–70 km, not a single weather station, so they can differ from airport records — most of all on coasts, in mountains and for rainfall. Average highs and lows are the monthly mean temperature plus/minus half of the average daily temperature range. Counts of rainy days are not part of this dataset.