How hot is New York City in January?

Daytime highs in New York City in January average 5°C (41°F); nights drop to about -2°C.

Does it rain in New York City in January?

Expect around 10.5 rainy days and 102 mm of rainfall in January.

Is January a good time to visit New York City?

January is a challenging month to visit New York City — consider May–June & September–October instead. Overall travel score: 1.5/10. The best months are May–June & September–October.

New York City weather in January

January is a challenging month to visit New York City — consider May–June & September–October instead. Expect highs around 5°C, lows near -2°C, and about 10.5 days with rain.

1.5 · Challengingtravel score for January

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Avg high

5°C

Avg low

-2°C

Rainfall

102 mm

Rain days

10.5

Sunshine

5.9 h/day

Daylight

9.4 h

What to pack for New York City in January

a warm coat, hat and gloves
a compact umbrella or rain shell — rain is frequent
waterproof boots — snow is likely

Humidity averages 69%; max daily wind around 23 km/h. Snow falls on about 2.3 days.

How January compares

Best months in New York City: May–June & September–October. See the full best time to visit New York City guide.

New York City in January: the details

In January, New York City sees average daytime highs of 5°C (41°F) and overnight lows of -2°C (28°F). Rainfall totals roughly 102 mm across 10.5 rainy days, and the sun shines about 5.9 hours per day with 9.4 hours of daylight mid-month. Relative humidity averages 69%.

These figures are climate normals computed from the ERA5 weather reanalysis (2019–2024) for New York City, United States (40.71, -74.01) — see our methodology. Actual conditions vary year to year.

Where should you go next month?

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