Monthly climate guide
New York weather in January
With highs near 4°C (38°F) and lows around -1°C (29°F), January feels cold in New York. Rainfall averages about 124 mm (wet) and the sky is often cloudy. Daytime highs are 4°C cooler than December and about the same as February.
What stands out in January
- New York is usually about 3°C warmer than Boston, 310 km away, in January.
- Keep a flexible plan: if showers roll in, shift Empire State Building to a drier part of the day.
- Mornings start cold: the average low is -1°C, and frost is common.
- Days and nights are close, only about 5°C apart.
January is typically New York's coolest month.
Avg high
4°C
38°F
Avg low
-1°C
29°F
Rainfall
124 mm
wet
Humidity
82%
relative
Sky
61%
cloud · often cloudy
New York weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 4°C / 38°F | -1°C / 29°F | 124 mm | 82% | 61% |
| February | 4°C / 40°F | -1°C / 30°F | 116 mm | 82% | 63% |
| March | 7°C / 44°F | 2°C / 35°F | 117 mm | 80% | 59% |
| April | 12°C / 53°F | 6°C / 43°F | 109 mm | 82% | 63% |
| May | 17°C / 63°F | 12°C / 53°F | 118 mm | 85% | 65% |
| June | 22°C / 72°F | 17°C / 63°F | 110 mm | 83% | 58% |
| July | 27°C / 80°F | 22°C / 71°F | 133 mm | 80% | 55% |
| August | 26°C / 79°F | 21°C / 70°F | 135 mm | 78% | 53% |
| September | 23°C / 74°F | 18°C / 65°F | 92 mm | 78% | 54% |
| October | 18°C / 64°F | 13°C / 55°F | 126 mm | 78% | 57% |
| November | 12°C / 53°F | 6°C / 43°F | 117 mm | 79% | 55% |
| December | 7°C / 45°F | 3°C / 37°F | 155 mm | 83% | 67% |
What to pack for January
- A proper insulated winter coat
- A hat, scarf and gloves
- Thermal base layers and warm, grippy boots for icy mornings
- A compact umbrella or packable rain jacket
- Water-resistant shoes
Is January a good time to visit New York?
Our New York guide recommends: April to June or September to November, avoiding the humid peak of summer and the coldest weeks of winter.
Get a 7-day unlimited MetroCard (or use contactless tap) if you're staying more than a couple of days — it's far cheaper than single rides.
Best time to visit New York →Other United States cities in January
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New York weather in January. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/usa/new-york/january
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/usa/new-york/january">New York weather in January</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/usa/new-york" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="New York weather in January"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/usa/new-york/january">New York weather in January</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
New York in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit New York?
January is cool in New York, with highs around 4°C. Better for museums and city walks than the beach, and usually quieter.
How warm is New York in January?
Average highs are about 4°C (38°F) and average lows about -1°C (29°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in New York in January?
New York typically gets around 124 mm of rain in January — wet.
When is the best time to visit New York?
April to June or September to November, avoiding the humid peak of summer and the coldest weeks of winter.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around New York (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.