Boston weather in January
Boston in January averages -1°C (30°F), 84 mm of rain and 4.7 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Boston, January is the coldest, the fifth driest and the second dullest.
- Average temp
- -1°C (30°F)
-5–3°C · 23–37°F
- Rainfall
- 84 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 4.7 h
hours per day
- Wind
- 20 km/h
What is Boston like in January?
Daytime
Days are cool.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Boston in January?
A light rain jacket
About 84 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around -5°C (23°F).
January compared with December and February
January in Boston is 3.2°C cooler than December and 23 mm drier than it, which averages 2°C (36°F).
January in Boston is 1°C cooler than February and about as wet as it, which averages 0°C (32°F).
Daylight in Boston in January
On 15 January the sun is up for 9 hours 25 minutes in Boston, rising about 07:11 and setting about 16:36 local time.
January ends 48 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 5 hours 51 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in Boston
Dates are a starting point for January.
Travel guides for Boston
What to read before you book.
Boston weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How January compares with the rest of the year
January is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | -1°C / 30°F | 84 mm |
| February | 0°C / 32°F | 79 mm |
| March | 4°C / 38°F | 105 mm |
| April | 9°C / 49°F | 91 mm |
| May | 15°C / 59°F | 83 mm |
| June | 20°C / 68°F | 99 mm |
| July | 24°C / 74°F | 82 mm |
| August | 23°C / 73°F | 80 mm |
| September | 19°C / 66°F | 90 mm |
| October | 13°C / 55°F | 101 mm |
| November | 7°C / 45°F | 93 mm |
| December | 2°C / 36°F | 107 mm |
Check another month
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FAQs about Boston in January
January climate averages for Boston, 1991–2020.
Boston averages -1°C (30°F) in January, ranging from about -5°C (23°F) at night to 3°C (37°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 84 mm falls across January, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
No. January averages -1°C (30°F) against 0°C (32°F) in February — 1°C cooler.
January is 3.2°C cooler than December, and 23 mm drier.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is May to October; January sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
About 4.7 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what January is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 9 hours 25 minutes of daylight in mid-January, against 15 hours 16 minutes in June and 9 hours 6 minutes in December.
On 15 January, sunrise is about 07:11 and sunset about 16:36 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 48 minutes longer than it starts.
