Weather in United States in January

January in United States is deep winter. Days are short. The outdoor plan is a window in the middle of the day or not at all.

A country pin in January is a warning: one region of United States will not match another. Use a city page if you already know where you are going. January is the cold side of the year in United States. Pack for that, not for a leftover summer photo.

United States
Average temp
-2°C

-7–4°C

Rainfall
17 mm

Not much rain

Sunshine
Wind
17 km/h

What to expect

Daytime

Days in United States in January are about getting between indoor places. The cold is the story. Gloves are not a fashion choice.

A clear spell is for a short walk, then back in. Do not plan a long outdoor day as the default. Night falls early and the cold deepens with it.

Rain

Rain is not the story in United States in January. Pack for sun. A shower would be news, not a plan.

Do not build the trip around weather windows. Build it around shade if it is hot, and around getting outside if it is not.

Evening

Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.

What to pack

  • A layer for cooler evenings

Average weather in United States

TemperatureRainfall

Source: MeteostatPeriod: 1991-2020Checked: 28 Aug 2026265 places covered

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FAQs about United States

Climate averages for United States, 1991–2020.

The best time to visit United States is between May and October, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.

July is the hottest month, with an average around 26°C.

May is the wettest month, with about 112 mm of rain.

No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.