January in New York averages highs of 4 °C (40 °F) and lows of -4 °C (26 °F), with about 8 rainy days and 9 h 33 min of daylight.
January weather in New York at a glance
average high to low each dot ≈ 3 rainy days
Is January a good time to visit New York?
Tough month: cold and some rain. January is usually shoulder season in New York: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
Our rule: a month scores 2 points for comfortable average highs of 18–28 °C (1 point for 14–18 or 28–32 °C) and 2 points for 5 or fewer rainy days (1 point for 6–10). Average highs above 35 °C or below 8 °C make it a tough month whatever the rain. A rainy day here means 2 mm of rain or more. 4 points = great, 3 = good, 2 = mixed, 0–1 = tough.
Holidays and events in January 2026
- Thu 1 Jan: New Year's Day public holiday
- Mon 19 Jan: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day public holiday
Banks and many shops close on public holidays, and museums may change their hours, so check before you go.
Things to do in New York in January
With cold days in January, here are the indoor picks first, then the outdoor ones for drier spells.
- The Met — pay-what-you-wish only for New York State residents indoors
- Top of the Rock or Edge — skyline views indoors
- Central Park — walk or bike outdoors
- Brooklyn Bridge and DUMBO — sunrise or sunset outdoors
- High Line and Chelsea Market outdoors
- Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island — first ferry outdoors
Where to stay: Midtown for first-timers; Lower East Side or the Village for food; Brooklyn (Williamsburg) for value and views.
What to pack for New York in January
- A warm winter coat, hat and gloves: it rarely gets above 4 °C (40 °F).
- Comfortable walking shoes.
What a day in New York costs
| Budget traveller | Mid-range | |
|---|---|---|
| Typical total per person, per day | $90–200 | $250–500 |
Excluding flights. January is usually shoulder season in New York: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower.
January in nearby cities
| City | High / low | Rainy days | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico City | 22° / 7° | 2 | Great time to go |
| Reykjavik | 2° / -3° | 16 | Tough month |
| Dublin | 8° / 4° | 10 | Tough month |
Want the whole trip planned? Join the Journey waitlist: tell it where, when and your budget, and it plans every day hour by hour.
FAQ
Is January a good time to visit New York?
By the numbers, January is a tough month: cold and some rain, with average highs of 4 °C (40 °F) and about 8 rainy days. January is usually shoulder season in New York: fewer crowds than peak months, with prices often a little lower. The best months for weather are May, June, September, October.
How warm is New York in January?
Average highs are 4 °C (40 °F) and lows -4 °C (26 °F) (2015–2024 averages).
Does it rain a lot in New York in January?
Expect about 8 days with 2 mm of rain or more, about 100 mm in total. It is the 3rd driest month of the year in New York.
Sources: climate averages from Open-Meteo historical weather (ERA5 reanalysis, 2015–2024); sea temperatures from the Open-Meteo marine API (2023–2024); public holidays from Nager.Date. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of the month. Averages are a guide, not a forecast. Costs are typical ranges per person per day, excluding flights.