Boston weather in January (Massachusetts, United States of America)

Looking to travel to Boston in January? Check out this comprehensive weather guide.

In January, Boston generally has low temperatures and moderate snow/rainfall. January falls within the winter season. Throughout the day, temperatures typically settle at around 3°C. But by evening, they drop to around -5°C. On average, it is the coldest month of the year. So be prepared and make sure to pack winter cloths.

Boston in January usually receives moderate snow/rainfall, averaging around 90 mm for the month. Based on our climate data of the past 30 years, about 12 days of snow/rain are anticipated.

The area enjoys a balanced 162 hours of sunlight. Ensuring it's neither too overcast nor too sunny.

If you're looking for dry conditions and comfortable temperatures, January may not be the ideal month to visit Boston. August and September typically offer the best circumstances. While January, February, March and December tend to showcase less optimal conditions.

For an in-depth look at the yearly conditions, visit our specialized Boston climate page with graphs.

 

Boston, monthly averages in January

Min TemperatureMin Temperature -5°C  
Max TemperatureMax Temperature 3°C  
Water TemperatureWater Temperature 5°C  
Chance of RainChance of Rain 40%  
PrecipitationPrecipitation 90 mm  
Rainy daysRainy days 12 days  
HumidityHumidity 63%  
WindspeedWindspeed 25 km/h  
SunshineSunshine 162 hours  
Percentage SunshinePercentage Sunshine 56%  

Where to go in the United States of America in January

Find out more about the weather in the United States of America in January and which places have the best weather conditions in this month.

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Legend perfect weather pleasant tolerable unpleasant poor
Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C and 29°C and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm a month).

So, what should you wear in Boston in January?

Wear a base layer in cold weather; this is the #1 thing you can do to increase your overall body temperature. With a water temperature of around 5°C there is no need to bring your swimwear.

What To Do

We rated the following activities from 1 (least suitable) to 10 (best) to do in January.

Swimming
5/10
Cycling
3/10
Walking
3/10
Camping
1/10
Outdoor sports
3/10

Interested in more climate information?

Weather and Climate provides you with all the information you need about the climate in Boston.

Our site offers climate and forecast data for every country in the world. Are you going to the United States of America? On this website you can find historical weather averages for many cities in the United States of America. Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal climate conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.