Galveston weather in January

In January, Galveston sees average daytime highs of 60°F and overnight lows near 53°F, with 4.8 in of rain across 10.4 wet days and about 10.3 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 60°F through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 34% of the time in January, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 12 min at the start of January to 10 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Galveston's 10th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Galveston's year-round climate.

Daytime high
60°
12th warmest
Overnight low
53°
1st coldest
Rainfall
4.8 in
10.4 wet days
Daylight
10 h 18 min
7:19 AM – 5:38 PM
Cloud cover
58%
10th clearest
Wind
13 mph
2nd windiest
Solar energy
3.03 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.7
out of 10

Galveston is city in and county seat of Galveston County, Texas, United States; port and coastal city.

Density
93/km²
people per km²
Founded
1785

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in January

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 60°F through the month.

A typical January day in Galveston reaches about 60°F in the afternoon and slips back to 53°F overnight — a 7°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 51°F and 66°F. Set against its neighbours, January runs about 3°F cooler than December and about 2°F cooler than February.

40°50°60°70°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
16053
26053
36053
46053
56053
66053
76053
86053
96053
106053
116053
126053
135953
145953
155953
166053
176053
186053
196053
206053
216053
226053
236053
246053
256053
266053
276053
286053
296053
306053
316053

How January really feels in Galveston

Once humidity and wind are folded in, January averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 0 that feel at or below 32°F — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 90°F
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ 32°F
0
wind chill below the day's low

January sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Galveston weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 12th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan60° / 53°4.810.410.34.7
Feb61° / 55°3.58.710.95.2
Mar66° / 61°3.47.911.86.4
Apr72° / 67°3.57.212.77.3
May78° / 74°3.07.613.47.4
Jun83° / 79°4.310.713.86.1
Jul84° / 81°3.711.613.75.4
Aug85° / 81°4.513.113.15.0
Sep83° / 78°6.312.512.25.8
Oct77° / 71°4.78.611.37.4
Nov69° / 62°4.48.210.56.8
Dec62° / 55°4.510.110.25.5

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 34% of the time in January.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 12% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 54%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14357
24456
34456
44456
54555
64555
74654
84654
94654
104753
114753
124753
134753
144753
154753
164852
174852
184852
194852
204753
214753
224753
234654
244753
254753
264555
274555
284555
294555
304555
314555

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Galveston gets around 4.8 in of rain over 10.4 wet days in January. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 34% and peaks near 35% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
133
233
333
434
534
634
734
834
934
1035
1135
1235
1335
1435
1535
1634
1734
1834
1934
2034
2134
2234
2334
2434
2534
2634
2734
2834
2933
3033
3133

Humidity in January

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of January feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, January lands in the dry band about 67% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
16617152
26518152
36518152
46518152
56618151
66618151
76618151
86618151
96717151
106717151
116717142
126717142
136717142
146717142
156717142
166718141
176718141
186718141
196718141
206818131
216719131
226719131
236719131
246620131
256720121
266720121
276720121
286720121
296720121
306720121
316720121

Wind in January

Winds average 13 mph in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 13 mph on the calmest days to 13 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
113breezy
213breezy
313breezy
413breezy
513breezy
613breezy
713breezy
813breezy
913breezy
1013breezy
1113breezy
1213breezy
1313breezy
1413breezy
1513breezy
1613breezy
1713breezy
1813breezy
1913breezy
2013breezy
2113breezy
2213breezy
2313breezy
2413breezy
2513breezy
2613breezy
2713breezy
2813breezy
2913breezy
3013breezy
3113breezy

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 12 min at the start of January to 10 h 36 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 24 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 7:18 AM to 7:15 AM, and sunset from 5:27 PM to 5:50 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.27:185:27
210.27:185:28
310.27:185:28
410.27:185:29
510.27:195:30
610.27:195:30
710.27:195:31
810.27:195:32
910.27:195:33
1010.27:195:33
1110.27:195:34
1210.37:195:35
1310.37:195:36
1410.37:195:36
1510.37:195:37
1610.37:195:38
1710.37:195:39
1810.37:195:40
1910.47:195:40
2010.47:185:41
2110.47:185:42
2210.47:185:43
2310.47:185:44
2410.47:175:44
2510.57:175:45
2610.57:175:46
2710.57:165:47
2810.57:165:48
2910.57:165:49
3010.67:155:49
3110.67:155:50

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 3.03 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.75 kWh/m² to a high of 6.42 kWh/m² in July across the year — January's 3.03 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.8Moderate
22.8Moderate
32.8Moderate
42.8Moderate
52.8Moderate
62.8Moderate
72.9Moderate
82.9Moderate
92.9Moderate
102.9Moderate
112.9Moderate
123.0Moderate
133.0Moderate
143.0Moderate
153.0Moderate
163.0Moderate
173.1Moderate
183.1Moderate
193.1Moderate
203.1Moderate
213.1Moderate
223.1Moderate
233.2Moderate
243.2Moderate
253.2Moderate
263.2Moderate
273.2Moderate
283.2Moderate
293.2Moderate
303.3Moderate
313.3Moderate
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Galveston

In seasonPeak

None of Galveston's seasonal hazards are active in January. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Galveston sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Atlantic hurricane
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is January a good time to visit Galveston?

Our two travel scores rate January for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

4.7
Sightseeing
12th-best month of the year
0.2
Beach & pool
12th-best month of the year

January is a reasonable time to visit Galveston for sightseeing.

What to pack for Galveston in January

From January's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In January, Galveston sees daytime highs around 60°F and nights near 53°F. Worth packing: a warm layer, rain gear and a windbreaker. About 10 days see rain.

a warm layerrain geara windbreaker

Sea temperature near Galveston in January

The nearest coast averages about 58°F in January — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 12 mi away) is warmest in August at about 86°F and coldest in January near 58°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Apr 4 to Nov 21 — about 7.6 months when the water holds above 68°F.

60°70°80°90°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan58Bracing
Feb59Cool
Mar64Cool
Apr71Refreshing
May78Warm
Jun83Tropical
Jul85Tropical
Aug86Tropical
Sep84Tropical
Oct78Warm
Nov69Refreshing
Dec62Cool

UV index in Galveston in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 4 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Galveston peaks around July 18 at about 11 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 21 at about 4 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highExtremeVery highHighModerateJul 18UV 11Dec 21UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan4Moderate
Feb6High
Mar7High
Apr10Extreme
May10Extreme
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug11Extreme
Sep9Very high
Oct6High
Nov5High
Dec4Moderate

Air quality in Galveston in January

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where January falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Galveston is worst in July — around 19 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.4× the cleanest month (December, 6 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1519 µg/m³Dec 176 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb7Good
Mar8Good
Apr9Good
May12Good
Jun16Moderate
Jul19Moderate
Aug13Moderate
Sep10Good
Oct6Good
Nov6Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Galveston?

Galveston sits at 29.3°N, 94.8°W, 7 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Texas City, 8.7 mi away.

Topography around Galveston

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 2, 10 and 50 miles of Galveston.

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Galveston has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 43 ft around an average of 7 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 62 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 236 ft.

The land around Galveston is covered by artificial surfaces (41%) and water (32%) within 2 miles, water (80%) within 10 miles, and water (45%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
43 ft
10 miles
62 ft
50 miles
236 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
January weather nearby: Texas City 8.7 mi · La Marque 11 mi · Dickinson 19 mi · League City 23 mi · Alvin 28 mi · La Porte 29 mi · Friendswood 29 mi · Baytown 32 mi

United States travel facts

Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 100% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$90,027
2025
Happiness
6.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
5.8
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
12.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
Protestant 47%unaffiliated 23%Roman Catholic 21%Jewish 2%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Galveston (29.3013°, -94.7977°, elevation 7 ft), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).