Times Square weather in January

In January, Times Square sees average daytime highs of 38°F and overnight lows near 26°F, with 3.2 in of precipitation across 9.1 wet days and about 9.4 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 38°F through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 33% of the time in January, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 06 min at the start of January to 9 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Times Square's 7th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Times Square's year-round climate.

Daytime high
38°
12th warmest
Overnight low
26°
1st coldest
Precipitation
3.2 in
9.1 wet days
Daylight
9 h 24 min
7:24 AM – 4:47 PM
Cloud cover
60%
7th clearest
Wind
8 mph
2nd windiest
Solar energy
2.13 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Temperature in January

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 38°F through the month.

A typical January day in Times Square reaches about 38°F in the afternoon and slips back to 26°F overnight — a 12°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 26°F and 50°F. Set against its neighbours, January runs about 5°F cooler than December and about 2°F cooler than February.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14029
24029
34029
43928
53928
63928
73928
83928
93927
103827
113827
123827
133827
143826
153826
163826
173826
183726
193726
203725
213725
223725
233725
243725
253725
263725
273725
283725
293825
303825
313825

How January really feels in Times Square

Once humidity and wind are folded in, January averages 0 days that feel above 90°F and 31 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
31
wind chill below the day's low

The story in January is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Times Square weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 12th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan38° / 26°3.29.14.29.40.0
Feb40° / 27°3.08.33.510.40.1
Mar47° / 35°4.110.22.911.71.6
Apr59° / 46°3.610.60.313.14.4
May69° / 55°3.310.9014.26.2
Jun78° / 65°3.911.2014.96.4
Jul83° / 71°4.011.2014.65.6
Aug81° / 69°4.010.4013.66.3
Sep74° / 62°3.79.4012.36.9
Oct64° / 51°3.88.5010.95.8
Nov53° / 41°3.180.49.73.1
Dec43° / 32°3.99.72.69.10.6

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 33% of the time in January.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 15% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 53%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14951
24951
34951
44951
54951
64951
74951
84951
94753
104753
114753
124753
134852
144753
154753
164753
174753
184654
194654
204654
214654
224753
234753
244753
254654
264654
274654
284753
294753
304654
314753

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitationSnow

Times Square gets around 3.2 in of rain and snow over 9.1 wet days in January. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 30% and peaks near 32% on the wettest days, and about 4 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
13111
23112
33112
43213
53213
63213
73214
83214
93214
103214
113214
123114
133114
143114
153014
163014
173014
182914
192914
202914
212814
222814
232713
242713
252713
262713
272613
282613
292713
302713
312713

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 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100
29100
30100
31100

Wind in January

Winds average 8 mph in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 8 mph on the calmest days to 8 mph at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (mph)Feels
18light breeze
28light breeze
38light breeze
48light breeze
58light breeze
68light breeze
78light breeze
88light breeze
98light breeze
108light breeze
118light breeze
128light breeze
138light breeze
148light breeze
158light breeze
168light breeze
178light breeze
188light breeze
198light breeze
208light breeze
218light breeze
228light breeze
238light breeze
248light breeze
258light breeze
268light breeze
278light breeze
288light breeze
298light breeze
308light breeze
318light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 06 min at the start of January to 9 h 48 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 42 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 7:25 AM to 7:15 AM, and sunset from 4:33 PM to 5:04 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.17:254:33
29.17:254:34
39.17:264:34
49.27:264:35
59.27:264:36
69.27:264:37
79.27:264:38
89.27:264:39
99.27:254:40
109.37:254:41
119.37:254:42
129.37:254:43
139.37:254:44
149.37:244:45
159.47:244:46
169.47:244:47
179.47:234:48
189.47:234:49
199.57:234:50
209.57:224:51
219.57:224:52
229.57:214:53
239.67:204:54
249.67:204:56
259.67:194:57
269.77:194:58
279.77:184:59
289.77:175:00
299.87:165:01
309.87:165:03
319.87:155:04

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 2.13 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 1.75 kWh/m² to a high of 5.94 kWh/m² in June across the year — January's 2.13 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
11.8Dim
21.8Dim
31.9Dim
41.9Dim
51.9Dim
61.9Dim
71.9Dim
81.9Dim
91.9Dim
101.9Dim
112.0Dim
122.0Moderate
132.0Moderate
142.0Moderate
152.1Moderate
162.1Moderate
172.1Moderate
182.2Moderate
192.2Moderate
202.2Moderate
212.3Moderate
222.3Moderate
232.3Moderate
242.4Moderate
252.4Moderate
262.4Moderate
272.5Moderate
282.5Moderate
292.5Moderate
302.6Moderate
312.6Moderate
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Times Square

In seasonPeak

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

Times Square 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 Times Square?

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

0.0
Sightseeing
12th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

January is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Times Square.

What to pack for Times Square in January

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

In January, Times Square sees daytime highs around 38°F and nights near 26°F. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. Worth having: rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coatrain gear

Sea temperature near Times Square in January

The nearest coast averages about 43°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 11 mi away) is warmest in August at about 74°F and coldest in February near 40°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 30 to Sep 26 — about 2.9 months when the water holds above 68°F.

40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan43Bracing
Feb40Bracing
Mar41Bracing
Apr46Bracing
May55Bracing
Jun65Cool
Jul72Refreshing
Aug74Refreshing
Sep71Refreshing
Oct63Cool
Nov55Bracing
Dec48Bracing

UV index in Times Square in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Times Square peaks around July 11 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen and a hat are worth it in the middle of the day. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 1 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLowModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowJul 11UV 8Dec 22UV 1
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug6High
Sep6High
Oct3Moderate
Nov2Moderate
Dec1Low

Air quality in Times Square 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 Times Square is worst in July — around 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.8× the cleanest month (November, 10 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodJul 1318 µg/m³Nov 1410 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan12Moderate
Feb15Moderate
Mar16Moderate
Apr16Moderate
May17Moderate
Jun17Moderate
Jul18Moderate
Aug16Moderate
Sep14Moderate
Oct11Good
Nov10Good
Dec12Good
Location & terrain

Where is Times Square?

Times Square sits at 40.8°N, 74.0°W, 82 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Hell's Kitchen, 0.6 mi away.

Topography around Times Square

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Times Square has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 568 ft around an average of 72 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 581 ft; within 50 miles, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,909 ft.

The land around Times Square is covered by artificial surfaces (60%) and water (30%) within 2 miles, artificial surfaces (62%) within 10 miles, and trees (53%) and water (28%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
568 ft
10 miles
581 ft
50 miles
1,909 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
January weather nearby: Hell's Kitchen 0.6 mi · Gramercy Park 1.2 mi · East Village 1.9 mi · West Village 1.9 mi · Long Island City 1.9 mi · Manhattan 1.9 mi · Upper West Side 2.5 mi · Union City 2.5 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 Times Square (40.7564°, -73.9864°, elevation 82 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).