Williamsburg weather in January

In January, Williamsburg sees average daytime highs of 47°F and overnight lows near 34°F, with 3.4 in of precipitation across 9.3 wet days and about 9.7 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 47°F through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% of the time in January, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 30 min at the start of January to 10 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Williamsburg's 4th-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Williamsburg's year-round climate.

Daytime high
47°
12th warmest
Overnight low
34°
1st coldest
Precipitation
3.4 in
9.3 wet days
Daylight
9 h 42 min
7:25 AM – 5:07 PM
Cloud cover
56%
4th clearest
Wind
8 mph
3rd windiest
Solar energy
2.42 kWh/m²
Travel score
1.6
out of 10

Williamsburg is independent city in Virginia, United States.

Density
640/km²
people per km²
Founded
1638

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 47°F through the month.

A typical January day in Williamsburg reaches about 47°F in the afternoon and slips back to 34°F overnight — a 13°F spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 34°F and 61°F. Set against its neighbours, January runs about 4°F cooler than December and about 3°F cooler than February.

20°40°60°151015202531
Avg high (°F)Avg low (°F)
14936
24836
34836
44835
54835
64835
74835
84835
94835
104735
114734
124734
134734
144734
154733
164733
174633
184633
194633
204633
214633
224633
234632
244632
254632
264632
274633
284633
294733
304733
314733

How January really feels in Williamsburg

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.

Williamsburg weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 12th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°F)Rainfall (inches)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan47° / 34°3.49.31.89.71.6
Feb50° / 35°3.18.41.610.62.2
Mar57° / 42°4.19.70.811.74.1
Apr67° / 52°3.29.50.112.96.2
May74° / 61°3.510.40146.7
Jun82° / 69°3.610.5014.56.1
Jul85° / 74°4.112.9014.34.8
Aug83° / 72°4.310.9013.45.6
Sep78° / 66°4.59.9012.36.8
Oct69° / 55°3.87.50116.8
Nov58° / 45°3.37.80.1104.7
Dec51° / 38°3.490.89.52.5

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 37% 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 49%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14951
25050
35050
45050
55050
64951
75149
85149
95149
105149
115248
125248
135248
145347
155347
165347
175248
185248
195248
205248
215347
225248
235248
245248
255149
265149
275149
285050
295050
305050
315050

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitationSnow

Williamsburg gets around 3.4 in of rain and snow over 9.3 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 2 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1283
2283
3284
4294
5294
6294
7294
8304
9305
10305
11305
12315
13316
14316
15326
16326
17326
18327
19327
20317
21317
22317
23317
24307
25307
26297
27297
28297
29296
30286
31286

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 97% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
19541
29541
39541
49541
59541
69541
79541
89541
99631
109631
119631
129631
139721
149820
159820
169820
179820
189820
199910
209910
219910
229910
239910
249910
259910
269910
279910
289910
299910
309910
319910

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 30 min at the start of January to 10 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 36 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 7:26 AM to 7:18 AM, and sunset from 4:54 PM to 5:23 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.57:264:54
29.57:264:55
39.57:264:56
49.57:264:56
59.57:264:57
69.57:264:58
79.57:264:59
89.67:265:00
99.67:265:01
109.67:265:01
119.67:265:02
129.67:265:03
139.67:265:04
149.77:265:05
159.77:255:06
169.77:255:07
179.77:255:08
189.77:255:09
199.87:245:10
209.87:245:11
219.87:235:12
229.87:235:13
239.97:235:14
249.97:225:15
259.97:225:16
269.97:215:17
2710.07:205:18
2810.07:205:19
2910.07:195:20
3010.17:185:21
3110.17:185:23

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 2.42 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.11 kWh/m² to a high of 6.11 kWh/m² in June across the year — January's 2.42 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

0123151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.2Moderate
22.2Moderate
32.2Moderate
42.2Moderate
52.2Moderate
62.2Moderate
72.2Moderate
82.3Moderate
92.3Moderate
102.3Moderate
112.3Moderate
122.3Moderate
132.3Moderate
142.4Moderate
152.4Moderate
162.4Moderate
172.4Moderate
182.4Moderate
192.5Moderate
202.5Moderate
212.5Moderate
222.5Moderate
232.6Moderate
242.6Moderate
252.6Moderate
262.7Moderate
272.7Moderate
282.7Moderate
292.8Moderate
302.8Moderate
312.8Moderate
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Williamsburg

In seasonPeak

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

Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg?

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

1.6
Sightseeing
12th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

January is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Williamsburg.

What to pack for Williamsburg in January

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

In January, Williamsburg sees daytime highs around 47°F and nights near 34°F. Pack a warm layer. Worth having: rain gear. About 9 days see rain.

a warm layerrain gear

Sea temperature near Williamsburg 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 33 mi away) is warmest in August at about 79°F and coldest in February near 41°F.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jun 4 to Oct 13 — about 4.3 months when the water holds above 68°F.

40°50°60°70°80°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°F)Comfort
Jan43Bracing
Feb41Bracing
Mar45Bracing
Apr53Bracing
May62Cool
Jun72Refreshing
Jul78Warm
Aug79Warm
Sep76Warm
Oct67Cool
Nov57Bracing
Dec49Bracing

UV index in Williamsburg in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 3. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Williamsburg peaks around July 10 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 19 at about 2 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateJul 10UV 9Dec 19UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan3Moderate
Feb4Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr7High
May8Very high
Jun9Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug7Very high
Sep7High
Oct4Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg is worst in July — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.4× the cleanest month (November, 7 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1416 µg/m³Nov 217 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb9Good
Mar10Good
Apr11Good
May13Moderate
Jun15Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug13Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct7Good
Nov7Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Williamsburg?

Williamsburg sits at 37.3°N, 76.7°W, 82 ft above sea level, in United States. The nearest listed city is Newport News, 25 mi away.

Topography around Williamsburg

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

Within 2 miles, the terrain around Williamsburg has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 187 ft around an average of 85 ft above sea level; within 10 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 210 ft; within 50 miles, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 636 ft.

The land around Williamsburg is covered by trees (73%) within 2 miles, trees (55%) and water (29%) within 10 miles, and trees (57%) and water (25%) within 50 miles.

2 miles
187 ft
10 miles
210 ft
50 miles
636 ft
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
January weather nearby: Newport News 25 mi · Hampton 26 mi · East Hampton 26 mi · Hopewell 32 mi · Portsmouth Heights 36 mi · Norfolk 37 mi · Portsmouth 38 mi · Suffolk 38 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 Williamsburg (37.2707°, -76.7075°, 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).