Avg High
Avg Low
Rain
Daylight
14h

What to expect

January in Hamilton is mid-summer, with a settled seasonal pattern already in place. The month is warm and inviting for long walks, with a noticeable cool-down after sunset. There is plenty of daylight to stretch outdoor time. Most days feel close to what the averages suggest, with straightforward pacing.

January in context

How it compares to the rest of the year in Hamilton.

Hottest (avg)
#2 / 12
Wettest (avg)
#10 / 12
Daylight Hours
#2 / 12
Windiest (avg)
#8 / 12
Highest UV
#1 / 12
Most Humid
#11 / 12

Monthly climate breakdown

Temperature

Daytime high
Nighttime low
Feels like (avg)

Sunshine

Daylight hours
14.4 h
UV index (max)
9
Typical sun hours
06:14 - 20:40

Rain & Snow

Total rain
Rainy days
12 days
Cloud cover (avg)
59%

Humidity & Wind

Humidity (avg)
75%
Wind (avg)
Wind (max gusts)

Daily climate explorer

Daily climate explorer for January in HamiltonInteractive chart with daily scrub and pinned insight panel.010203011631°C

Day 15 selected for January. Typical high 22.9°C and low 14.1°C.

Typical disruptions in January

Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in January.

Rain High impact

Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 13% of days (4.1 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

4.1 days / month

~13% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 4.1 days / month
  • Probability ~13% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~40mm (P95)

Rain disruption risk appears on ~4 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.

Rain High impact

Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 13% of days (4.0 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

4.0 days / month

~13% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 4.0 days / month
  • Probability ~13% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~40mm (P95)

Washout conditions are possible on ~4 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.

Wind High impact

Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 7% of days (2.1 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

2.1 days / month

~7% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 2.1 days / month
  • Probability ~7% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~78km/h (P95)

Strong gusts are possible on ~2 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.

Wind High impact

Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 3% of days (1.0 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

1.0 days / month

~3% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 1.0 days / month
  • Probability ~3% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~85km/h (P95)

Stormy conditions are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.

Visibility Minor

Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 2% of days (0.6 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

0.6 days / month

~2% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 0.6 days / month
  • Probability ~2% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~93% (P95)

Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.

Show all disruptions (17 more)
Rain High impact

Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 7% of days (2.0 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

2.0 days / month

~7% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 2.0 days / month
  • Probability ~7% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~50mm (P95)

Heavy rain is possible on ~2 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.

Rain High impact

Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 1.0 days/month in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

1.0 days / month

Probability unavailable

Why this matters
  • Expected days 1.0 days / month
  • Probability
  • Intensity Up to ~62mm (P95)

Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.

Rain High impact

Very heavy rain Measures: Very heavy rain days (>=25mm). Observed about 2% of days (0.5 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

0.5 days / month

~2% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 0.5 days / month
  • Probability ~2% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~80mm (P95)

Very heavy rain is possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.

Cold Moderate

Cold feels-like nights Measures: Cold feels-like nights (min <=5C). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

0.2 days / month

~1% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 0.2 days / month
  • Probability ~1% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~5°C (P95)

Cold feels-like nights are possible on ~0 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.

Heat Moderate

Hot feels-like days Measures: Hot feels-like days (>=32C). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

0.2 days / month

~1% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 0.2 days / month
  • Probability ~1% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~34°C (P95)

Feels-like heat >=32C is possible on ~0 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.

Cloud Minor

Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 53% of days (16.4 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

16.4 days / month

~53% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 16.4 days / month
  • Probability ~53% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)

Cloudy skies are possible on ~16 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.

Rain Minor

Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 51% of days (15.8 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

15.8 days / month

~51% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 15.8 days / month
  • Probability ~51% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~20mm (P95)

Measurable rain is possible on ~16 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.

Wind Minor

Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 41% of days (12.8 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

12.8 days / month

~41% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 12.8 days / month
  • Probability ~41% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~69km/h (P95)

Gusty conditions are possible on ~13 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.

Rain Minor

Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 39% of days (12.0 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

12.0 days / month

~39% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 12.0 days / month
  • Probability ~39% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~19h (P95)

Several rainy hours are possible on ~12 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.

Humidity Minor

High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 29% of days (9.0 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

9.0 days / month

~29% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 9.0 days / month
  • Probability ~29% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~91% (P95)

High humidity is possible on ~9 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.

Cloud Minor

Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 26% of days (8.0 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

8.0 days / month

~26% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 8.0 days / month
  • Probability ~26% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)

Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~8 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.

Rain Minor

Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 26% of days (7.9 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

7.9 days / month

~26% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 7.9 days / month
  • Probability ~26% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~21h (P95)

Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~8 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.

Cloud Minor

Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 11% of days (3.5 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

3.5 days / month

~11% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 3.5 days / month
  • Probability ~11% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)

Overcast skies are possible on ~3 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.

Humidity Minor

Humid days Measures: Humid days (dew point >=18C). Observed about 6% of days (1.9 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

1.9 days / month

~6% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 1.9 days / month
  • Probability ~6% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~20°C (P95)

Humid conditions are possible on ~2 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.

Wind Minor

Breezy days Measures: Breezy days (mean wind >=25 km/h). Observed about 4% of days (1.1 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

1.1 days / month

~4% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 1.1 days / month
  • Probability ~4% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~35km/h (P95)

Breezy conditions are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.

Humidity Minor

Convective risk Measures: Convective storm risk proxy. Observed about 2% of days (0.7 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

0.7 days / month

~2% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 0.7 days / month
  • Probability ~2% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~20°C (P95)

Convective risk signal appears on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.

Other Minor

Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data Measures: Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data. Observed about 2% of days (0.6 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.

0.6 days / month

~2% of days

Why this matters
  • Expected days 0.6 days / month
  • Probability ~2% of days
  • Intensity Up to ~93 (P95)

Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data is possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.

Frequently asked questions

Is January a good time to visit Hamilton?

Typical January days in Hamilton reach highs of 23°C (73°F) with nights around 14°C (57°F). It usually feels warm by day and cool after dark. It is one of the drier months, which suits outdoor exploring and sightseeing.

What are temperatures like in January?

In January, you can usually expect highs of 23°C (73°F) and lows near 14°C (57°F). That means warm days and cool nights, so pack layers you can add or remove.

How much does it rain in January?

Rainfall in January averages 76 mm (3.0 in) across roughly 12 days. Overall it is a quite rainy time of year, so a light rain jacket and waterproof shoes are very handy.

How many hours of daylight are there in January?

You can expect about 14 hours of daylight in January. Sunrise is typically around 06:14 and sunset near 20:40. You get long days with comfortable amounts of daylight.

How strong is the sun in January?

UV levels frequently reach very high levels (around 9), so strong sun protection is essential, especially around midday.

Is it windy in January?

In January, average wind speeds are around 13 km/h (8 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 56 km/h (35 mph). On the ground, it is it can feel quite windy at times, particularly when weather systems move through.

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