New Bedford, MA weather in January
New Bedford is cold and snowy in January: highs average 39°F and nights drop to about 21°F. Rain or snow falls on about 11 days. Snowfall averages about 12.9 in. This is the depth of winter in New Bedford. Expect snow on the ground at times.
- Normal high
- 39°F
- Normal low
- 21°F
- Wet days
- 11
- 3.7 in total
- Snowfall
- 12.9 in
- snow on the ground 10 days
How January changes from start to finish
| January 1 | January 31 | |
|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 41°F | 39°F |
| Normal low | 23°F | 20°F |
| Chance of a wet day | 38% | 35% |
| Sunrise / sunset | 7:10 am / 4:23 pm | 6:56 am / 4:57 pm |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 10.0 h |
Chance of a wet day: average for the first and last 7 days of the month. Times are local clock time (Eastern Time).
A typical January day
- 6 am26°Fdew point 20°F
- 9 am29°Fdew point 21°F
- Noon34°Fdew point 21°F
- 3 pm35°Fdew point 21°F
- 6 pm31°Fdew point 21°F
- 9 pm29°Fdew point 21°F
NOAA hourly normals (local standard time) from Plymouth Muni Airport (22 mi away); average wind 9 mph; clear or few clouds in 29% of daytime hours, mostly cloudy or overcast in 56%.
What kind of days to expect
- Comfortable dayshigh 65-80°F (temperature only: no humidity station nearby)0 of 31
- Beach dayshigh 80-95°F, under 0.05 in of rain (temperature and rain only)0 of 31
- Hot dayshigh 90°F or more0 of 31
- Wet daysat least 0.01 in of rain or melted snow11 of 31
- Notable rainat least 0.10 in7 of 31
- Freezing nightslow 32°F or below26 of 31
- Snow on the groundsnow depth 1 in or more10 of 31
Average days per January, counted from daily records for each year 1991-2020.
Rain and snow in January
Normal precipitation is 3.7 in; a dry January brings about 3.0 in and a wet one about 4.5 in (25th and 75th percentiles). About 2 days bring half an inch or more, and about 1 an inch or more. Normal snowfall is 12.9 in, with about 3 days of an inch or more.
How January varies from year to year
- Warmest January, 1991-20202006: average high 45°F
- Coolest January2004: average high 28°F
- Wettest January2006: 6.9 in
- Driest January2020: 0.9 in
- Highest reading67°F (January 12, 2020)
- Lowest reading-10°F (January 29, 2005)
From the station's daily records with NOAA quality flags removed; most recent date shown when a reading repeats.
January compared with December and February
| December | January | February | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal high | 44°F | 39°F | 41°F |
| Normal low | 26°F | 21°F | 22°F |
| Wet days | 12 | 11 | 10 |
| Comfortable days | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daylight | 9.2 h | 9.6 h | 10.6 h |
Highs change by -5°F from December and +2°F into February.
Nearby alternatives in January
- Cooler: Worcester, MA62 mi · high 32°F · 12 wet days
How New Bedford ranks in January
- Normal high266th warmest of 378 cities; 3rd of 9 in Massachusetts
- Wet days275th driest of 378
What to pack for New Bedford in January
- A warm jacket – lows near 21°F, highs near 39°F
- A rain jacket or umbrella – rain or snow on about 11 days
- Waterproof boots – snow on the ground on about 10 days
- A hat and gloves – about 26 freezing nights
Heating and cooling
January has 1088 heating degree days and 0 cooling degree days (base 65°F), 17% of the year's total heating and cooling demand.
Questions
How cold is New Bedford in January?
The normal high is 39°F and the normal low is 21°F. From 1991 to 2020 the coldest January reading was -10°F (January 29, 2005).
Does it rain a lot in New Bedford in January?
About 11 days in January have at least 0.01 in of precipitation, and the normal total is 3.7 in. The wettest January in 1991-2020 was in 2006 (6.9 in); the driest was in 2020 (0.9 in).
Does it snow in New Bedford in January?
Yes. Normal snowfall in January is 12.9 in, and snow covers the ground on about 10 days.
Is January a good time to visit New Bedford?
January ranks 12th of 12 months on our comfort score for New Bedford (30 out of 100). It has almost no comfortable days (judged by temperature only). The best months are June and September.
Where the numbers come from
- Temperature, rain and frost dates: New Bedford Muni Airport (USW00094726), 3.0 mi NNW of the city center, 80 ft . NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Snowfall and snow depth: E Wareham (USC00192451), 16 mi ENE of the city center, 30 ft (69 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Humidity and wind by hour: Plymouth Muni Airport (USW00054769), 22 mi NNE of the city center, 149 ft (50 ft higher than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Cloud cover: Boston Logan Intl Airport (USW00014739), 50 mi N of the city center, 12 ft (87 ft lower than the city). NOAA normals and daily records, 1991-2020.
- Not available for this location: daily humidity and wind (no station close enough or similar enough in elevation).