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Detroit in January: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Discover the weather for Detroit in January and if it’s a good time to travel (based on historical data).
Check flight prices to Detroit on Avionero:
January

Weather in Detroit in January 2025

OK Weather
Cool
☁️
Cloudy
🌊
Cold water
January could be a good time to visit Detroit, as the weather is generally fine. The average high temperature is around 0°C, and there are typically 3 sunny days in January. However, expect about 11 snowy days, and total monthly rainfall of approximately 27 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flights in one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
  • January is usually the coldest month of the year in Detroit;

Average weather

☀️
0°C
Avg. max. temperature
-27°C
Min.
+16°C
Max.
26 mm
Total precipitation
75%
Avg. humidity
4 m/s
Avg. wind
3 ☀️
Sunny Days
14 ⛅️
Cloudy
3 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Detroit has OK weather in January.

Average temperature in Detroit in January

Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Detroit for January based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The expected average maximum temperature in January is +4°C with a maximum of +13°C and a minimum of -14°C.

The average maximum temperature goes down 48% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +7°C to -6°C.

Is Detroit warm or cold in January?

Detroit is typically cool in January.

Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +3°C to 0°C. The minimum temperature also goes down from -3°C to -6°C.

Pack a sweater and a jacket as there will be cooler temperatures.

January is the coldest month in Detroit, here is the comparison with other months:

Water temperature in Detroit in January

Water in Detroit in January is Cold. It varies from +1°C to +3°C, with an average of +2°C. Note that the air temperature is lower than the water temperature, averaging around 0°C.

The water temperature in January is one of the coldest of the entire year:

The warmest water temperatures in Detroit are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +23°C. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +1°C.

Can you swim in Detroit in January?

We would not recommend swimming in Detroit in January, the water is very cold (+2°C on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +16°C
🏄‍♂️
Fresh
16°C - 21°C
🏊
Comfortable
21°C - 25°C
👙
Warm
25°C - 28°C
🔥
Very warm
+28°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.

Climate in Detroit in January

Detroit weather looks like this, on average, in January and the surrounding months.
DecemberJanuaryFebruary
Avg. temperature
+3°C0°C+2°C
Min. temperature
-22°C-27°C-24°C
Max. temperature
+20°C+16°C+20°C
Rainfall
43 mm26 mm26 mm
Wind
4 m/s4 m/s4 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+4°C+2°C+1°C
Humidity
75%75%72%
Air pressure
1017 HPa1016 HPa1017 HPa
Sunny days
334
Cloudy days
131412
Rainy days
633
Snowy days
8119

January weather is still as ok as in December. It’s getting colder in January. From +3°C in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to 0°C. As January arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 43 mm to 26 mm. Humidity levels don’t change as the month goes on, averaging around 75%. The average wind speed doesn’t change much during January, staying around 4 m/s. The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 3 sunny days during the month.

February brings much the same weather, it remains ok.

Wind

Wind speed in Detroit in January based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The average wind speed is 4 m/s getting up to 8 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.

The average wind speed in Detroit is gradually increasing during January, going from 3 m/s to 4 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during January in Detroit based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in January is about 80 mm, with a 45% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 16 mm, which is considered light rain. January is a pretty wet month with over 14 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of galoshes.
Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Detroit wettest month is August, where a typical day has a 39% chance of precipitation and 114 mm of rainfall per day. January, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 10% chance of precipitation and 26 mm of rainfall per day.

Snow

Amount of snow in mm during January in Detroit based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The total snow in January is about 15 mm, with a 6% chance of snow on a typical day.

January is one of the snowiest months in Detroit.

Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of snow, total mm:

How was the weather last January in Detroit?

This is the weather in Detroit in January 2023:
1 January
🌫️
+7°C
2 January
🌫️
+8°C
3 January
🌫️
+6°C
4 January
🌫️
+13°C
5 January
☁️
+9°C
6 January
🌫️
+3°C
7 January
☁️
+2°C
8 January
☁️
+1°C
9 January
🌫️
+4°C
10 January
🌫️
+4°C
11 January
🌫️
+6°C
12 January
🌫️
+6°C
13 January
☁️
+3°C
14 January
☁️
-1°C
15 January
☀️
+2°C
16 January
🌫️
+4°C
17 January
🌫️
+9°C
18 January
☁️
+6°C
19 January
☁️
+8°C
20 January
☁️
+7°C
21 January
☁️
+2°C
22 January
☁️
+1°C
23 January
☁️
+1°C
24 January
☀️
+4°C
25 January
🌫️
+1°C
26 January
🌨️
+1°C
27 January
🌨️
0°C
28 January
☀️
+2°C
29 January
☁️
0°C
30 January
☁️
-2°C
31 January
☀️
-6°C
In January 2023 Detroit had 4 sunny days, 13 cloudy days, and 0 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +4°C, with an absolute maximum of +13°C and a minimum of -6°C. The average humidity was 83%, with a maximum of 98% and a minimum of 53%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 12 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in January?

Climate Change over Years

This is how Detroit climate have been changing during last 43 years period.

The climate in Detroit in January has not changed much over the last 43 years.

The average temperature was the lowest in 1992 (+13°C) and the highest in 1998 (+17°C). The driest year was 1999 with only 460 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2023 with 1977 mm.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Detroit in January:

Is January a good time to visit Detroit?

It’s always a good time to visit Detroit, but the weather is changeable in January, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.

Can you sunbathe in Detroit in January?

Not really, January is not the best time to sunbathe, unless you visit a local solarium.

Can you swim in Detroit in January?

Swimming in Detroit in January is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.

Is Detroit rainy in January?

Detroit is usually dry in January. Plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring.

Is it sunny in Detroit in January?

Usually, it’s not very sunny in Detroit in January, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.

Other cities in USA

Check out the weather for other cities in USA.

Monthly weather in Detroit

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Detroit, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.

For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.