January 2026 Lowcountry almanac astronomical events, weather predictions and gardening advice

January 2026 Lowcountry Almanac

A calm month of cool air, clear water and slowly lengthening days

Story by Bailey Gilliam

January arrives with a clean slate and subtle beauty. The Lowcountry feels calm and stripped back, the air, cool and crisp, and the water is sharper in color and clarity. With a few extra minutes of daylight added each day, it’s a month that invites you to reflect and reset. Named for Janus, the Roman god who looks to the past and the future, January offers space for contemplation and small beginnings. It’s an ideal time for uncrowded beach walks, sunrise paddles or birdwatching in our preserves. With insight from the 2026 Old Farmer’s Almanac and Grow Great Vegetables South Carolina, this guide helps you start the new year in rhythm with the coast.

Weather predictions

January settles in with a familiar chill. It’s one of our coolest months, the kind that makes morning walks feel sharp and invigorating. Expect stretches of bright, dry weather with the occasional rain pushed in by coastal winds.

Average temperature: 44 degrees (3 degrees below average)
Rainfall: 2.5 inches (2 inches below average)

Week-by-week forecast
  • Jan. 1-6: Sunny and very cold
  • Jan. 7-14: Sun early, then showers; turning milder
  • Jan. 15-22: Sunny and mild
  • Jan. 23-24: Sunny and cold
  • Jan. 25-29: Rain at times, then clearing; turning very cold
  • Jan. 30-31: Showers, milder
Sunrise and sunset

The light begins its slow return this month. Sunset nudges later each evening, adding welcome minutes of daylight. By the end of the month you’ll feel the difference.

Sunrise: 7:17 to 7:24 a.m. 
Sunset: 5:29 to 5:55 p.m.

Quadrantids meteor shower astronomical events January 2026 Lowcountry almanac
Quadrantids meteor shower will appear in our skies early in January 2026.

Astronomical events

Cool, clear nights make January one of the best months for sky watching. The moon is bold, the meteors are quick, and there are even a few visiting comets worth looking for.

  • Jan. 3: Full supermoon, known as the wolf moon. It’s said wolves howl more often this time of year, likely from hunger and long winter nights.
  • Jan. 3-4: Quadrantids meteor shower peaks with up to 40 meteors per hour under dark skies.
  • Jan. 6: Comet 24P/Schaumasse reaches its brightest point.
  • Jan. 18: New moon
  • Jan. 20: Comet C/2024 E1 (Wierzchoś) swings near the sun at perihelion and may show up nicely in binoculars.
Kale gardening Lowcountry almanac January 2026

In the garden

January is a planning month. Gardeners tidy, take stock and prepare for what’s ahead. It’s a good time to dream up your spring beds, tune up tools and handle the tasks that set the tone for the seasons to come. 

Prep: Gather catalogs, order seeds, review last year’s wins and missteps, test your soil, sketch out a garden map, make a planting schedule, prune trees and shrubs, and prep beds for early spring. You can also start chitting seed potatoes in flats

Plant: It’s mostly a quiet month in the dirt, but a few crops can get a head start.

  • Indoors: Start brassicas, hot peppers, globe artichokes, celery, leeks, tomatoes, eggplants, Asian greens and rhubarb.
  • Outdoors: Direct sow bunching onions, peas, beets, chard and carrots. It’s also your last call to transplant trees, bushes, canes and crowns.

Harvest: Winter harvests are simple but satisfying. Look for arugula, Asian greens, carrots, collards, Egyptian onions, kale, leeks, lettuce, mustards, spinach and turnips.

Color hair January 2026 Lowcountry almanac best day

Best days

According to the lunar calendar, these are the top dates for a few everyday tasks. Plan your month with a little celestial help:

  • Go fishing: Jan. 1-3, 18-31
  • Start a diet: Jan. 1-3, 18-31
  • Quit smoking: Jan. 4, 9, 14
  • Get a haircut: Jan. 10-12
  • Begin a new project: Jan. 15-16
  • Wash floors: Jan. 21-22
  • Color hair: Jan. 26-27

Similar Posts