While it's hard to believe for all who visited Venice in summer, January is really a time we use in Venice to relax and take care of our city.

And thankfully, 

For now, it's acqua bassa season - the low tides which follow the last of the serious high tides happening until 1-2 weeks after winter solstice. So yes - there IS an ancient "timetable" of the floods which you refer to when you grow up in this city.

Further reading if you would like to learn how Carnival starts in Venice (in 2020, Carnival starts on 8 February!).