Weather in Sharm El Sheikh in January

How January compares

January is the 12th warmest month of the year in Sharm El Sheikh and ranks 44th of 134 destinations we compare for January - see where else is hot in January. Within Egypt it is 2nd of 4 (Egypt in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Sharm El Sheikh is 14.3°C warmer by day and 9.3°C warmer at night.

Daytime and night-time in January

The typical January day in Sharm El Sheikh peaks at 21.7°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 25.5°C or more. Roughly 1 in 8 days top 25°C. Nights average 11.5°C; one night in ten drops to 8.8°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day here reached 29.8°C (2010-01-10) and the coldest night 5.0°C (2015-01-10).

Rain in January

Dry (3 rainy days or fewer): about 1 days with 1 mm or more, 4 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 2010 with 24 mm, the driest 1995 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 46%.

Sea temperature in January

The sea averages 23.3°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 22.7°C to 24.0°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (28.7°C).

Sunshine and daylight

Around 8.3 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 10.4 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 06:35 and sets about 17:08 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 20%.

Is January a good time to visit Sharm El Sheikh?

It is a reasonable choice: warm days. The best months for Sharm El Sheikh on our scoring are April, March, November; months averaging 25°C or more: Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov.

Warm afternoons, but pack for cool evenings

January is Sharm El Sheikh's coolest month, so go with expectations of comfortable warmth rather than summer heat. Days reach 25°C only 13% of the time, making hotter afternoons a bonus rather than something to build your holiday around. Plan lighter clothing for the warmest part of the day, with trousers, a jumper and a jacket ready for evenings. The coldest nights can fall to 8.8°C or below, so a thin cover-up may not be enough if you want to sit outside after dark. This suits travellers who dislike intense heat better than those hoping to stay in shorts from breakfast to bedtime.

Swimming is realistic, with a layer ready afterwards

At an average of 23.3°C, the sea is warm enough for swimming, although personal comfort still matters. January sea temperatures range from 23°C to 24°C between years, so the outlook is fairly consistent rather than dependent on an unusually warm winter. If you tend to feel the cold, aim to swim during the warmer part of the day and have dry clothes ready afterwards. The water can be warmer than the afternoon air, but that does not make the whole day feel hot. January therefore works for a holiday with swims and time outdoors, provided you are happy to add layers when you leave the water.

Dry weather makes outdoor plans straightforward

Rain is unlikely to be the main compromise: January has about 1 rainy day, so you can plan around spending time outside without making wet-weather clothing the focus of your packing. Sunshine averages about 8.3 hours within 10.4 hours of daylight, giving you a useful daytime window for swimming and relaxing outdoors. Make the most of that window rather than expecting the warmth to last into the evening. Sunscreen and sunglasses still belong in your bag even when the air feels mild. Overall, the weather favours travellers who value dry, sunny days more than consistently high temperatures or warm nights.