Your January weather guide
CoolWeather in Paris in January
Paris in January suits a city break built around indoor time, not long days outside. Expect daytime highs around 7°C, nights near 2°C and about 11 rainy days during the month. Go if you are happy to wrap up, keep outdoor plans flexible and take breaks from the cold. The catch is limited sunshine and short daylight, so this is not the month to choose for warmth or leisurely outdoor evenings.
Long-term climate averages for Paris, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Paris, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Paris.
- Average daytime high
- 7.1°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 12°C
- Average night-time low
- 1.9°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -4°C or lower
- Compared with London
- -0.3°C
- London averages 7.4°C in January
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 2.1h
- 25% of 8.5 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 11
- 52 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 86%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 14.8°C
- 2007-01-19
- Record low 1991-2020
- -11.5°C
- 1997-01-01
- Flight from London
- ≈ 1 h 6 min
- 313 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How January compares
January is the 12th warmest month of the year in Paris and ranks 124th of 134 destinations we compare for January - see where else is hot in January. Within France it is 2nd of 2 (France in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Paris is 0.3°C cooler by day and 0.3°C cooler at night.
Daytime and night-time in January
The typical January day in Paris peaks at 7.1°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 11.7°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 1.9°C; one night in ten drops to -3.8°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 14.8°C (2007-01-19) and the coldest night -11.5°C (1997-01-01).
Rain in January
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 11 days with 1 mm or more, 52 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 2018 with 118 mm, the driest 1997 with 7 mm. Humidity averages 86%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 2.1 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 8.5 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:39 and sets about 17:20 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 75%.
Is January a good time to visit Paris?
January is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Paris on our scoring are July, August, June.
Pack for cold evenings, not just cool afternoons
January is Paris's coldest month, and the average daytime temperature can make it sound gentler than it feels after dark. A warm coat, layers, gloves and comfortable closed shoes are sensible choices, especially if you plan to spend much of the day walking. The coldest 10% of nights fall to -3.8°C or lower, so do not pack only for the average. Milder spells happen too: the warmest 10% of days reach 11.7°C or more. Layers give you flexibility on those afternoons and when moving indoors. This weather suits travellers who are comfortable swapping extended outdoor time for shorter walks with warm breaks.
Leave room to change plans when it rains
With about 11 rainy days, it is sensible to expect some wet weather without assuming the whole trip will be a washout. A waterproof outer layer and shoes that can handle wet pavements will be more useful than clothing chosen just for the temperature. Keep indoor options flexible rather than tying every outdoor plan to a fixed day. There are about 8.5 hours of daylight, so use the brighter part of the day for walking and leave indoor time for later. If your idea of a good break depends on sitting outside or spending most of the day on foot, January is a less comfortable choice.
A little perspective
Paris through the year
January is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuarySelected | 7.1°C | 1.9°C | 2.1 | 52 | 11 | 0% |
| February | 8.3°C | 1.7°C | 2.9 | 47 | 10 | 0% |
| March | 11.8°C | 3.6°C | 4.0 | 51 | 10 | 0% |
| April | 15.1°C | 5.9°C | 5.1 | 50 | 11 | 1% |
| May | 18.6°C | 9.5°C | 5.3 | 66 | 12 | 7% |
| Junebest | 21.8°C | 12.8°C | 6.1 | 58 | 11 | 20% |
| Julybest | 24.2°C | 14.9°C | 6.6 | 54 | 10 | 39% |
| Augustbest | 24.3°C | 14.8°C | 6.0 | 58 | 9 | 38% |
| September | 20.6°C | 12.0°C | 5.1 | 48 | 8 | 13% |
| October | 16.1°C | 9.1°C | 3.3 | 61 | 11 | 1% |
| November | 10.7°C | 5.2°C | 2.3 | 58 | 12 | 0% |
| December | 7.5°C | 2.5°C | 2.0 | 68 | 13 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in January
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
Italy · 7°C by day · sea 9°C
Venice
Bulgaria · 7°C by day · sea 7°C
Sunny Beach
Italy · 7°C by day
Lake Garda
Italy · 7°C by day
Milan
Italy · 7°C by day · sea 10°C
Lido di Jesolo
A little more detail
Paris in January FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Paris hot in January?
Paris is cool in January: the average daytime high is 7.1°C and nights average 1.9°C. Days over 25°C are rare in January.
How much does it rain in Paris in January?
Paris sees about 11 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 52 mm of rain in a typical January. The wettest January between 1991 and 2020 was 2018 (118 mm) and the driest was 1997 (7 mm).
How sunny is Paris in January?
Paris gets around 2.1 hours of sunshine a day in January out of 8.5 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Paris compare with the UK in January?
Paris is on average 0.3°C cooler than London by day in January (7.1°C against 7.4°C).
What is the hottest January on record in Paris?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day in Paris reached 14.8°C on 2007-01-19, and the coldest night dropped to -11.5°C on 1997-01-01.
Is Paris colder than London in January?
Only slightly by the average daytime high: Paris reaches 7.1°C compared with London's 7.4°C. That is not a meaningful warmth advantage for a UK traveller. Pack for a cold winter city break rather than expecting milder weather across the Channel.
How much sunshine can I expect?
Paris gets about 2.1 hours of sunshine a day in January, within about 8.5 hours of daylight. Daylight does not mean sunshine throughout, so expect limited sun and make the most of brighter spells for outdoor plans.
When should I go instead for better weather?
July, August and June are the better choices for weather overall. January makes more sense if warmth is not a priority and you are content with indoor time, warm clothing and flexible plans around rain.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Paris. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C