Your January weather guide
CoolWeather in Kefalonia in January
January suits a cool-weather break in Kefalonia, not a beach holiday. Average daytime highs of 13.5°C and night-time lows of 10.8°C mean layers rather than summer clothes, while about 12 rainy days make a waterproof useful. For a UK traveller, the appeal is milder weather without a long flight; the catch is that rain and a cold sea limit outdoor plans. Go if you enjoy time outside in cooler conditions and can keep your plans flexible.
Long-term climate averages for Argostoli, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Kefalonia, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Argostoli.
- Average daytime high
- 13.5°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 16°C
- Average night-time low
- 10.8°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 7°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +6.1°C
- London averages 7.4°C in January
- Sea temperature
- 16.0°C
- year to year: 15°C to 17°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 4.6h
- 48% of 9.6 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 12
- 117 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 71%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 18.6°C
- 2010-01-01
- Record low 1991-2020
- 1.6°C
- 2017-01-08
- Flight from London
- ≈ 3 h 30 min
- 2166 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 11th warmest month of the year in Kefalonia and ranks 85th of 134 destinations we compare for January - see where else is hot in January. Within Greece it is 18th of 44 (Greece in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Kefalonia is 6.1°C warmer by day and 8.6°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in January
The typical January day in Kefalonia peaks at 13.5°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 16.1°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 10.8°C; one night in ten drops to 7.1°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 18.6°C (2010-01-01) and the coldest night 1.6°C (2017-01-08).
Rain in January
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 12 days with 1 mm or more, 117 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 2019 with 297 mm, the driest 2007 with 26 mm. Humidity averages 71%.
Sea temperature in January
The sea averages 16.0°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 15.3°C to 16.6°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.0°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 4.6 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.6 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:54 and sets about 17:41 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 52%.
Is January a good time to visit Kefalonia?
January is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Kefalonia on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug, Sep.
Milder than London, but pack for wet weather
Kefalonia is noticeably milder than London in January, where the average daytime high is 7.4°C, but that does not make it warm. A jumper and a waterproof outer layer are sensible daytime choices, with something warmer for evenings. The coldest nights can fall to 7.1°C or lower, so do not pack around the average alone. Rain is a meaningful part of the holiday rather than a minor inconvenience: choose footwear that can handle wet ground and leave room to rearrange outdoor plans. This suits travellers happy to make the most of dry spells, rather than anyone relying on consistently comfortable weather outside.
Plan for daylight, not days in the sea
The sea averages 16°C, which is cold for recreational swimming; a holiday built around spending time in the water is a poor fit. There is still scope to enjoy being outdoors, with about 4.6 hours of sunshine within 9.6 hours of daylight, but do not expect sunshine throughout the day. Keep your main outdoor plans within daylight hours and use the forecast to choose the most comfortable window. January makes more sense for travellers who prefer cool conditions to summer heat. If warmth and swimming are central to your decision, June, July and August are better months to consider.
A little perspective
Kefalonia through the year
January is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuarySelected | 13.5°C | 10.8°C | 16.0°C | 4.6 | 117 | 12 | 0% |
| February | 13.4°C | 10.6°C | 15.2°C | 5.3 | 101 | 11 | 0% |
| March | 14.9°C | 11.8°C | 15.1°C | 6.4 | 78 | 10 | 0% |
| April | 17.2°C | 13.9°C | 16.0°C | 7.8 | 41 | 7 | 1% |
| May | 20.9°C | 17.4°C | 18.9°C | 9.4 | 19 | 4 | 3% |
| Junebest | 24.8°C | 21.2°C | 22.5°C | 12.1 | 11 | 2 | 45% |
| Julybest | 27.1°C | 23.6°C | 24.6°C | 13.6 | 5 | 1 | 91% |
| Augustbest | 28.0°C | 24.5°C | 26.0°C | 12.4 | 7 | 1 | 99% |
| September | 25.2°C | 22.2°C | 25.0°C | 8.9 | 63 | 6 | 56% |
| October | 22.0°C | 19.1°C | 22.8°C | 6.5 | 104 | 9 | 5% |
| November | 18.4°C | 15.7°C | 20.3°C | 4.8 | 154 | 12 | 0% |
| December | 14.9°C | 12.3°C | 17.7°C | 4.3 | 156 | 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
- Sea
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.
A little more detail
Kefalonia in January FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Kefalonia hot in January?
Kefalonia is cool in January: the average daytime high is 13.5°C and nights average 10.8°C. Days over 25°C are rare in January.
Can you swim in the sea in Kefalonia in January?
The sea around Kefalonia averages 16.0°C in January, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 15°C to 17°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Kefalonia in January?
Kefalonia sees about 12 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 117 mm of rain in a typical January. The wettest January between 1991 and 2020 was 2019 (297 mm) and the driest was 2007 (26 mm).
How sunny is Kefalonia in January?
Kefalonia gets around 4.6 hours of sunshine a day in January out of 9.6 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Kefalonia compare with the UK in January?
Kefalonia is on average 6.1°C warmer than London by day in January (13.5°C against 7.4°C).
What is the hottest January on record in Kefalonia?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day in Kefalonia reached 18.6°C on 2010-01-01, and the coldest night dropped to 1.6°C on 2017-01-08.
Could I get hot weather in January?
Do not count on it. Even the warmest days typically reach only around 16.1°C or more, and days reaching 25°C account for 0%. Think mild spells that are pleasant for being outdoors, rather than heat for sunbathing.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight takes about 3 h 30 min, so Kefalonia is a short-haul option from London. That makes the journey relatively manageable, but January's cool, wet conditions mean it is not a reliable choice for a winter-sun beach break.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Argostólion (Argostoli). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 1.4 km from that point. 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