Your January weather guide
CoolWeather in Florence in January
Florence in January suits a winter city break, not a warm-weather holiday. Expect daytime highs around 9°C, nights near 2°C and about 10 rainy days across the month. Go if you are happy to wrap up, make flexible plans and spend some time indoors. The catch is that this is Florence's coldest month: there is little warmth to linger in, and evenings need proper winter clothing rather than just an extra layer.
Long-term climate averages for Florence, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Florence, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Florence.
- Average daytime high
- 9.4°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 13°C
- Average night-time low
- 1.8°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -3°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +2.0°C
- London averages 7.4°C in January
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 3.4h
- 37% of 9.1 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 10
- 67 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 82%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 17.8°C
- 2018-01-08
- Record low 1991-2020
- -11.7°C
- 2004-01-30
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 12 min
- 1185 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 Florence and ranks 117th of 134 destinations we compare for January - see where else is hot in January. Within Italy it is 10th of 16 (Italy in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Florence is 2.0°C warmer by day and 0.4°C cooler at night.
Daytime and night-time in January
The typical January day in Florence peaks at 9.4°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 12.9°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 1.8°C; one night in ten drops to -2.5°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 17.8°C (2018-01-08) and the coldest night -11.7°C (2004-01-30).
Rain in January
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 10 days with 1 mm or more, 67 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 2014 with 170 mm, the driest 1993 with 4 mm. Humidity averages 82%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 3.4 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.1 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:46 and sets about 17:02 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 62%.
Is January a good time to visit Florence?
January is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Florence on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug.
Pack for cold evenings, not Italian warmth
The average afternoon is cool enough for a winter coat, and the temperature drops towards freezing at night. Colder nights can fall below freezing, so bring warm layers, gloves and shoes you can comfortably walk in for long periods. A milder afternoon may feel more inviting, but it is not a reason to leave your coat behind: even the warmest 10% of days only reach 12.9°C or more. Put longer outdoor walks in the warmer part of the day and keep evening plans flexible. January suits travellers who tolerate winter weather well; it is a poor choice if warmth is central to the trip.
Allow for rain and limited sunshine
About 10 rainy days make a waterproof outer layer a sensible part of your packing, though that does not mean every day will be wet. Keep indoor options available rather than committing your whole visit to outdoor plans. There are about 3.4 hours of sunshine within 9.1 hours of daylight, so do not expect bright skies throughout the day, even when it stays dry. Start outdoor plans while there is useful daylight and take advantage of clearer spells as they arrive. The weather is workable for a flexible city break, but less appealing if your ideal trip involves long, unhurried stretches sitting outside.
A little perspective
Florence 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 | 9.4°C | 1.8°C | 3.4 | 67 | 10 | 0% |
| February | 10.6°C | 1.8°C | 4.5 | 76 | 10 | 0% |
| March | 14.3°C | 4.4°C | 5.3 | 72 | 10 | 0% |
| April | 17.7°C | 7.3°C | 5.8 | 82 | 12 | 1% |
| May | 21.9°C | 11.4°C | 6.9 | 74 | 10 | 19% |
| Junebest | 26.4°C | 15.6°C | 8.9 | 48 | 7 | 64% |
| Julybest | 29.7°C | 18.3°C | 10.8 | 29 | 4 | 92% |
| Augustbest | 29.9°C | 18.7°C | 9.6 | 33 | 5 | 92% |
| September | 24.7°C | 14.6°C | 6.9 | 85 | 9 | 46% |
| October | 19.4°C | 11.0°C | 4.6 | 113 | 12 | 4% |
| November | 14.0°C | 6.8°C | 3.3 | 128 | 13 | 0% |
| December | 10.1°C | 2.9°C | 3.4 | 97 | 12 | 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.
A little more detail
Florence in January FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Florence hot in January?
Florence is cool in January: the average daytime high is 9.4°C and nights average 1.8°C. Days over 25°C are rare in January.
How much does it rain in Florence in January?
Florence sees about 10 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 67 mm of rain in a typical January. The wettest January between 1991 and 2020 was 2014 (170 mm) and the driest was 1993 (4 mm).
How sunny is Florence in January?
Florence gets around 3.4 hours of sunshine a day in January out of 9.1 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Florence compare with the UK in January?
Florence is on average 2.0°C warmer than London by day in January (9.4°C against 7.4°C).
What is the hottest January on record in Florence?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day in Florence reached 17.8°C on 2018-01-08, and the coldest night dropped to -11.7°C on 2004-01-30.
Is Florence warmer than London in January?
Yes, but only modestly. Florence's average daytime high is 9.4°C, compared with London's 7.4°C, a difference of 2.0°C. That is not enough to turn the trip into a warm break, so pack with winter conditions in mind.
Is January a good choice for a short trip from the UK?
It can be if you want a city break and accept cold, wet weather. The flight from London takes about 2 h 12 min, making it a short-haul option. Keep plans flexible rather than relying on sunshine.
When should I go instead if I want warmer weather?
June, July and August are better choices if warmth is your priority. January is Florence's coldest month, with average daytime highs of 9.4°C. Choose it for a winter visit rather than expecting comfortable weather for spending much of the day sitting outdoors.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Florence. 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