Your January weather guide
CoolWeather in Sicily in January
Sicily in January suits a cool-weather break, not a beach holiday. Average daytime highs are around 14°C, nights fall to about 8°C and the sea is a cold 15°C. It is milder than London, but you should still pack for winter rather than rely on sunshine. Go if you are happy spending time outdoors in layers and changing plans when rain arrives; choose a warmer month if swimming and sitting out late matter most.
Long-term climate averages for Catania (east coast), not a forecast · 1991-2020
Sicily, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Catania (east coast).
- Average daytime high
- 14.2°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 17°C
- Average night-time low
- 7.5°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 5°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +6.8°C
- London averages 7.4°C in January
- Sea temperature
- 15.2°C
- year to year: 15°C to 16°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 5.0h
- 52% of 9.7 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 8
- 75 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 78%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 20.8°C
- 2016-01-10
- Record low 1991-2020
- -0.1°C
- 2017-01-08
- Flight from London
- ≈ 3 h 12 min
- 1936 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 Sicily and ranks 76th of 134 destinations we compare for January - see where else is hot in January. Within Italy it is 1st of 16 (Italy in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Sicily is 6.8°C warmer by day and 5.3°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in January
The typical January day in Sicily peaks at 14.2°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 16.9°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 7.5°C; one night in ten drops to 4.7°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 20.8°C (2016-01-10) and the coldest night -0.1°C (2017-01-08).
Rain in January
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 8 days with 1 mm or more, 75 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 1992 with 273 mm, the driest 2018 with 8 mm. Humidity averages 78%.
Sea temperature in January
The sea averages 15.2°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 14.6°C to 15.6°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.4°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 5.0 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.7 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:14 and sets about 17:04 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 48%.
Is January a good time to visit Sicily?
January is not the strongest month here: cool days. The best months for Sicily on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep.
Mild afternoons, but keep your coat
January is Sicily's coldest month, so the useful distinction is milder winter weather rather than warmth. The warmer days reach around 17°C or more, which can make an afternoon outdoors appealing, but that is not the everyday expectation. Colder nights can drop to around 5°C or below, so a warm layer matters once daylight fades. Pack trousers, comfortable closed shoes and a coat, with lighter layers underneath for changes through the day. The sea averages 15.2°C and stays cold even in warmer years. Treat the coast as somewhere to spend time beside the water, rather than plan a holiday around comfortable swimming.
Leave room for rain and shorter days
About 8 rainy days mean you should allow for wet weather without assuming the whole trip will be a washout. A waterproof outer layer is more useful than packing only for dry afternoons, and flexible plans will help you make the most of clearer spells. There are about 5 hours of sunshine within 9.7 hours of daylight, so aim to do your longer outdoor activities during the brighter part of the day. Those sunshine hours are an average, not a promise for each day. January suits travellers who can accept interruptions and cool evenings; it is a less convincing choice if reliable sun is the main reason for going.
A little perspective
Sicily 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 | 14.2°C | 7.5°C | 15.2°C | 5.0 | 75 | 8 | 0% |
| February | 14.6°C | 7.4°C | 14.5°C | 5.7 | 60 | 7 | 0% |
| March | 16.8°C | 8.9°C | 14.6°C | 6.4 | 58 | 8 | 1% |
| April | 19.3°C | 11.4°C | 15.6°C | 7.2 | 45 | 8 | 1% |
| May | 23.8°C | 15.3°C | 18.2°C | 8.9 | 28 | 4 | 32% |
| Junebest | 28.5°C | 19.6°C | 21.8°C | 11.4 | 19 | 3 | 88% |
| Julybest | 31.7°C | 22.4°C | 25.0°C | 13.1 | 8 | 2 | 100% |
| Augustbest | 32.0°C | 23.1°C | 26.4°C | 11.7 | 14 | 3 | 100% |
| September | 27.5°C | 20.0°C | 25.2°C | 8.1 | 52 | 7 | 81% |
| October | 23.4°C | 16.6°C | 22.6°C | 5.9 | 71 | 8 | 27% |
| November | 18.9°C | 12.6°C | 19.6°C | 5.0 | 68 | 8 | 0% |
| December | 15.4°C | 9.2°C | 16.8°C | 4.8 | 66 | 8 | 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
Sicily in January FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Sicily hot in January?
Sicily is cool in January: the average daytime high is 14.2°C and nights average 7.5°C. Days over 25°C are rare in January.
Can you swim in the sea in Sicily in January?
The sea around Sicily averages 15.2°C in January, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 15°C to 16°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Sicily in January?
Sicily sees about 8 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 75 mm of rain in a typical January. The wettest January between 1991 and 2020 was 1992 (273 mm) and the driest was 2018 (8 mm).
How sunny is Sicily in January?
Sicily gets around 5.0 hours of sunshine a day in January out of 9.7 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Sicily compare with the UK in January?
Sicily is on average 6.8°C warmer than London by day in January (14.2°C against 7.4°C).
What is the hottest January on record in Sicily?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day in Sicily reached 20.8°C on 2016-01-10, and the coldest night dropped to -0.1°C on 2017-01-08.
How much warmer is Sicily than London in January?
Sicily's average daytime high is 14.2°C, compared with London's 7.4°C, a difference of 6.8°C. That makes it a milder option for daytime outings, but the advantage does not turn January into warm-weather holiday territory. You will still need winter layers.
Is January practical for a short break from the UK?
The flight from London takes about 3 h 12 min, making Sicily a short-haul option. January works best for a break with flexible outdoor plans and no expectation of swimming. The catch is cool evenings and the possibility of rain during your stay.
Which months should I consider instead for a summer holiday?
July, August and June are the strongest months overall for holiday weather in Sicily. January is the coldest month, so it is a different proposition: choose it for a milder winter break, rather than as a substitute for a summer holiday.
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 Catania (Catania (east coast)). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2 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