Weather in Sorrento in January

How January compares

January is the 12th warmest month of the year in Sorrento and ranks 101st of 134 destinations we compare for January - see where else is hot in January. Within Italy it is 3rd of 16 (Italy in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Sorrento is 4.7°C warmer by day and 5.8°C warmer at night.

Daytime and night-time in January

The typical January day in Sorrento peaks at 12.1°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 14.7°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 8.0°C; one night in ten drops to 4.5°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 18.6°C (2018-01-08) and the coldest night -1.8°C (2017-01-07).

Rain in January

Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 12 days with 1 mm or more, 123 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 2009 with 331 mm, the driest 1991 with 12 mm. Humidity averages 75%.

Sea temperature in January

The sea averages 15.1°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 14.5°C to 15.5°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (26.4°C).

Sunshine and daylight

Around 4.2 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 9.4 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:25 and sets about 16:59 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 55%.

Is January a good time to visit Sorrento?

January is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Sorrento on our scoring are July, August, June; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug.

Milder than London, but still winter

Sorrento is milder than London in January, with average daytime highs of 12.1°C against London's 7.4°C. That is a useful difference for spending time outdoors, but not enough to leave your winter layers at home. A jumper and jacket make more sense than relying on a light top, particularly once daylight fades. Average night lows are 8°C, while the coldest nights can drop to 4.5°C or below. Even the warmer days, reaching around 14.7°C or more, are better treated as a chance for a comfortable walk than a promise of lounging in the sun. This is a cool-weather break, not a warm one.

Keep your plans flexible around rain

With about 12 rainy days, January is a month for flexible plans rather than a fixed outdoor schedule. A waterproof jacket and shoes that cope with wet ground will be more useful than packing only for dry weather. There are about 4.2 hours of sunshine within 9.4 hours of daylight, so sunshine is part of the picture, but it should not be the condition your holiday depends on. Use brighter spells for longer walks and leave room to spend time indoors when it turns wet. The catch is not simply the temperature: limited daylight and rain make an outdoor-focused trip less dependable.