Your January weather guide
MildWeather in Canary Islands in January
Yes, January is a good time for the Canary Islands if you want mild outdoor weather rather than a hot beach holiday. Average daytime highs are 19.1°C, compared with 7.4°C in London, so the difference should feel welcome coming from the UK. The catch is the sea: at 19.5°C, it is bracing rather than comfortably warm. Go for time outdoors, some sunshine and relatively little rain, but pack layers rather than just beachwear.
Long-term climate averages for Maspalomas (Gran Canaria), not a forecast · 1991-2020
Canary Islands, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Maspalomas (Gran Canaria).
- Average daytime high
- 19.1°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 21°C
- Average night-time low
- 15.7°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 13°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +11.7°C
- London averages 7.4°C in January
- Sea temperature
- 19.5°C
- year to year: 19°C to 20°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 6.4h
- 62% of 10.4 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 3
- 15 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 70%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 29.2°C
- 2020-01-30
- Record low 1991-2020
- 9.3°C
- 2019-01-10
- Flight from London
- ≈ 4 h 24 min
- 2904 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 Canary Islands. Within Spain it is 15th of 87 (Spain in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Canary Islands is 11.7°C warmer by day and 13.5°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in January
The typical January day in Canary Islands peaks at 19.1°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 20.9°C or more. Roughly 1 in 250 days top 25°C. Nights average 15.7°C; one night in ten drops to 13.4°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day here reached 29.2°C (2020-01-30) and the coldest night 9.3°C (2019-01-10).
Rain in January
Dry (3 rainy days or fewer): about 3 days with 1 mm or more, 15 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 2005 with 75 mm, the driest 2018 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 70%.
Sea temperature in January
The sea averages 19.5°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 18.8°C to 20.3°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (23.4°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 6.4 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 10.4 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:55 and sets about 18:28 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 39%.
Is January a good time to visit Canary Islands?
It is a reasonable choice: mild days. The best months for Canary Islands on our scoring are July, August, September; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug, Sep.
Mild afternoons, with layers for evenings
January is the coolest month in the Canary Islands, so judge it as a winter sunshine option rather than a summer substitute. A daytime high around 19°C suits walking and spending time outside without strong heat. Lighter clothes can work during the warmer part of the day, with a jumper or light jacket ready for later. Average night-time lows are 15.7°C, while the coldest nights can fall to 13.4°C or below. That makes an extra layer useful for sitting outdoors in the evening. If your priority is reliably hot afternoons in swimwear, January is not the best match.
Generally dry, but not sunshine all day
Rain is unlikely to be the main compromise: January averages about 3 rainy days, making it a reasonable choice for plans centred on being outdoors. That is not a promise of a dry stay, so a light waterproof is still sensible. Sunshine averages about 6.4 hours within 10.4 hours of daylight, leaving scope for sunny spells without suggesting clear skies throughout the day. Keep outdoor plans flexible and use the brighter, warmer part of the day for sitting out. The balance suits travellers who want a break from UK winter weather and can accept some cloud or an occasional wet spell.
The sea is the main catch for a beach holiday
At 19.5°C, the sea is bracing, so swimming is more appealing if you already tolerate cool water. The year-to-year range of 19°C to 20°C does not suggest much chance of a genuinely warm sea in January. You may enjoy a brief dip, but do not build the holiday around long, relaxed swims if you feel the cold. Time beside the water is a better fit than expecting summer swimming conditions. Overall, January suits travellers happy to trade heat for mild days and relatively dry weather. For a trip centred on warmth, July, August and September are better choices.
A little perspective
Canary Islands 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 | 19.1°C | 15.7°C | 19.5°C | 6.4 | 15 | 3 | 0% |
| February | 19.2°C | 15.6°C | 18.8°C | 7.1 | 20 | 3 | 2% |
| March | 19.9°C | 16.0°C | 18.8°C | 7.6 | 16 | 3 | 4% |
| April | 20.4°C | 16.6°C | 19.2°C | 8.0 | 10 | 3 | 3% |
| May | 21.6°C | 17.7°C | 20.0°C | 8.8 | 4 | 1 | 6% |
| June | 23.3°C | 19.4°C | 21.1°C | 10.1 | 2 | 1 | 17% |
| Julybest | 25.1°C | 20.9°C | 21.9°C | 11.1 | 0 | 0 | 45% |
| Augustbest | 25.9°C | 21.9°C | 22.8°C | 10.4 | 1 | 0 | 58% |
| Septemberbest | 25.3°C | 21.5°C | 23.4°C | 8.6 | 6 | 1 | 53% |
| October | 24.2°C | 20.5°C | 23.2°C | 7.0 | 17 | 4 | 29% |
| November | 22.0°C | 18.7°C | 22.1°C | 6.0 | 17 | 4 | 10% |
| December | 20.2°C | 16.9°C | 20.6°C | 6.1 | 30 | 5 | 1% |
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
Canary Islands in January FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Canary Islands hot in January?
Canary Islands is mild in January: the average daytime high is 19.1°C and nights average 15.7°C. Roughly 1 in 250 January days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Canary Islands in January?
The sea around Canary Islands averages 19.5°C in January, which is bracing - fine for a quick dip, cool for long swims. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 19°C to 20°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Canary Islands in January?
Canary Islands sees about 3 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 15 mm of rain in a typical January. The wettest January between 1991 and 2020 was 2005 (75 mm) and the driest was 2018 (0 mm).
How sunny is Canary Islands in January?
Canary Islands gets around 6.4 hours of sunshine a day in January out of 10.4 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Canary Islands compare with the UK in January?
Canary Islands is on average 11.7°C warmer than London by day in January (19.1°C against 7.4°C).
What is the hottest January on record in Canary Islands?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day in Canary Islands reached 29.2°C on 2020-01-30, and the coldest night dropped to 9.3°C on 2019-01-10.
How much warmer is it than London in January?
Average daytime highs are 11.7°C higher than in London: 19.1°C in the Canary Islands against 7.4°C. That is a substantial change for daytime comfort, although it still means mild weather rather than dependable summer heat.
How long is the flight from London?
The flight from London takes about 4 h 24 min, making this a short-haul option for milder January weather. The key trade-off is temperature: you can expect a marked improvement on London, but not reliably hot beach conditions.
Does January get hot enough for 25°C days?
Do not plan around that level of heat: the share of January days reaching 25°C is 0%. Even the warmest 10% of days start at 20.9°C, so mild-to-warm afternoons are a more realistic expectation than hot weather.
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 Maspalomas (Maspalomas (Gran Canaria)). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 3 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