Weather in La Palma in January

How January compares

January is the 11th warmest month of the year in La Palma and ranks 57th of 134 destinations we compare for January - see where else is hot in January. Within Spain it is 25th of 87 (Spain in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, La Palma is 9.9°C warmer by day and 12.7°C warmer at night.

Daytime and night-time in January

The typical January day in La Palma peaks at 17.3°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 19.0°C or more. Roughly 1 in 1000 days top 25°C. Nights average 14.9°C; one night in ten drops to 12.5°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 25.2°C (2020-01-30) and the coldest night 9.3°C (2019-01-10).

Rain in January

Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 4 days with 1 mm or more, 21 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 2005 with 75 mm, the driest 1995 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 72%.

Sea temperature in January

The sea averages 20.0°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 19.2°C to 20.7°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (24.1°C).

Sunshine and daylight

Around 6.2 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 10.4 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:06 and sets about 18:36 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 40%.

Is January a good time to visit La Palma?

January is not the strongest month here: mild days. The best months for La Palma on our scoring are August, September, July.

Mild days, with layers for the evening

Expect weather for walking and spending time outdoors rather than relying on sunbathing. The warmer days can reach 19°C or more, but that is the warmer end of January, not the everyday expectation. Pack light layers so you can adjust as conditions change, with a jumper or jacket for evenings. The colder nights can fall to 12.5°C or below, so packing only summer clothes would be a mistake. January sits towards the cooler end of La Palma's year. That makes it a reasonable choice if you dislike heat at midday, but a poor match if your main aim is a reliably hot winter holiday.

Useful sunshine, but a bracing sea

There are about 6.2 hours of sunshine within 10.4 hours of daylight, giving you a useful window for outdoor plans without assuming every day will be sunny throughout. About 4 rainy days means a light waterproof earns its place in your bag, and it helps to keep plans flexible rather than depend on uninterrupted dry weather. Swimming is more of a personal judgement: the sea's usual January range is 19°C to 21°C, which remains bracing. If you enjoy cooler water, a dip may appeal; if you like to linger in warm water, it is less convincing. Treat swimming as an optional part of the trip, rather than the reason to book.