Weather in Lanzarote in January

How January compares

January is the 12th warmest month of the year in Lanzarote and ranks 55th of 134 destinations we compare for January - see where else is hot in January. Within Spain it is 22nd of 87 (Spain in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Lanzarote is 11.0°C warmer by day and 13.5°C warmer at night.

Daytime and night-time in January

The typical January day in Lanzarote peaks at 18.4°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 19.9°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average 15.7°C; one night in ten drops to 13.5°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day here reached 24.6°C (2018-01-02) and the coldest night 10.2°C (2018-01-30).

Rain in January

Dry (3 rainy days or fewer): about 3 days with 1 mm or more, 12 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 2011 with 48 mm, the driest 1995 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 69%.

Sea temperature in January

The sea averages 18.8°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 18.2°C to 19.6°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (22.9°C).

Sunshine and daylight

Around 5.6 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 10.3 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:49 and sets about 18:18 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 46%.

Is January a good time to visit Lanzarote?

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

Comfortable for being outdoors, but pack layers

Plan on light layers rather than a suitcase of summer clothes. Mild afternoons should suit walking and sitting outside, but a jumper or light jacket gives you flexibility when the temperature drops. Average night lows are 15.7°C, with the coldest nights reaching 13.5°C or below, so trousers and closed shoes are sensible for evenings. Nor should you count on strong midday heat: even the warmest days typically only approach 20°C. January works best if comfortable outdoor weather matters more than sunbathing. If hotter conditions are central to your plans, August, September and July are the better-rated months here; January is a different sort of trip.

Mostly dry, with a limited sunshine window

Rain is unlikely to be the main drawback, with about 3 rainy days across January. That makes outdoor plans reasonable, though it is still sensible to leave room to rearrange them if a wet day arrives. The bigger distinction is between daylight and sunshine: there are about 10.3 hours of daylight, but only 5.6 hours of sunshine on an average day. Expect some time without direct sun rather than assuming clear skies throughout. Keep your plans flexible enough to use the brighter spells for sitting outside or a swim. This suits travellers happy to adapt their day, rather than those who need reliable sunshine from morning to evening.