Weather in Santa Cruz de Tenerife in January

How January compares

January is the 11th warmest month of the year in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Within Spain it is 16th of 87 (Spain in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Santa Cruz de Tenerife is 11.7°C warmer by day and 14.1°C warmer at night.

Daytime and night-time in January

The typical January day in Santa Cruz de Tenerife peaks at 19.1°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 21.0°C or more. Roughly 1 in 333 days top 25°C. Nights average 16.3°C; one night in ten drops to 13.9°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day here reached 27.9°C (2020-01-30) and the coldest night 10.4°C (2020-01-15).

Rain in January

Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 5 days with 1 mm or more, 25 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 2006 with 80 mm, the driest 2008 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 72%.

Sea temperature in January

The sea averages 19.6°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 18.9°C to 20.4°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (23.7°C).

Sunshine and daylight

Around 5.5 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 10.4 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:59 and sets about 18:30 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 47%.

Is January a good time to visit Santa Cruz de Tenerife?

January is not the strongest month here: mild days. The best months for Santa Cruz de Tenerife on our scoring are August, July, September; months averaging 25°C or more: Aug, Sep.

Comfortable for walking, less convincing for swimming

The mild daytime temperatures suit travellers who prefer walking around a city without strong heat. A T-shirt may be comfortable during warmer spells, but bring a light jumper or jacket rather than packing only summer clothes. The warmest days reach 21°C or more, while colder nights can fall to around 14°C, so an extra layer is useful after dark. Sea temperature averages 19.6°C, which makes swimming a matter of your tolerance for cool water rather than an obvious daily plan. If warm sea bathing is central to your holiday, January is a compromise; if you mainly want comfortable time outdoors, it makes more sense.

Allow for showers and a mix of sun and cloud

January brings about 5 rainy days, so rain needs a place in your plans without defining the whole trip. Pack a light waterproof and keep outdoor plans flexible rather than assuming every day will stay dry. Average sunshine is about 5.5 hours within 10.4 hours of daylight: there is useful daylight for getting out, but do not expect uninterrupted blue skies. Use brighter spells for the outdoor time you care about most, and have an indoor alternative when rain arrives. This is a month for a flexible city break with some sunshine, not a trip built around reliable all-day sunbathing.