Your January weather guide
MildWeather in Tenerife in January
Yes, Tenerife is a good January choice if you want mild days rather than a hot beach holiday. Average daytime highs of 19.6°C suit time outdoors, while nights around 15.1°C call for a layer. There are about 4 rainy days, so rain is a possibility rather than the main drawback. The bigger compromise is warmth: this is Tenerife's coolest month, and the sea feels bracing rather than comfortably warm.
Long-term climate averages for Playa de las Americas (south coast), not a forecast · 1991-2020
Tenerife, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Playa de las Americas (south coast).
- Average daytime high
- 19.6°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 22°C
- Average night-time low
- 15.1°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 13°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +12.2°C
- London averages 7.4°C in January
- Sea temperature
- 19.9°C
- year to year: 19°C to 21°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 7.0h
- 67% of 10.4 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 4
- 19 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 71%
- Days over 25°C
- 1%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 27.0°C
- 2018-01-02
- Record low 1991-2020
- 10.1°C
- 1993-01-12
- Flight from London
- ≈ 4 h 24 min
- 2917 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 Tenerife and ranks 51st of 134 destinations we compare for January - see where else is hot in January. Within Spain it is 12th of 87 (Spain in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Tenerife is 12.2°C warmer by day and 12.9°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in January
The typical January day in Tenerife peaks at 19.6°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 22.0°C or more. Roughly 1 in 167 days top 25°C. Nights average 15.1°C; one night in ten drops to 12.7°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day here reached 27.0°C (2018-01-02) and the coldest night 10.1°C (1993-01-12).
Rain in January
Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 4 days with 1 mm or more, 19 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 1996 with 70 mm, the driest 2018 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 71%.
Sea temperature in January
The sea averages 19.9°C - bracing (18-22°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 19.3°C to 20.8°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (23.7°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 7.0 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 10.4 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:00 and sets about 18:32 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 32%.
Is January a good time to visit Tenerife?
It is a reasonable choice: mild days. The best months for Tenerife on our scoring are July, August, September; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug, Sep.
Expect comfortable days, not reliable sunbathing heat
Tenerife offers a clear lift from London's January daytime average of 7.4°C, but pack for mild weather rather than summer heat. Light clothes are useful during the day, with a jumper or light jacket for evenings. The warmer days reach 22°C or more, though 25°C is rare, so don't make sustained heat the basis of your plans. Colder nights can fall to around 13°C or below, making an extra layer useful if you spend evenings outside. January suits travellers who prefer being outdoors without strong heat; it is less convincing if your main aim is lying in hot sunshine.
Useful sunshine, but a bracing sea
About 7 hours of sunshine within 10.4 hours of daylight gives you a useful window for outdoor plans, without promising clear skies throughout your stay. Keep those plans flexible around rain, and take a light waterproof rather than assuming every day will be dry. For swimming, the sea averages 19.9°C: bracing, not warm. That may suit you if you already enjoy cooler water, but it is a drawback if relaxed, warm-water swimming is central to your holiday. Plan beach time as an option when conditions feel pleasant, rather than something you need to do every day to make the trip worthwhile.
A little perspective
Tenerife 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 | 19.6°C | 15.1°C | 19.9°C | 7.0 | 19 | 4 | 1% |
| February | 19.8°C | 15.1°C | 19.3°C | 7.9 | 25 | 4 | 3% |
| March | 20.4°C | 15.4°C | 19.1°C | 8.4 | 23 | 5 | 8% |
| April | 20.6°C | 15.7°C | 19.5°C | 9.0 | 17 | 5 | 6% |
| May | 21.7°C | 16.7°C | 20.2°C | 10.0 | 9 | 3 | 9% |
| June | 23.2°C | 18.1°C | 21.3°C | 11.7 | 6 | 2 | 18% |
| Julybest | 25.9°C | 20.4°C | 22.1°C | 12.9 | 1 | 0 | 51% |
| Augustbest | 26.6°C | 21.3°C | 23.0°C | 11.7 | 2 | 1 | 65% |
| Septemberbest | 25.4°C | 20.4°C | 23.7°C | 9.2 | 11 | 3 | 49% |
| October | 24.5°C | 19.7°C | 23.6°C | 7.4 | 25 | 6 | 30% |
| November | 22.6°C | 18.1°C | 22.5°C | 6.6 | 22 | 6 | 16% |
| December | 20.7°C | 16.4°C | 21.1°C | 6.6 | 39 | 6 | 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
Tenerife in January FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Tenerife hot in January?
Tenerife is mild in January: the average daytime high is 19.6°C and nights average 15.1°C. Roughly 1 in 167 January days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Tenerife in January?
The sea around Tenerife averages 19.9°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 21°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Tenerife in January?
Tenerife sees about 4 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 19 mm of rain in a typical January. The wettest January between 1991 and 2020 was 1996 (70 mm) and the driest was 2018 (0 mm).
How sunny is Tenerife in January?
Tenerife gets around 7.0 hours of sunshine a day in January out of 10.4 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Tenerife compare with the UK in January?
Tenerife is on average 12.2°C warmer than London by day in January (19.6°C against 7.4°C).
What is the hottest January on record in Tenerife?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day in Tenerife reached 27.0°C on 2018-01-02, and the coldest night dropped to 10.1°C on 1993-01-12.
Is Tenerife practical for a short January break from the UK?
The flight from London takes about 4 h 24 min, putting Tenerife within short-haul reach. January makes sense for a break focused on milder daytime weather and time outdoors, provided you are not relying on hot afternoons or warm sea swimming.
Which months should I consider if January sounds too cool?
July, August and September are Tenerife's best-rated months overall. January is its coolest month, so consider those alternatives if warmth matters more than mild conditions. January is better suited to travellers who are happy with comfortable days and cooler evenings.
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 Playa de las Américas (Playa de las Americas (south coast)). Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 4.4 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