Your January weather guide
CoolWeather in Switzerland in January
January is worth considering for Switzerland if you want a cold-weather break, but not if mild days and easy outdoor plans are your priority. Average daytime highs are 4.5°C, nights fall to -1.8°C, and about 13 days have rain. That means warm layers, waterproof footwear and some flexibility matter more than travelling light. It suits travellers happy to spend time indoors between outings rather than rely on comfortable weather throughout the day.
Long-term climate averages for Zurich, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Switzerland, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Zurich.
- Average daytime high
- 4.5°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 9°C
- Average night-time low
- -1.8°C
- coldest 10% of nights: -6°C or lower
- Compared with London
- -2.9°C
- London averages 7.4°C in January
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 2.6h
- 30% of 8.7 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 13
- 89 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 82%
- Days over 25°C
- 0%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 15.2°C
- 2002-01-30
- Record low 1991-2020
- -13.3°C
- 2017-01-26
- Flight from London
- ≈ 1 h 42 min
- 760 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 Switzerland. Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Switzerland is 2.9°C cooler by day and 4.0°C cooler at night.
Daytime and night-time in January
The typical January day in Switzerland peaks at 4.5°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 9.2°C or more. Days over 25°C are rare. Nights average -1.8°C; one night in ten drops to -6.1°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 15.2°C (2002-01-30) and the coldest night -13.3°C (2017-01-26).
Rain in January
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 13 days with 1 mm or more, 89 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 1995 with 193 mm, the driest 1996 with 8 mm. Humidity averages 82%.
Sunshine and daylight
Around 2.6 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 8.7 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 08:09 and sets about 17:01 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 69%.
Is January a good time to visit Switzerland?
January is not the strongest month here: cool days and frequent rain. The best months for Switzerland on our scoring are July, August, June.
Expect cold days and freezing evenings
January is the coldest month here, so plan for winter conditions rather than judging the trip by the daytime average alone. Even around midday, a warm coat, gloves and layers are sensible; after dark, the average drops below freezing. The coldest 10% of nights reach -6.1°C or lower, which makes keeping warm more important if you expect to be outside in the evening. There can be milder spells, with the warmest 10% of days reaching at least 9.2°C, but those are not a reliable basis for packing. This month works best if you are comfortable wrapping up and adjusting outdoor plans to the day's conditions.
Keep outdoor plans flexible and use the daylight
Wet weather is a meaningful part of the January trade-off, rather than something to treat as an unlikely interruption. A waterproof outer layer and shoes that keep your feet dry will be more useful than relying on an umbrella alone. There are about 8.7 hours of daylight, but only 2.6 hours of sunshine on an average day, so do not expect clear skies throughout that window. Put your longer outdoor plans in the daylight and leave room to move them if conditions turn unpleasant. Indoor breaks are a practical part of the trip, especially when cold and wet weather coincide.
A little perspective
Switzerland through the year
January is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuarySelected | 4.5°C | -1.8°C | 2.6 | 89 | 13 | 0% |
| February | 5.8°C | -1.9°C | 3.5 | 84 | 12 | 0% |
| March | 10.0°C | 0.9°C | 4.4 | 95 | 14 | 0% |
| April | 13.9°C | 3.9°C | 5.1 | 104 | 14 | 0% |
| May | 17.7°C | 8.4°C | 5.3 | 142 | 16 | 6% |
| Junebest | 21.2°C | 12.3°C | 6.2 | 143 | 16 | 23% |
| Julybest | 23.2°C | 14.5°C | 6.8 | 146 | 15 | 35% |
| Augustbest | 23.1°C | 14.8°C | 6.1 | 146 | 15 | 33% |
| September | 18.8°C | 11.0°C | 4.6 | 122 | 12 | 6% |
| October | 14.4°C | 7.1°C | 3.2 | 99 | 13 | 0% |
| November | 8.6°C | 2.3°C | 2.4 | 106 | 13 | 0% |
| December | 4.9°C | -0.8°C | 2.3 | 103 | 14 | 0% |
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
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
Switzerland in January FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Switzerland hot in January?
Switzerland is cool in January: the average daytime high is 4.5°C and nights average -1.8°C. Days over 25°C are rare in January.
How much does it rain in Switzerland in January?
Switzerland sees about 13 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 89 mm of rain in a typical January. The wettest January between 1991 and 2020 was 1995 (193 mm) and the driest was 1996 (8 mm).
How sunny is Switzerland in January?
Switzerland gets around 2.6 hours of sunshine a day in January out of 8.7 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Switzerland compare with the UK in January?
Switzerland is on average 2.9°C cooler than London by day in January (4.5°C against 7.4°C).
What is the hottest January on record in Switzerland?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day in Switzerland reached 15.2°C on 2002-01-30, and the coldest night dropped to -13.3°C on 2017-01-26.
Is Switzerland colder than London in January?
Yes. The average daytime high is 4.5°C, compared with London's 7.4°C - a difference of 2.9°C. With average nights at -1.8°C, pack for freezing evenings as well as colder days, rather than assuming your usual London outfit will be enough.
Would another month be better for a warmer trip?
For a trip where warmth matters, consider July, August or June instead: these are the best-rated months overall. January is the coldest month, so choose it because you are comfortable with winter weather, not because you expect mild outdoor conditions.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid), 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Zürich (Zurich). 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