Vancouver weather in January
Vancouver in January averages 5°C (42°F), 237 mm of rain and 1.9 hours of sun a day. It is one of the wetter months of the year here.
Of the twelve months in Vancouver, January is the second coldest, the second wettest and the second dullest.
- Average temp
- 5°C (42°F)
3–7°C · 38–45°F
- Rainfall
- 237 mm
A wet month
- Sunshine
- 1.9 h
hours per day
What is Vancouver like in January?
Daytime
Days are cool.
Rain
Expect frequent rain — this is a wet month.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Vancouver in January?
A proper waterproof, not a folding umbrella
237 mm in the month usually arrives as heavy bursts that an umbrella will not cover.
A dry bag for phone and documents
Worth it for one downpour caught between the taxi and the door.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 3°C (38°F).
January compared with December and February
January in Vancouver is about the same temperature as December and 42 mm wetter than it, which averages 5°C (41°F).
January in Vancouver is 0.5°C cooler than February and 116 mm wetter than it, which averages 6°C (42°F).
Daylight in Vancouver in January
On 15 January the sun is up for 8 hours 39 minutes in Vancouver, rising about 08:02 and setting about 16:41 local time.
January ends 1 hour 4 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 7 hours 35 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in Vancouver
Dates are a starting point for January.
Travel guides for Vancouver
What to read before you book.
Vancouver weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How January compares with the rest of the year
January is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 5°C / 42°F | 237 mm |
| February | 6°C / 42°F | 121 mm |
| March | 8°C / 46°F | 164 mm |
| April | 10°C / 50°F | 114 mm |
| May | 14°C / 57°F | 73 mm |
| June | 17°C / 62°F | 65 mm |
| July | 19°C / 66°F | 42 mm |
| August | 19°C / 66°F | 49 mm |
| September | 16°C / 60°F | 71 mm |
| October | 11°C / 52°F | 155 mm |
| November | 8°C / 46°F | 245 mm |
| December | 5°C / 41°F | 196 mm |
Check another month
This is the month you are reading. Change either side to look at another.
FAQs about Vancouver in January
January climate averages for Vancouver, 1991–2020.
Vancouver averages 5°C (42°F) in January, ranging from about 3°C (38°F) at night to 7°C (45°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Yes, a lot. January brings about 237 mm, which makes it one of the wetter months here — expect heavy bursts rather than all-day drizzle.
No. January averages 5°C (42°F) against 6°C (42°F) in February — 0.5°C cooler.
January is about as warm as December, and 42 mm wetter.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is May to October; January sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
About 1.9 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average, so daylight is short on useful sun.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what January is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 8 hours 39 minutes of daylight in mid-January, against 16 hours 14 minutes in June and 8 hours 13 minutes in December.
On 15 January, sunrise is about 08:02 and sunset about 16:41 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 1 hour 4 minutes longer than it starts.
