Helsinki weather in January
Helsinki in January averages -3°C (26°F), 54 mm of rain and 1.1 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Helsinki, January is the second coldest and the fifth driest.
- Average temp
- -3°C (26°F)
-6–-1°C · 22–31°F
- Rainfall
- 54 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 1.1 h
hours per day
What is Helsinki like in January?
Daytime
Days are cool.
Rain
Some rain is likely; pack for showers.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Helsinki in January?
A light rain jacket
About 54 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around -6°C (22°F).
January compared with December and February
January in Helsinki is 2.2°C cooler than December and about as wet as it, which averages -1°C (30°F).
January in Helsinki is 0.9°C warmer than February and 16 mm wetter than it, which averages -4°C (25°F).
Daylight in Helsinki in January
On 15 January the sun is up for 6 hours 39 minutes in Helsinki, rising about 09:10 and setting about 15:49 local time.
January ends 1 hour 52 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 12 hours 14 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in Helsinki
Dates are a starting point for January.
Travel guides for Helsinki
What to read before you book.
Helsinki 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 | -3°C / 26°F | 54 mm |
| February | -4°C / 25°F | 38 mm |
| March | -1°C / 31°F | 35 mm |
| April | 5°C / 40°F | 32 mm |
| May | 10°C / 51°F | 41 mm |
| June | 15°C / 59°F | 56 mm |
| July | 18°C / 65°F | 58 mm |
| August | 17°C / 63°F | 84 mm |
| September | 12°C / 54°F | 55 mm |
| October | 7°C / 44°F | 75 mm |
| November | 2°C / 36°F | 70 mm |
| December | -1°C / 30°F | 59 mm |
Check another month
This is the month you are reading. Change either side to look at another.
FAQs about Helsinki in January
January climate averages for Helsinki, 1991–2020.
Helsinki averages -3°C (26°F) in January, ranging from about -6°C (22°F) at night to -1°C (31°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 54 mm falls across January, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
Yes. January averages -3°C (26°F) against -4°C (25°F) in February — 0.9°C warmer.
January is 2.2°C cooler than December, and about as wet.
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 1.1 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 6 hours 39 minutes of daylight in mid-January, against 18 hours 53 minutes in June and 5 hours 52 minutes in December.
On 15 January, sunrise is about 09:10 and sunset about 15:49 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 1 hour 52 minutes longer than it starts.
