France weather in January
France in January averages 5°C (41°F) and 45 mm of rain.
Of the twelve months in France, January is the coldest and the third driest.
- Average temp
- 5°C (41°F)
3–8°C · 37–46°F
- Rainfall
- 45 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- —
What is France like in January?
Daytime
Days are cool.
Rain
Rain is usually light.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for France in January?
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 3°C (37°F).
January compared with December and February
January in France is 1°C cooler than December and 17 mm drier than it, which averages 6°C (43°F).
January in France is 0.9°C cooler than February and about as wet as it, which averages 6°C (43°F).
Daylight in France in January
On 15 January the sun is up for 8 hours 42 minutes in France, rising about 08:39 and setting about 17:20 local time.
January ends 1 hour 3 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 28 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
France 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 / 41°F | 45 mm |
| February | 6°C / 43°F | 38 mm |
| March | 9°C / 49°F | 41 mm |
| April | 12°C / 54°F | 45 mm |
| May | 16°C / 60°F | 75 mm |
| June | 19°C / 66°F | 51 mm |
| July | 21°C / 69°F | 58 mm |
| August | 21°C / 70°F | 54 mm |
| September | 17°C / 63°F | 51 mm |
| October | 13°C / 56°F | 55 mm |
| November | 9°C / 47°F | 54 mm |
| December | 6°C / 43°F | 62 mm |
Similar weather in January
Other destinations whose January averages sit close to this one.
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FAQs about France in January
January climate averages for France, 1991–2020.
France averages 5°C (41°F) in January, ranging from about 3°C (37°F) at night to 8°C (46°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Barely. January sees only about 45 mm, so rain is unlikely to affect your plans.
No. January averages 5°C (41°F) against 6°C (43°F) in February — 0.9°C cooler.
January is 1°C cooler than December, and 17 mm drier.
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.
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 42 minutes of daylight in mid-January, against 16 hours 10 minutes in June and 8 hours 16 minutes in December.
On 15 January, sunrise is about 08:39 and sunset about 17:20 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 1 hour 3 minutes longer than it starts.
