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Cologne weather in January

Cologne in January averages 4°C (39°F), 64 mm of rain and 1.8 hours of sun a day.

Of the twelve months in Cologne, January is the coldest, the fifth driest and the second dullest.

Cologne
Average temp
4°C (39°F)

2–6°C · 35–43°F

Rainfall
64 mm

Showers likely

Sunshine
1.8 h

hours per day

Wind
13 km/h
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What is Cologne 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 Cologne in January?

  • A light rain jacket

    About 64 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.

  • A warm mid-layer

    Nights drop to around 2°C (35°F).

January compared with December and February

January in Cologne is 0.8°C cooler than December and about as wet as it, which averages 5°C (41°F).

January in Cologne is 0.6°C cooler than February and about as wet as it, which averages 5°C (40°F).

Daylight in Cologne in January

On 15 January the sun is up for 8 hours 25 minutes in Cologne, rising about 08:29 and setting about 16:54 local time.

January ends 1 hour 9 minutes longer than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.

That is 8 hours 6 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.

Where to stay in Cologne

Dates are a starting point for January.

All hotels in Cologne

Travel guides for Cologne

What to read before you book.

All travel guides in Cologne

Cologne weather by month

TemperatureRainfall

Source: MeteostatPeriod: 1991-2020Checked: 2 Sept 2026358 places covered

How January compares with the rest of the year

January is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.

Cologne weather by month: average temperature, rainfall, sunshine and wind for each month, from 1991–2020 climate normals
MonthAverageRainfall
January4°C / 39°F64 mm
February5°C / 40°F56 mm
March8°C / 46°F53 mm
April12°C / 53°F48 mm
May15°C / 59°F60 mm
June18°C / 65°F76 mm
July20°C / 69°F81 mm
August20°C / 68°F81 mm
September16°C / 61°F67 mm
October12°C / 54°F65 mm
November8°C / 46°F68 mm
December5°C / 41°F72 mm

Similar weather in January

Other destinations whose January averages sit close to this one.

Check another month

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FAQs about Cologne in January

January climate averages for Cologne, 1991–2020.

Cologne averages 4°C (39°F) in January, ranging from about 2°C (35°F) at night to 6°C (43°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.

Some. About 64 mm falls across January, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.

No. January averages 4°C (39°F) against 5°C (40°F) in February — 0.6°C cooler.

January is 0.8°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 1.8 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 25 minutes of daylight in mid-January, against 16 hours 31 minutes in June and 7 hours 57 minutes in December.

On 15 January, sunrise is about 08:29 and sunset about 16:54 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 1 hour 9 minutes longer than it starts.