Ireland weather in January
Ireland in January averages 6°C (42°F), 82 mm of rain and 1.6 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Ireland, January is the coldest, the second wettest and the second dullest.
- Average temp
- 6°C (42°F)
3–9°C · 37–47°F
- Rainfall
- 82 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 1.6 h
hours per day
- Wind
- 20 km/h
What is Ireland 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 Ireland in January?
A light rain jacket
About 82 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around 3°C (37°F).
January compared with December and February
January in Ireland is about the same temperature as December and about as wet as it, which averages 6°C (42°F).
January in Ireland is about the same temperature as February and 20 mm wetter than it, which averages 6°C (42°F).
Daylight in Ireland in January
On 15 January the sun is up for 8 hours 3 minutes in Ireland, rising about 08:41 and setting about 16:43 local time.
January ends 1 hour 17 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 57 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Travel guides for Ireland
What to read before you book.
Ireland 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 | 6°C / 42°F | 82 mm |
| February | 6°C / 42°F | 63 mm |
| March | 7°C / 45°F | 60 mm |
| April | 9°C / 47°F | 69 mm |
| May | 11°C / 52°F | 56 mm |
| June | 14°C / 57°F | 70 mm |
| July | 15°C / 60°F | 59 mm |
| August | 15°C / 60°F | 70 mm |
| September | 13°C / 56°F | 65 mm |
| October | 10°C / 50°F | 96 mm |
| November | 8°C / 46°F | 82 mm |
| December | 6°C / 42°F | 80 mm |
Similar weather in January
Other destinations whose January averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
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FAQs about Ireland in January
January climate averages for Ireland, 1991–2020.
Ireland averages 6°C (42°F) in January, ranging from about 3°C (37°F) at night to 9°C (47°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 82 mm falls across January, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
They are about the same. January averages 6°C (42°F) and February 6°C (42°F), so temperature alone will not decide between them.
January is about as warm as 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 1.6 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 3 minutes of daylight in mid-January, against 17 hours in June and 7 hours 31 minutes in December.
On 15 January, sunrise is about 08:41 and sunset about 16:43 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 1 hour 17 minutes longer than it starts.
