Zurich weather in January
Zurich in January averages 1°C (34°F), 62 mm of rain and 2 hours of sun a day.
Of the twelve months in Zurich, January is the coldest and the second driest.
- Average temp
- 1°C (34°F)
-1–4°C · 30–38°F
- Rainfall
- 62 mm
Showers likely
- Sunshine
- 2 h
hours per day
- Wind
- 8 km/h
What is Zurich 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 Zurich in January?
A light rain jacket
About 62 mm falls this month — showers rather than washouts.
A warm mid-layer
Nights drop to around -1°C (30°F).
January compared with December and February
January in Zurich is 0.5°C cooler than December and 22 mm drier than it, which averages 2°C (35°F).
January in Zurich is 0.8°C cooler than February and about as wet as it, which averages 2°C (36°F).
Daylight in Zurich in January
On 15 January the sun is up for 8 hours 53 minutes in Zurich, rising about 08:08 and setting about 17:01 local time.
January ends 59 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 3 minutes short of June, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in Zurich
Dates are a starting point for January.
Travel guides for Zurich
What to read before you book.
Zurich 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 | 1°C / 34°F | 62 mm |
| February | 2°C / 36°F | 60 mm |
| March | 6°C / 43°F | 71 mm |
| April | 10°C / 50°F | 80 mm |
| May | 14°C / 57°F | 126 mm |
| June | 18°C / 64°F | 128 mm |
| July | 19°C / 67°F | 126 mm |
| August | 19°C / 67°F | 119 mm |
| September | 15°C / 59°F | 87 mm |
| October | 10°C / 51°F | 85 mm |
| November | 5°C / 41°F | 76 mm |
| December | 2°C / 35°F | 84 mm |
Similar weather in January
Other destinations whose January averages sit close to this one.
Check another month
This is the month you are reading. Change either side to look at another.
FAQs about Zurich in January
January climate averages for Zurich, 1991–2020.
Zurich averages 1°C (34°F) in January, ranging from about -1°C (30°F) at night to 4°C (38°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Some. About 62 mm falls across January, enough to need a light jacket but not enough to reshape a trip.
No. January averages 1°C (34°F) against 2°C (36°F) in February — 0.8°C cooler.
January is 0.5°C cooler than December, and 22 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.
About 2 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 53 minutes of daylight in mid-January, against 15 hours 56 minutes in June and 8 hours 29 minutes in December.
On 15 January, sunrise is about 08:08 and sunset about 17:01 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 59 minutes longer than it starts.
