Canada weather in January
Planning a journey to Canada this January and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:
What is the weather like in Canada in January?
Canada offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In January, one might encounter temperatures that range from very cold to cold, and precipitation levels ranging from low to heavy. The month of January is in the winter season.
During the day temperatures vary from very cold in Alert at -27°C to cold in Ucluelet at 9°C. At night it cools down to 4°C in Ucluelet and -33°C in Alert. Typically, it's the chilliest month of the year. Making it a great time for staying indoors and enjoying the warmth. Make sure you're prepared by packing the right winter outfits.
In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From low snowfall in Alert with an average of 12 mm to heavy snowfall in Tofino with 443 mm. Most areas see fewer sunny days, with a projection of about 85 hours of sunshine in Toronto. This reduced sunlight makes it ideal for those who prefer dimmer, overcast conditions over bright sunny days.
For a closer look at January's conditions in Canada, see the map below. For a more detailed look at Canada's yearly weather, check out our Canada climate page.
Where to go in Canada in January
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Popular destinations in Canada
What is the weather like in January for the 5 most popular destinations in Canada?
Average weather in Toronto
In January Toronto generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 1°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -7°C and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Average weather in Montréal
In January Montréal generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -4°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -14°C and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Average weather in Quebec City
In January Quebec City generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -6°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -16°C and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Average weather in Vancouver
In January Vancouver generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Average weather in Ottawa
In January Ottawa generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -4°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -15°C and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at other destinations in Canada.
Is January the best time to visit Canada?
Given the typically poor weather conditions in Toronto, January may not be the ideal time to visit Canada.
Generally speaking, June, July, August and September provide perfect weather in Toronto. The weather in January, February, March, April, November and December, on the other hand, tends to be poor.
Interested in more climate information?
We have much more information about the climate in Canada.
Interested in the weather conditions in a specific month? Select the month below.
Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Canada? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Canada.
Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal climate conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.