Finland

Finland Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Finland in January.

Are you planning a trip a to Finland in January and wondering what kind of weather to expect? This page has all the details you need.

What to Expect in Finland in January

In January, Finland experiences a range of weather conditions, with temperatures that range from very cold to cold and moderate precipitation. January falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

During the day temperatures vary from very cold in Kilpisjärvi at -7°C (19°F) to cold in Föglö at 3°C (37°F). At night it cools down to -1°C (30°F) in Föglö and -14°C (7°F) in Kilpisjärvi. In many areas in Finland, January brings with it chilling temperatures. When visiting these parts during this time, it's of utmost importance to be ready. Choose clothing that is both layered and insulating to combat the cold effectively.

For a closer look at conditions across Finland, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snowfall in Inari with an average of 33 mm (1.3 in) to moderate snowfall in Kirkkonummi with 62 mm (2.4 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine hours are generally lower in most areas during January. Helsinki experiences about 39 hours of sunlight. If you're looking for brighter destinations, our weather planner can suggest better options.

Explore Finland by month

Best Places to Visit in Finland in January

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Finland.

perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Finland

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Finland?

Temperature range in Finland (January)

Precipitation variation in Finland (January)

Helsinki

In January Helsinki generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -1°C (30°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -7°C (19°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
2°C (36°F)
-1°C (30°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Min temperature
-4°C (25°F)
-7°C (19°F)
-8°C (18°F)
Monthly sun hours
30 hours
39 hours
72 hours
Monthly snowfall
64 mm (2.5 in)
57 mm (2.2 in)
52 mm (2 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
20 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Rovaniemi

In January Rovaniemi generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -6°C (21°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -14°C (7°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
-4°C (25°F)
-6°C (21°F)
-6°C (21°F)
Min temperature
-11°C (12°F)
-14°C (7°F)
-14°C (7°F)
Monthly sun hours
4 hours
15 hours
56 hours
Monthly snowfall
52 mm (2 in)
45 mm (1.8 in)
42 mm (1.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
22 days
20 days
Weather conditions

Levi

In January Levi generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -7°C (19°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -15°C (5°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
-5°C (23°F)
-7°C (19°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Min temperature
-12°C (10°F)
-15°C (5°F)
-14°C (7°F)
Monthly sun hours
4 hours
15 hours
57 hours
Monthly snowfall
46 mm (1.8 in)
39 mm (1.5 in)
37 mm (1.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
20 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Ruka

In January Ruka generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -7°C (19°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -14°C (7°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
-4°C (25°F)
-7°C (19°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Min temperature
-11°C (12°F)
-14°C (7°F)
-14°C (7°F)
Monthly snowfall
48 mm (1.9 in)
41 mm (1.6 in)
38 mm (1.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
22 days
19 days
Weather conditions

Tampere

In January Tampere generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -2°C (28°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -8°C (18°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
0°C (32°F)
-2°C (28°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Min temperature
-5°C (23°F)
-8°C (18°F)
-9°C (16°F)
Monthly snowfall
55 mm (2.2 in)
48 mm (1.9 in)
42 mm (1.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
21 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Finland.

In our records: Finland January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Finland in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • Based on our data, the coldest January night in Finland dropped to -47°C (-53°F) in Saariselka on January 27, 1999.
  • In our records, the coldest January daytime high in Finland was -42°C (-44°F) in Saariselka on January 5, 1987.

Popular cities in January

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Finland in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Helsinki -1°C (30°F) -7°C (19°F) 57 mm (2.2 in)
Rovaniemi -6°C (21°F) -14°C (7°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Levi -7°C (19°F) -15°C (5°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Vuokatti -5°C (23°F) -12°C (10°F) 47 mm (1.9 in)
Mariehamn 3°C (37°F) -1°C (30°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Vaasa -1°C (30°F) -7°C (19°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)

Finland weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Finland in January?

Finland typically experiences poor weather in January, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Helsinki average around -1°C (30°F), and temperatures drop to about -7°C (19°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Finland in January?

In Helsinki, the average daytime high in January is -1°C (30°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around -7°C (19°F).

Does Finland get a lot of snow in January?

January is on the drier side in Finland. Helsinki averages only about 57 mm (2.2 in), with most days staying dry.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Finland?

In our view, January might not be the best time to travel to Finland with often poor weather in Helsinki.

Generally speaking, June, July and August provide perfect weather in Helsinki. On the other hand, the months of January, February, March, April, October, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Finland.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Finland? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Finland.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.