Iraq

Iraq Weather in January

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

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Erbil Baghdād As Sulaymānīyah Karbala

Considering a trip to Iraq this January and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:

What to Expect in Iraq in January

Iraq has a wide variety of climate types. During January, you can expect temperatures that range from cold to pleasant and precipitation levels ranging from low to high. January falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

During the day the temperature is cold in As Sulaymānīyah at 10°C (50°F) and pleasant in Al Başrah at 20°C (68°F). As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 9°C (48°F) in Al Başrah and -1°C (30°F) in As Sulaymānīyah. Although January is typically the coldest month, there are still areas in Iraq where the temperatures are mild, allowing for a comfortable visit any time of the year.

To explore the conditions in Iraq in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From low rainfall in Ar-Rutbah with an average of 18 mm (0.7 in) to high rainfall in As Sulaymānīyah with 136 mm (5.4 in).

Explore Iraq by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Best Places to Visit in Iraq in January

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

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
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 Iraq

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

Temperature range in Iraq (January)

Precipitation variation in Iraq (January)

Erbil

In January Erbil generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 13°C (55°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
15°C (59°F)
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
3°C (37°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly rainfall
87 mm (3.4 in)
101 mm (4 in)
102 mm (4 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
12 days
11 days
Weather conditions
tolerable
poor
unpleasant
Climate in Erbil →

Baghdād

In January Baghdād generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
20°C (68°F)
18°C (64°F)
21°C (70°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly sun hours
195 hours
192 hours
204 hours
Monthly rainfall
26 mm (1 in)
30 mm (1.2 in)
26 mm (1 in)
Monthly rainy days
5 days
6 days
6 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Baghdād →

As Sulaymānīyah

In January As Sulaymānīyah generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -1°C (30°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
12°C (54°F)
10°C (50°F)
12°C (54°F)
Min temperature
1°C (34°F)
-1°C (30°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly snow/rainfall
112 mm (4.4 in)
136 mm (5.4 in)
149 mm (5.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
9 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in As Sulaymānīyah →

Karbala

In January Karbala generally has moderate temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 18°C (64°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 7°C (45°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
19°C (66°F)
18°C (64°F)
20°C (68°F)
Min temperature
9°C (48°F)
7°C (45°F)
9°C (48°F)
Monthly sun hours
195 hours
192 hours
204 hours
Monthly rainfall
17 mm (0.7 in)
21 mm (0.8 in)
18 mm (0.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
4 days
5 days
5 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Karbala →

Al Başrah

In January Al Başrah generally has pleasant temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 20°C (68°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 9°C (48°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
22°C (72°F)
20°C (68°F)
23°C (73°F)
Min temperature
10°C (50°F)
9°C (48°F)
11°C (52°F)
Monthly rainfall
33 mm (1.3 in)
36 mm (1.4 in)
21 mm (0.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
5 days
6 days
5 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Al Başrah →

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

In our records: Iraq January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Iraq in our climate database (1989 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • Based on our data, the coldest January night in Iraq dropped to -17°C (1°F) in As Sulaymānīyah on January 21, 2022.
  • In our records, the coldest January daytime high in Iraq was 0°C (32°F) in As Sulaymānīyah on January 11, 2008.
  • From our sources, the wettest January day in Iraq brought 103 mm (4.1 in) in Karbala on January 11, 2010.

Popular cities in January

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Erbil 13°C (55°F) 3°C (37°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Baghdād 18°C (64°F) 7°C (45°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
As Sulaymānīyah 10°C (50°F) -1°C (30°F) 136 mm (5.4 in)
Karbala 18°C (64°F) 7°C (45°F) 21 mm (0.8 in)
Kirkuk 14°C (57°F) 5°C (41°F) 83 mm (3.3 in)
Ar-Rutbah 14°C (57°F) 3°C (37°F) 18 mm (0.7 in)

Iraq weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Iraq in January?

January in Iraq brings poor weather. In Erbil, daytime temperatures are typically around 13°C (55°F) and nighttime lows hover near 3°C (37°F).

What is the average temperature in Iraq in January?

Daytime temperatures in Erbil peak at roughly 13°C (55°F) in January, dropping to about 3°C (37°F) overnight.

Does Iraq get a lot of rain in January?

Yes, January tends to be a wetter month in Iraq. Average rainfall in Erbil sits around 101 mm (4 in).

Is January a Good Time to Visit Iraq?

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

On average, the best time to visit Iraq is in March, April and November with generally perfect weather in Erbil. The weather in January, June, July, August and September, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Iraq.

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

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.