North Macedonia

North Macedonia Weather in January

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

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Ohrid Skopje Bitola Star Dojran

Planning a trip to North Macedonia this January? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in North Macedonia in January

January in North Macedonia generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. January falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are cold and range from 3°C (37°F) in Mavrovo to 9°C (48°F) in Star Dojran. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 0°C (32°F) in Star Dojran and -7°C (19°F) in Mavrovo. In general, this month stands out as the coldest period throughout the year. Given the lower temperatures, it's essential to be well-prepared. Packing the right winter clothing and necessary accessories can make a significant difference in ensuring your comfort and well-being during this chilly season.

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

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snow/rainfall in Kratovo with an average of 47 mm (1.9 in) to high snow/rainfall in Debar with 103 mm (4.1 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine amounts are decent in most places. Ohrid gets approximately 120 hours of sunlight in January, offering a reasonable amount of both bright and cloudy periods. Curious about sunnier destinations? Our weather planner makes it easy to find places worldwide with pleasant weather.

Explore North Macedonia by month

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

Best Places to Visit in North Macedonia in January

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

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 North Macedonia

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

Temperature range in North Macedonia (January)

Precipitation variation in North Macedonia (January)

Ohrid

In January Ohrid generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -3°C (27°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
6°C (43°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Monthly sun hours
90 hours
120 hours
105 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
95 mm (3.7 in)
80 mm (3.1 in)
86 mm (3.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
13 days
12 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Ohrid →

Skopje

In January Skopje generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -2°C (28°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
7°C (45°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-2°C (28°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Monthly sun hours
81 hours
84 hours
114 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
61 mm (2.4 in)
48 mm (1.9 in)
51 mm (2 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Skopje →

Bitola

In January Bitola generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -4°C (25°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
7°C (45°F)
5°C (41°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
-2°C (28°F)
-4°C (25°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Monthly sun hours
90 hours
120 hours
105 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
71 mm (2.8 in)
58 mm (2.3 in)
62 mm (2.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
12 days
12 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Bitola →

Peštani

In January Peštani generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -3°C (27°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
6°C (43°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Monthly sun hours
90 hours
120 hours
105 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
95 mm (3.7 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
86 mm (3.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
13 days
12 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Peštani →

Struga

In January Struga generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -3°C (27°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
6°C (43°F)
Min temperature
-2°C (28°F)
-3°C (27°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Monthly sun hours
90 hours
120 hours
105 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
106 mm (4.2 in)
90 mm (3.5 in)
96 mm (3.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
14 days
13 days
12 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Struga →

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

In our records: North Macedonia January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in North Macedonia 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 North Macedonia dropped to -27°C (-17°F) in Bitola on January 17, 2012.

Popular cities in January

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Ohrid 5°C (41°F) -3°C (27°F) 80 mm (3.1 in)
Skopje 7°C (45°F) -2°C (28°F) 48 mm (1.9 in)
Bitola 5°C (41°F) -4°C (25°F) 58 mm (2.3 in)
Star Dojran 9°C (48°F) 0°C (32°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Gevgelija 8°C (46°F) -2°C (28°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Mavrovo 3°C (37°F) -7°C (19°F) 82 mm (3.2 in)

North Macedonia weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in North Macedonia in January?

North Macedonia typically experiences poor weather in January, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Ohrid average around 5°C (41°F), and temperatures drop to about -3°C (27°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in North Macedonia in January?

Daytime temperatures in Ohrid peak at roughly 5°C (41°F) in January, dropping to about -3°C (27°F) overnight.

Does North Macedonia get a lot of snow/rain in January?

Rain is generally moderate to light in North Macedonia during January, with Ohrid averaging close to 80 mm (3.1 in).

Is January a Good Time to Visit North Macedonia?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Ohrid, January may not be the ideal time to visit North Macedonia.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in June, July, August and September offering mostly perfect weather in Ohrid. On the other hand, the weather in January, February, March and December tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in North Macedonia.

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

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.