Norway

Norway Weather in January

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

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

What to Expect in Norway in January

The weather in Norway in January can be quite varied, with temperatures that range from very cold to cold and precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. During January, winter is in full swing.

Temperatures

Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is very cold in Longyearbyen at -10°C (14°F) to cold in Utsira at 7°C (45°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 4°C (39°F) in Utsira and -16°C (3°F) in Longyearbyen. 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.

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

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snowfall in Kirkenes with an average of 32 mm (1.3 in) to heavy snowfall in Bolstadøyri with 330 mm (13 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is quite limited in many locations during January. Oslo receives roughly 45 hours of sunlight. For destinations with more sunshine, our weather planner offers alternatives worldwide.

Explore Norway by month

Best Places to Visit in Norway in January

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

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 Norway

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

Temperature range in Norway (January)

Precipitation variation in Norway (January)

Oslo

In January Oslo 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
1°C (34°F)
-1°C (30°F)
1°C (34°F)
Min temperature
-5°C (23°F)
-7°C (19°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Monthly sun hours
39 hours
45 hours
83 hours
Monthly snowfall
72 mm (2.8 in)
71 mm (2.8 in)
60 mm (2.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
17 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Reine

In January Reine generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
1°C (34°F)
0°C (32°F)
Monthly rainfall
138 mm (5.4 in)
119 mm (4.7 in)
107 mm (4.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
29 days
27 days
24 days
Weather conditions

Bergen

In January Bergen generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 0°C (32°F) and heavy monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
Min temperature
0°C (32°F)
0°C (32°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Monthly sun hours
13 hours
22 hours
54 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
269 mm (11 in)
250 mm (9.8 in)
233 mm (9.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
28 days
26 days
22 days
Weather conditions

Stavanger

In January Stavanger generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 6°C (43°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
7°C (45°F)
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
32 hours
48 hours
79 hours
Monthly rainfall
215 mm (8.5 in)
200 mm (7.9 in)
177 mm (7 in)
Monthly rainy days
24 days
22 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Hemsedal

In January Hemsedal generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -4°C (25°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -10°C (14°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
-4°C (25°F)
-4°C (25°F)
-3°C (27°F)
Min temperature
-11°C (12°F)
-10°C (14°F)
-10°C (14°F)
Monthly snowfall
82 mm (3.2 in)
86 mm (3.4 in)
66 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
19 days
14 days
Weather conditions

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

Popular cities in January

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Oslo -1°C (30°F) -7°C (19°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Bergen 5°C (41°F) 0°C (32°F) 250 mm (9.8 in)
Tromsø -3°C (27°F) -10°C (14°F) 116 mm (4.6 in)
Stavanger 6°C (43°F) 2°C (36°F) 200 mm (7.9 in)
Geiranger -2°C (28°F) -8°C (18°F) 182 mm (7.2 in)
Kristiansand 5°C (41°F) 0°C (32°F) 142 mm (5.6 in)

Norway weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Norway in January?

Expect poor weather across Norway in January. The popular destination of Oslo averages -1°C (30°F) by day and -7°C (19°F) at night during this winter month.

What is the average temperature in Norway in January?

Oslo averages a daytime maximum of -1°C (30°F) in January, with overnight lows close to -7°C (19°F).

Does Norway get a lot of snow in January?

Rain is generally moderate to light in Norway during January, with Oslo averaging close to 71 mm (2.8 in).

Is January a Good Time to Visit Norway?

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

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in June, July and August offering mostly pleasant weather in Oslo. In contrast, 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 Norway.

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

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.