Weather in January in Russia
Thinking about venturing to Russia this January and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:
What is the weather like in Russia in January?
In January, Russia experiences a range of weather conditions, with temperatures that range from very cold to cold and precipitation levels ranging from almost none to heavy. In January, it is winter.
Temperatures
During the day temperatures vary from very cold in Ust-Maya at -33°C to cold in Sochi at 9°C. At night it cools down to 4°C in Sochi and -41°C in Ust-Maya. On average, January is the coldest month of the year in Russia. So be prepared and make sure to pack winter cloths.
Precipitation
In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From almost no snowfall in Chita with an average of 4 mm to heavy snowfall in Vardane with 163 mm.Average sunshine
The city Saint Petersburg usually sees around 21 hours of sunlight, indicating fewer sunny days.For a closer look at January's conditions in Russia, see the map below. For a more detailed look at Russia's yearly weather, check out our Russia climate page.
Where to go in Russia in January
Popular destinations
What is the weather like in January for the 5 most popular destinations in Russia?
Saint Petersburg
In January Saint Petersburg generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -2°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -8°C and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Moscow
In January Moscow generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -3°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -10°C and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Adler
In January Adler generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Yekaterinburg
In January Yekaterinburg generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -9°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -17°C and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Sochi
In January Sochi generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at other destinations in Russia.
Is January the best time to visit Russia?
Given the typically poor weather conditions in Saint Petersburg, January may not be the ideal time to visit Russia.
On average, the best time to visit Russia is in June, July and August with generally perfect weather in Saint Petersburg. 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 Russia.
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 Russia? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Russia.
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.