Switzerland

Switzerland Weather in January

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

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

What to Expect in Switzerland in January

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

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from very cold in Arolla at -7°C (19°F) to cold in Balerna at 7°C (45°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 0°C (32°F) in Balerna and -15°C (5°F) in Arolla. On average, January is the coldest month of the year in Switzerland. So be prepared and make sure to pack winter cloths.

For specific regional insights in Switzerland, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snowfall in Sta Maria Val Müstair with an average of 59 mm (2.3 in) to high snowfall in Adelboden with 155 mm (6.1 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine tends to be more scarce in many locations. Zermatt gets roughly 86 hours of sunlight. For sunnier alternatives, check our weather planner to find destinations with better conditions.

Explore Switzerland by month

Best Places to Visit in Switzerland in January

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

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 Switzerland

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

Temperature range in Switzerland (January)

Precipitation variation in Switzerland (January)

Zermatt

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

December
January
February
Max temperature
-6°C (21°F)
-7°C (19°F)
-5°C (23°F)
Min temperature
-14°C (7°F)
-15°C (5°F)
-14°C (7°F)
Monthly sun hours
83 hours
86 hours
104 hours
Monthly snowfall
110 mm (4.3 in)
101 mm (4 in)
93 mm (3.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
17 days
16 days
Weather conditions

Grindelwald

In January Grindelwald generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -4°C (25°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -11°C (12°F) and high monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
-3°C (27°F)
-4°C (25°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Min temperature
-10°C (14°F)
-11°C (12°F)
-10°C (14°F)
Monthly sun hours
51 hours
66 hours
78 hours
Monthly snowfall
150 mm (5.9 in)
136 mm (5.4 in)
131 mm (5.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
17 days
16 days
Weather conditions

Nendaz

In January Nendaz generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -4°C (25°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -13°C (9°F) and high monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
-3°C (27°F)
-4°C (25°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Min temperature
-12°C (10°F)
-13°C (9°F)
-12°C (10°F)
Monthly sun hours
70 hours
95 hours
132 hours
Monthly snowfall
140 mm (5.5 in)
128 mm (5 in)
121 mm (4.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
15 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Zürich

In January Zürich generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -1°C (30°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
0°C (32°F)
-1°C (30°F)
-1°C (30°F)
Monthly sun hours
48 hours
61 hours
88 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
106 mm (4.2 in)
92 mm (3.6 in)
90 mm (3.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
15 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Davos

In January Davos generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -4°C (25°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -13°C (9°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
-3°C (27°F)
-4°C (25°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Min temperature
-12°C (10°F)
-13°C (9°F)
-12°C (10°F)
Monthly sun hours
95 hours
112 hours
122 hours
Monthly snowfall
102 mm (4 in)
90 mm (3.5 in)
89 mm (3.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
17 days
16 days
Weather conditions

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

In our records: Switzerland January extremes

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

  • From our sources, the wettest January day in Switzerland brought 280 mm (11 in) in Ascona on January 30, 1996.

Popular cities in January

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Zermatt -7°C (19°F) -15°C (5°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Interlaken -2°C (28°F) -9°C (16°F) 131 mm (5.2 in)
Zürich 5°C (41°F) -1°C (30°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)
Davos -4°C (25°F) -13°C (9°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Lauterbrunnen -3°C (27°F) -11°C (12°F) 139 mm (5.5 in)
Lucerne 4°C (39°F) -2°C (28°F) 118 mm (4.6 in)

Switzerland weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Switzerland in January?

Expect poor weather across Switzerland in January. The popular destination of Zermatt averages -7°C (19°F) by day and -15°C (5°F) at night during this winter month.

What is the average temperature in Switzerland in January?

Zermatt averages a daytime maximum of -7°C (19°F) in January, with overnight lows close to -15°C (5°F).

Does Switzerland get a lot of snow in January?

Zermatt typically receives notable snowfall in January, about 101 mm (4 in) on average across Switzerland.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Switzerland?

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

On average, the best time to visit Switzerland is in August with generally unpleasant weather in Zermatt.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Switzerland.

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

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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