Antarctica

Antarctica Weather in January

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

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Vostok Station

Planning a journey to Antarctica this January and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in Antarctica in January

January in Antarctica generally has very cold temperatures, with low precipitation. January falls during the winter season.

Temperatures

You can expect very cold maximum daytime temperatures of around -20°C (-4°F) and nighttime temperatures around -25°C (-13°F) in Vostok Station. Typically, it's the chilliest month of the year. Making it a great time for staying indoors and enjoying the warmth. Make sure you're prepared by packing the right winter outfits.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Antarctica, check out the map below.

Precipitation

January is a dry month with an average snowfall of around 14 mm (0.6 in) in Vostok Station. Going by our weather data, this month in Vostok Station usually has the least rain, making it the driest month of the year.

Average sunshine

Most destinations offer generous amounts of sunshine this January. For example, Vostok Station gets approximately 697 hours of sunlight, perfect for anyone wanting bright, sunny days.

Explore Antarctica by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Antarctica - and find the best time to visit. (based on Vostok Station)

January-20°C (-4°F) February-20°C (-4°F) March-18°C (0°F) April-12°C (10°F) May-4°C (25°F) June2°C (36°F) This monthJuly3°C (37°F) August3°C (37°F) September1°C (34°F) October-7°C (19°F) November-14°C (7°F) December-18°C (0°F)
Best Time to Visit Antarctica →

Best Places to Visit in Antarctica in January

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

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 Antarctica

What is the weather like in January for the most popular destinonation in Antarctica?

Vostok Station

In January Vostok Station generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -20°C (-4°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -25°C (-13°F) and low monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
-18°C (0°F)
-20°C (-4°F)
-20°C (-4°F)
Min temperature
-23°C (-9°F)
-25°C (-13°F)
-24°C (-11°F)
Monthly sun hours
710 hours
697 hours
568 hours
Monthly snowfall
17 mm (0.7 in)
14 mm (0.6 in)
15 mm (0.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
a single day
a single day
a single day
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Vostok Station →

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

Antarctica weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Antarctica in January?

January in Antarctica brings less favorable weather. In Vostok Station, daytime temperatures are typically around -20°C (-4°F) and nighttime lows hover near -25°C (-13°F).

What is the average temperature in Antarctica in January?

Average temperatures in Antarctica during January range from a nighttime low near -25°C (-13°F) to a daytime high around -20°C (-4°F) in Vostok Station.

Does Antarctica get a lot of snow in January?

Not particularly. Vostok Station averages just 14 mm (0.6 in) of snow in January, making it a mostly dry month for Antarctica.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Antarctica?

In our opinion, January may not be the ideal time to visit Antarctica due to the typically less favorable weather in Vostok Station.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in offering mostly less favorable weather in Vostok Station.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Antarctica.

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

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.