Whistler

British Columbia Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in British Columbia, Canada in January.

Planning a journey to British Columbia, Canada 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 British Columbia in January

British Columbia, Canada is a region in Canada. British Columbia, Canada offers a broad spectrum of weather patterns. In January, one might encounter temperatures that range from very cold to cold, and precipitation levels ranging from low to heavy. During January, winter is in full swing.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from very cold in Fort Nelson at -14°C (7°F) to cold in Ucluelet at 9°C (48°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 4°C (39°F) in Ucluelet and -23°C (-9°F) in Fort Nelson.

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

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From low snowfall in Fort Nelson with an average of 25 mm (1 in) to heavy snowfall in Tofino with 443 mm (17 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is quite limited in many locations during January. Vancouver receives roughly 60 hours of sunlight. For destinations with more sunshine, our weather planner offers alternatives worldwide.

Explore British Columbia by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in British Columbia - and find the best time to visit. (based on Vancouver)

Best Places to Visit in British Columbia in January

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

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 British Columbia

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in British Columbia, Canada?

Temperature range in British Columbia (January)

Precipitation variation in British Columbia (January)

Vancouver

In January Vancouver generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
56 hours
60 hours
91 hours
Monthly rainfall
303 mm (12 in)
312 mm (12 in)
207 mm (8.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
19 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Whistler

In January Whistler generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -2°C (28°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -8°C (18°F) and heavy monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
-3°C (27°F)
-2°C (28°F)
0°C (32°F)
Min temperature
-9°C (16°F)
-8°C (18°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Monthly sun hours
30 hours
40 hours
78 hours
Monthly snowfall
300 mm (12 in)
311 mm (12 in)
212 mm (8.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
17 days
15 days
Weather conditions

Victoria

In January Victoria generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
70 hours
75 hours
95 hours
Monthly rainfall
162 mm (6.4 in)
167 mm (6.6 in)
116 mm (4.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
18 days
16 days
Weather conditions

Kelowna

In January Kelowna generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 0°C (32°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -7°C (19°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
1°C (34°F)
0°C (32°F)
3°C (37°F)
Min temperature
-5°C (23°F)
-7°C (19°F)
-6°C (21°F)
Monthly sun hours
35 hours
39 hours
80 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
77 mm (3 in)
68 mm (2.7 in)
54 mm (2.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
12 days
9 days
Weather conditions

Ucluelet

In January Ucluelet generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
68 hours
74 hours
97 hours
Monthly rainfall
411 mm (16 in)
434 mm (17 in)
290 mm (11 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
21 days
19 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in British Columbia, in Canada.

Popular cities in January

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Vancouver 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 312 mm (12 in)
Whistler -2°C (28°F) -8°C (18°F) 311 mm (12 in)
Victoria 8°C (46°F) 5°C (41°F) 167 mm (6.6 in)
Kelowna 0°C (32°F) -7°C (19°F) 68 mm (2.7 in)
Ucluelet 9°C (48°F) 4°C (39°F) 434 mm (17 in)
Golden -7°C (19°F) -15°C (5°F) 73 mm (2.9 in)

British Columbia weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in British Columbia, Canada in January?

January in British Columbia, Canada brings less favorable weather. In Vancouver, daytime temperatures are typically around 7°C (45°F) and nighttime lows hover near 2°C (36°F).

What is the average temperature in British Columbia, Canada in January?

Average temperatures in British Columbia, Canada during January range from a nighttime low near 2°C (36°F) to a daytime high around 7°C (45°F) in Vancouver.

Does British Columbia, Canada get a lot of rain in January?

Rainfall in British Columbia, Canada peaks during January. Vancouver averages roughly 312 mm (12 in), so frequent and sometimes heavy showers are the norm.

Is January a Good Time to Visit British Columbia, Canada?

In our opinion, January may not be the ideal time to visit British Columbia, Canada due to the typically less favorable weather in Vancouver.

Generally speaking, July and August provide excellent weather in Vancouver. In contrast, January, February, March, April, October, November and December tend to have less favorable weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in British Columbia.

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

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.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.