Windermere

Cumbria Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Cumbria, the United Kingdom in January.

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

What to Expect in Cumbria in January

Cumbria, the United Kingdom is a region in the United Kingdom. January in Cumbria generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. It's the height of winter.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are cold and range from 6°C (43°F) in Kirkby Stephen to 8°C (46°F) in Barrow in Furness. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 4°C (39°F) in Barrow in Furness and 1°C (34°F) in Kirkby Stephen. 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 Cumbria, the United Kingdom, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Gilsland with an average of 97 mm (3.8 in) to heavy rainfall in Grizebeck with 163 mm (6.4 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is more restricted in many locations in January. Windermere sees roughly 57 hours of sunlight. Our weather planner can help you find destinations with more sunshine if needed.

Explore Cumbria by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Cumbria — and find the best time to visit. (based on Windermere)

Best Places to Visit in Cumbria in January

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

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 Cumbria

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Cumbria, the United Kingdom?

Temperature range in Cumbria (January)

Precipitation variation in Cumbria (January)

Windermere

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

December
January
February
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
49 hours
57 hours
79 hours
Monthly rainfall
159 mm (6.3 in)
148 mm (5.8 in)
133 mm (5.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
21 days
16 days
Weather conditions

Keswick

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

December
January
February
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
7°C (45°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly rainfall
145 mm (5.7 in)
137 mm (5.4 in)
124 mm (4.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
22 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Bowness-on-Windermere

In January Bowness-on-Windermere generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
49 hours
57 hours
79 hours
Monthly rainfall
161 mm (6.3 in)
149 mm (5.9 in)
134 mm (5.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
21 days
16 days
Weather conditions

Ambleside

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

December
January
February
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
49 hours
57 hours
79 hours
Monthly rainfall
158 mm (6.2 in)
148 mm (5.8 in)
133 mm (5.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
22 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Penrith

In January Penrith generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°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
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
1°C (34°F)
1°C (34°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly rainfall
128 mm (5 in)
122 mm (4.8 in)
113 mm (4.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
21 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Cumbria, in the United Kingdom.

In our records: the United Kingdom January extremes

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

  • Based on our data, the coldest January night in the United Kingdom dropped to -20°C (-4°F) in Birmingham on January 14, 1982.

Popular cities in January

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Windermere 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 148 mm (5.8 in)
Keswick 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 137 mm (5.4 in)
Bowness-on-Windermere 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 149 mm (5.9 in)
Ambleside 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 148 mm (5.8 in)
Penrith 7°C (45°F) 1°C (34°F) 122 mm (4.8 in)
Kendal 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 141 mm (5.6 in)

Cumbria weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Cumbria, the United Kingdom in January?

Cumbria, the United Kingdom typically experiences poor weather in January, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Windermere average around 7°C (45°F), and temperatures drop to about 2°C (36°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Cumbria, the United Kingdom in January?

Average temperatures in Cumbria, the United Kingdom during January range from a nighttime low near 2°C (36°F) to a daytime high around 7°C (45°F) in Windermere.

Does Cumbria, the United Kingdom get a lot of rain in January?

Windermere typically receives notable rainfall in January, about 148 mm (5.8 in) on average across Cumbria, the United Kingdom.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Cumbria, the United Kingdom?

In our view, January might not be the best time to travel to Cumbria, the United Kingdom with often poor weather in Windermere.

On average, the best time to visit Cumbria, the United Kingdom is in May, July and August with generally tolerable weather in Windermere. On the other hand, the months of January, February, March, October, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Cumbria.

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

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.