Dorset Weather in January

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

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Bournemouth Weymouth Poole Lyme Regis

Thinking about venturing to Dorset, the United Kingdom this January and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in Dorset in January

Dorset, the United Kingdom is a region in the United Kingdom. January in Dorset generally has cold temperatures, with moderate precipitation. It's the height of winter.

Temperatures

You can expect cold maximum daytime temperatures of around 10°C (50°F) and nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) in Bournemouth.

To explore the conditions in Dorset, the United Kingdom in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Thorncombe with an average of 69 mm (2.7 in) to moderate rainfall in Christchurch with 99 mm (3.9 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is more restricted in many locations in January. Bournemouth sees roughly 63 hours of sunlight. Our weather planner can help you find destinations with more sunshine if needed.

Explore Dorset by month

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

January10°C (50°F) February10°C (50°F) March11°C (52°F) April13°C (55°F) May16°C (61°F) June19°C (66°F) This monthJuly21°C (70°F) August21°C (70°F) September19°C (66°F) October16°C (61°F) November13°C (55°F) December10°C (50°F)
Best Time to Visit Dorset →

Best Places to Visit in Dorset in January

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

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 Dorset

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

Temperature range in Dorset (January)

Precipitation variation in Dorset (January)

Bournemouth

In January Bournemouth generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
10°C (50°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
54 hours
63 hours
83 hours
Monthly rainfall
97 mm (3.8 in)
90 mm (3.5 in)
74 mm (2.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
17 days
13 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Bournemouth →

Weymouth

In January Weymouth generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
10°C (50°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
55 hours
59 hours
76 hours
Monthly rainfall
99 mm (3.9 in)
91 mm (3.6 in)
75 mm (3 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
18 days
14 days
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
poor
Climate in Weymouth →

Poole

In January Poole generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
10°C (50°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
55 hours
59 hours
76 hours
Monthly rainfall
87 mm (3.4 in)
81 mm (3.2 in)
67 mm (2.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
18 days
13 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Poole →

Lyme Regis

In January Lyme Regis generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
10°C (50°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
53 hours
59 hours
81 hours
Monthly rainfall
77 mm (3 in)
71 mm (2.8 in)
64 mm (2.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
19 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Lyme Regis →

Swanage

In January Swanage generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 10°C (50°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 6°C (43°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
11°C (52°F)
10°C (50°F)
10°C (50°F)
Min temperature
7°C (45°F)
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
54 hours
63 hours
83 hours
Monthly rainfall
101 mm (4 in)
92 mm (3.6 in)
74 mm (2.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
18 days
13 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Swanage →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Dorset, 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 Dorset in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Bournemouth 10°C (50°F) 5°C (41°F) 90 mm (3.5 in)
Weymouth 10°C (50°F) 5°C (41°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Poole 10°C (50°F) 5°C (41°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Lyme Regis 10°C (50°F) 4°C (39°F) 71 mm (2.8 in)
Swanage 10°C (50°F) 6°C (43°F) 92 mm (3.6 in)
Bridport 10°C (50°F) 4°C (39°F) 72 mm (2.8 in)

Dorset weather in January: frequently asked questions

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

January in Dorset, the United Kingdom brings poor weather. In Bournemouth, daytime temperatures are typically around 10°C (50°F) and nighttime lows hover near 5°C (41°F).

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

Bournemouth averages a daytime maximum of 10°C (50°F) in January, with overnight lows close to 5°C (41°F).

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

January is on the drier side in Dorset, the United Kingdom. Bournemouth averages only about 90 mm (3.5 in), with most days staying dry.

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

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Bournemouth, January may not be the ideal time to visit Dorset, the United Kingdom.

Generally speaking, July and August provide perfect weather in Bournemouth. The weather in January, February, November and December, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Dorset.

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.

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