Essex Weather in January

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

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Southend-on-Sea Colchester Clacton-on-Sea Brightlingsea

Planning a getaway to Essex, the United Kingdom this January and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in Essex in January

Essex, the United Kingdom is a region in the United Kingdom. January in Essex generally has cold temperatures, with moderate precipitation. During January, winter is in full swing.

Temperatures

You can expect cold maximum daytime temperatures of around 9°C (48°F) and nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) in Southend-on-Sea. 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.

For specific regional insights in Essex, the United Kingdom, refer to the map provided below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Chelmsford with an average of 55 mm (2.2 in) to moderate rainfall in Frinton-on-Sea with 74 mm (2.9 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is more limited in many areas during this month. Southend-on-Sea receives about 61 hours of sunlight. For sunnier weather, check our weather planner to find destinations with better conditions.

Explore Essex by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Essex — and find the best time to visit. (based on Southend-on-Sea)

January9°C (48°F) February9°C (48°F) March11°C (52°F) April13°C (55°F) May16°C (61°F) June19°C (66°F) This monthJuly22°C (72°F) August22°C (72°F) September19°C (66°F) October16°C (61°F) November12°C (54°F) December9°C (48°F)
Best Time to Visit Essex →

Best Places to Visit in Essex in January

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

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 Essex

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

Temperature range in Essex (January)

Precipitation variation in Essex (January)

Southend-on-Sea

In January Southend-on-Sea generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°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
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
4°C (39°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
49 hours
61 hours
78 hours
Monthly rainfall
75 mm (3 in)
69 mm (2.7 in)
63 mm (2.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
17 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Southend-on-Sea →

Colchester

In January Colchester generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
3°C (37°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
49 hours
61 hours
78 hours
Monthly rainfall
65 mm (2.6 in)
60 mm (2.4 in)
55 mm (2.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
17 days
13 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Colchester →

Clacton-on-Sea

In January Clacton-on-Sea generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°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)
9°C (48°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
49 hours
61 hours
78 hours
Monthly rainfall
77 mm (3 in)
70 mm (2.8 in)
62 mm (2.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
17 days
12 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Clacton-on-Sea →

Brightlingsea

In January Brightlingsea generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°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
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
49 hours
61 hours
78 hours
Monthly rainfall
69 mm (2.7 in)
62 mm (2.4 in)
56 mm (2.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
17 days
13 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Brightlingsea →

Takeley

In January Takeley generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 3°C (37°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
3°C (37°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
49 hours
61 hours
78 hours
Monthly rainfall
58 mm (2.3 in)
55 mm (2.2 in)
51 mm (2 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
18 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Takeley →

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Southend-on-Sea 9°C (48°F) 4°C (39°F) 69 mm (2.7 in)
Colchester 9°C (48°F) 3°C (37°F) 60 mm (2.4 in)
Clacton-on-Sea 9°C (48°F) 4°C (39°F) 70 mm (2.8 in)
Brightlingsea 9°C (48°F) 4°C (39°F) 62 mm (2.4 in)
Takeley 9°C (48°F) 3°C (37°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)
Basildon 9°C (48°F) 3°C (37°F) 55 mm (2.2 in)

Essex weather in January: frequently asked questions

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

Expect poor weather across Essex, the United Kingdom in January. The popular destination of Southend-on-Sea averages 9°C (48°F) by day and 4°C (39°F) at night during this winter month.

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

Daytime temperatures in Southend-on-Sea peak at roughly 9°C (48°F) in January, dropping to about 4°C (39°F) overnight.

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

Not particularly. Southend-on-Sea averages just 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain in January, making it a mostly dry month for Essex, the United Kingdom.

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

In our opinion, January may not be the ideal time to visit Essex, the United Kingdom due to the typically poor weather in Southend-on-Sea.

On average, the best time to visit Essex, the United Kingdom is in July and August with generally perfect weather in Southend-on-Sea. On the other hand, the months of January, February and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Essex.

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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