Edinburgh

Highland Weather in January

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

🔎
Edinburgh Balmacara Glasgow Lamlash

Planning a journey to Highland, Scotland 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 Highland in January

Highland, Scotland is a region in Scotland. January in Highland generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. During January, winter is in full swing.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are cold and range from 6°C (43°F) in Inverinate to 9°C (48°F) in Lamlash. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 5°C (41°F) in Lamlash and 1°C (34°F) in Inverinate. 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 a closer look at conditions across Highland, Scotland, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Edinburgh with an average of 87 mm (3.4 in) to heavy rainfall in Mallaig with 289 mm (11 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is more limited in many areas during this month. Edinburgh receives about 54 hours of sunlight. For sunnier weather, check our weather planner to find destinations with better conditions.

Explore Highland by month

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Best Places to Visit in Highland in January

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

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 Highland

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Highland, Scotland?

Temperature range in Highland (January)

Precipitation variation in Highland (January)

Edinburgh

In January Edinburgh generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
48 hours
54 hours
81 hours
Monthly rainfall
87 mm (3.4 in)
87 mm (3.4 in)
81 mm (3.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
19 days
15 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Edinburgh →

Glasgow

In January Glasgow generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°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 »
December
January
February
Max temperature
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
2°C (36°F)
Monthly sun hours
37 hours
37 hours
68 hours
Monthly rainfall
137 mm (5.4 in)
141 mm (5.6 in)
128 mm (5 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
21 days
17 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Glasgow →

Balmacara

In January Balmacara 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 poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
7°C (45°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
34 hours
35 hours
62 hours
Monthly rainfall
223 mm (8.8 in)
237 mm (9.3 in)
215 mm (8.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
25 days
24 days
19 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Balmacara →

Lamlash

In January Lamlash generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 5°C (41°F) and heavy 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
6°C (43°F)
5°C (41°F)
5°C (41°F)
Monthly sun hours
37 hours
37 hours
68 hours
Monthly rainfall
189 mm (7.4 in)
174 mm (6.9 in)
149 mm (5.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
22 days
17 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Lamlash →

Sallachy

In January Sallachy generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
1°C (34°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
34 hours
35 hours
62 hours
Monthly rainfall
215 mm (8.5 in)
233 mm (9.2 in)
211 mm (8.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
25 days
24 days
19 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Sallachy →

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

Popular cities in January

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Edinburgh 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 87 mm (3.4 in)
Balmacara 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 237 mm (9.3 in)
Glasgow 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 141 mm (5.6 in)
Lamlash 9°C (48°F) 5°C (41°F) 174 mm (6.9 in)
Sallachy 7°C (45°F) 1°C (34°F) 233 mm (9.2 in)
Inverinate 6°C (43°F) 1°C (34°F) 239 mm (9.4 in)

Highland weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Highland, Scotland in January?

January in Highland, Scotland brings poor weather. In Edinburgh, daytime temperatures are typically around 8°C (46°F) and nighttime lows hover near 2°C (36°F).

What is the average temperature in Highland, Scotland in January?

Edinburgh averages a daytime maximum of 8°C (46°F) in January, with overnight lows close to 2°C (36°F).

Does Highland, Scotland get a lot of rain in January?

January is on the drier side in Highland, Scotland. Edinburgh averages only about 87 mm (3.4 in), with most days staying dry.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Highland, Scotland?

In our opinion, January may not be the ideal time to visit Highland, Scotland due to the typically poor weather in Edinburgh.

On average, the best time to visit Highland, Scotland is in June, July and August with generally pleasant weather in Edinburgh. On the other hand, the months of January, February, March, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Highland.

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

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.

Scotland’s West Coast - A Sailor’s Paradise

Whether you are looking to sail to an island to enjoy empty white sandy beaches or a rocky mountainous walk there is always a choice. Sailing is by far the best way to explore this area.
Must visit in Scotland →