Highlands weather in January
Thinking about venturing to Highlands this January and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:
What is the weather like in Highlands in January?
Highlands is a region in the United Kingdom. January in Highlands generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to heavy. In January, it is winter.
The average maximum temperatures are cold and range from 5°C in Newtonmore to 9°C in Dunvegan. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 5°C in Dunvegan and -1°C in Newtonmore. 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.
In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Balintore with an average of 75 mm to heavy rainfall in Arisaig with 269 mm. Going by our weather data, it is the wettest month of the year in Inverness. Most areas see fewer sunny days, with a projection of about 40 hours of sunshine in Inverness. This reduced sunlight makes it ideal for those who prefer dimmer, overcast conditions over bright sunny days.
To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Highlands in January, check out the map below. For more details on the yearly weather, visit our Highlands climate page.
Where to go in Highlands in January
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Popular destinations
What is the weather like in January for the 5 most popular destinations in Highlands?
Inverness
In January Inverness generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Fort William
In January Fort William generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 6°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Aviemore
In January Aviemore generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around -0°C and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Fort Augustus
In January Fort Augustus generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 6°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 0°C and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Nairn
In January Nairn generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C, minimum nighttime temperatures around 2°C and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.
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Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at other destinations in Highlands, in the United Kingdom.
Is January the best time to visit Highlands?
In our opinion, January may not be the ideal time to visit Highlands due to the typically poor weather in Inverness.
Generally speaking, July and August provide pleasant weather in Inverness. 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 Highlands.
Interested in the weather conditions in a specific month? Select the month below.
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 climate conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.