Lapland Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Lapland, Sweden in January.

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Kiruna Jukkasjärvi Porjus

Considering a trip to Lapland, Sweden this January and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:

What to Expect in Lapland in January

Lapland, Sweden is a region in Sweden. January in Lapland generally has very cold temperatures, with moderate precipitation. It's the height of winter.

Temperatures

You can expect very cold maximum daytime temperatures of around -7°C (19°F) and nighttime temperatures around -15°C (5°F) in Kiruna. 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.

To explore the conditions in Lapland, Sweden in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snowfall in Jukkasjärvi with an average of 39 mm (1.5 in) to moderate snowfall in Porjus with 45 mm (1.8 in).

Explore Lapland by month

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

January-7°C (19°F) February-7°C (19°F) March-2°C (28°F) April3°C (37°F) May9°C (48°F) June15°C (59°F) This monthJuly18°C (64°F) August16°C (61°F) September11°C (52°F) October4°C (39°F) November-3°C (27°F) December-5°C (23°F)
Best Time to Visit Lapland →

Best Places to Visit in Lapland in January

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

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 Lapland

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Lapland, Sweden?

Temperature range in Lapland (January)

Precipitation variation in Lapland (January)

Kiruna

In January Kiruna generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -7°C (19°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -15°C (5°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
-5°C (23°F)
-7°C (19°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Min temperature
-13°C (9°F)
-15°C (5°F)
-15°C (5°F)
Monthly snowfall
45 mm (1.8 in)
41 mm (1.6 in)
38 mm (1.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
17 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Kiruna →

Jukkasjärvi

In January Jukkasjärvi generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -7°C (19°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -15°C (5°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
-5°C (23°F)
-7°C (19°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Min temperature
-12°C (10°F)
-15°C (5°F)
-15°C (5°F)
Monthly snowfall
44 mm (1.7 in)
39 mm (1.5 in)
37 mm (1.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
17 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Jukkasjärvi →

Porjus

In January Porjus generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -7°C (19°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -15°C (5°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
-5°C (23°F)
-7°C (19°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Min temperature
-13°C (9°F)
-15°C (5°F)
-15°C (5°F)
Monthly snowfall
51 mm (2 in)
45 mm (1.8 in)
42 mm (1.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
16 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Porjus →

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

In our records: Sweden January extremes

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

  • From our sources, the wettest January day in Sweden brought 258 mm (10 in) in Ystad on January 17, 1981.

Popular cities in January

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Kiruna -7°C (19°F) -15°C (5°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)
Jukkasjärvi -7°C (19°F) -15°C (5°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Porjus -7°C (19°F) -15°C (5°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)

Lapland weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Lapland, Sweden in January?

In January, Lapland, Sweden generally has poor weather conditions. Kiruna sees daytime temperatures near -7°C (19°F), with nights cooling to roughly -15°C (5°F).

What is the average temperature in Lapland, Sweden in January?

Daytime temperatures in Kiruna peak at roughly -7°C (19°F) in January, dropping to about -15°C (5°F) overnight.

Does Lapland, Sweden get a lot of snow in January?

Not particularly. Kiruna averages just 41 mm (1.6 in) of snow in January, making it a mostly dry month for Lapland, Sweden.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Lapland, Sweden?

In our view, January might not be the best time to travel to Lapland, Sweden with often poor weather in Kiruna.

On average, the best time to visit Lapland, Sweden is in June, July and August with generally tolerable weather in Kiruna. On the other hand, the months of January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Lapland.

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

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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