Lapland

Lapland Weather in January

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

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Rovaniemi Levi Äkäslompolo Saariselka

Planning a getaway to Lapland, Finland 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 Lapland in January

Lapland, Finland is a region in Finland. January in Lapland generally has very cold temperatures, with moderate precipitation. During January, winter is in full swing.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are very cold and range from -7°C (19°F) in Kilpisjärvi to -4°C (25°F) in Kemi. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -11°C (12°F) in Kemi and -14°C (7°F) in Kilpisjärvi. 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, Finland in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate snowfall in Inari with an average of 33 mm (1.3 in) to moderate snowfall in Kilpisjärvi with 61 mm (2.4 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is quite limited in many locations during January. Rovaniemi receives roughly 15 hours of sunlight. For destinations with more sunshine, our weather planner offers alternatives worldwide.

Explore Lapland by month

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

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, Finland?

Temperature range in Lapland (January)

Precipitation variation in Lapland (January)

Rovaniemi

In January Rovaniemi generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -6°C (21°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -14°C (7°F) and moderate monthly snowfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
-4°C (25°F)
-6°C (21°F)
-6°C (21°F)
Min temperature
-11°C (12°F)
-14°C (7°F)
-14°C (7°F)
Monthly sun hours
4 hours
15 hours
56 hours
Monthly snowfall
52 mm (2 in)
45 mm (1.8 in)
42 mm (1.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
22 days
20 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Rovaniemi →

Levi

In January Levi 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)
-14°C (7°F)
Monthly sun hours
4 hours
15 hours
57 hours
Monthly snowfall
46 mm (1.8 in)
39 mm (1.5 in)
37 mm (1.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
20 days
17 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Levi →

Äkäslompolo

In January Äkäslompolo 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)
-14°C (7°F)
Monthly sun hours
4 hours
15 hours
57 hours
Monthly snowfall
48 mm (1.9 in)
40 mm (1.6 in)
38 mm (1.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
19 days
17 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Äkäslompolo →

Saariselka

In January Saariselka generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around -7°C (19°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -14°C (7°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)
-14°C (7°F)
-14°C (7°F)
Monthly sun hours
0 hours
38 hours
117 hours
Monthly snowfall
38 mm (1.5 in)
35 mm (1.4 in)
34 mm (1.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
21 days
19 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Saariselka →

Pyhätunturi

In January Pyhätunturi 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
-4°C (25°F)
-7°C (19°F)
-7°C (19°F)
Min temperature
-12°C (10°F)
-15°C (5°F)
-14°C (7°F)
Monthly snowfall
48 mm (1.9 in)
43 mm (1.7 in)
39 mm (1.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
22 days
19 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Pyhätunturi →

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

In our records: Finland January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Finland 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 Finland dropped to -47°C (-53°F) in Saariselka on January 27, 1999.
  • In our records, the coldest January daytime high in Finland was -42°C (-44°F) in Saariselka on January 5, 1987.

Popular cities in January

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Rovaniemi -6°C (21°F) -14°C (7°F) 45 mm (1.8 in)
Levi -7°C (19°F) -15°C (5°F) 39 mm (1.5 in)
Äkäslompolo -7°C (19°F) -15°C (5°F) 40 mm (1.6 in)
Saariselka -7°C (19°F) -14°C (7°F) 35 mm (1.4 in)
Pyhätunturi -7°C (19°F) -15°C (5°F) 43 mm (1.7 in)
Salla -7°C (19°F) -15°C (5°F) 41 mm (1.6 in)

Lapland weather in January: frequently asked questions

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

Lapland, Finland typically experiences poor weather in January, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Rovaniemi average around -6°C (21°F), and temperatures drop to about -14°C (7°F) at night.

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

In Rovaniemi, the average daytime high in January is -6°C (21°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around -14°C (7°F).

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

Not particularly. Rovaniemi averages just 45 mm (1.8 in) of snow in January, making it a mostly dry month for Lapland, Finland.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Lapland, Finland?

In our opinion, January may not be the ideal time to visit Lapland, Finland due to the typically poor weather in Rovaniemi.

Generally speaking, July provides perfect weather in Rovaniemi. The weather in January, February, March, April, October, 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 Lapland.

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

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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