Lothian Weather in January

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

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Edinburgh Musselburgh Linlithgow North Berwick

Thinking about venturing to Lothian, the United Kingdom this January and curious about the weather conditions to expect? This page holds all the key information you seek, responding to your question:

What to Expect in Lothian in January

Lothian, the United Kingdom is a region in the United Kingdom. January in Lothian generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. January is a winter month.

Temperatures

You can expect cold maximum daytime temperatures of around 8°C (46°F) and nighttime temperatures around 2°C (36°F) in Edinburgh. 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 learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Lothian, the United Kingdom, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Innerwick with an average of 75 mm (3 in) to high rainfall in Bathgate with 100 mm (3.9 in).

Average sunshine

Many places experience limited sunshine during this period. Edinburgh receives around 54 hours of sunlight. If you prefer more sunny conditions, our weather planner can help you explore other destinations.

Explore Lothian by month

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

January8°C (46°F) February8°C (46°F) March10°C (50°F) April12°C (54°F) May15°C (59°F) June17°C (63°F) This monthJuly19°C (66°F) August19°C (66°F) September17°C (63°F) October13°C (55°F) November10°C (50°F) December8°C (46°F)
Best Time to Visit Lothian →

Best Places to Visit in Lothian in January

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

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 Lothian

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

Temperature range in Lothian (January)

Precipitation variation in Lothian (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
85 mm (3.3 in)
84 mm (3.3 in)
78 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
18 days
15 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Edinburgh →

Musselburgh

In January Musselburgh generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°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
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
3°C (37°F)
3°C (37°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
48 hours
54 hours
81 hours
Monthly rainfall
88 mm (3.5 in)
85 mm (3.3 in)
78 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
18 days
15 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Musselburgh →

Linlithgow

In January Linlithgow 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
94 mm (3.7 in)
95 mm (3.7 in)
89 mm (3.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
20 days
16 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Linlithgow →

North Berwick

In January North Berwick generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 8°C (46°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
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
4°C (39°F)
4°C (39°F)
3°C (37°F)
Monthly sun hours
48 hours
54 hours
81 hours
Monthly rainfall
85 mm (3.3 in)
81 mm (3.2 in)
71 mm (2.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
18 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in North Berwick →

Livingston

In January Livingston generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°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)
7°C (45°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
96 mm (3.8 in)
96 mm (3.8 in)
91 mm (3.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
20 days
16 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Livingston →

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Edinburgh 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 84 mm (3.3 in)
Musselburgh 8°C (46°F) 3°C (37°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Linlithgow 8°C (46°F) 2°C (36°F) 95 mm (3.7 in)
North Berwick 8°C (46°F) 4°C (39°F) 81 mm (3.2 in)
Livingston 7°C (45°F) 2°C (36°F) 96 mm (3.8 in)
Dunbar 8°C (46°F) 4°C (39°F) 77 mm (3 in)

Lothian weather in January: frequently asked questions

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

January in Lothian, the United Kingdom 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 Lothian, the United Kingdom in January?

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

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

Not particularly. Edinburgh averages just 84 mm (3.3 in) of rain in January, making it a mostly dry month for Lothian, the United Kingdom.

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

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Edinburgh, January may not be the ideal time to visit Lothian, the United Kingdom.

Generally speaking, July and August provide pleasant weather in Edinburgh. On the other hand, the weather in January, February, March, November and December tend to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Lothian.

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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