Düsseldorf

North Rhine-Westphalia Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany in January.

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Cologne Winterberg Düsseldorf Schmallenberg

Planning a getaway to North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany 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 North Rhine-Westphalia in January

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany is a region in Germany. January in North Rhine-Westphalia generally has cold temperatures, with precipitation levels ranging from moderate to high. It's the height of winter.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are cold and range from 3°C (37°F) in Schmallenberg to 7°C (45°F) in Kevelaer. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 1°C (34°F) in Kevelaer and -2°C (28°F) in Schmallenberg. 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 North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From moderate rainfall in Rheinbach with an average of 67 mm (2.6 in) to high rainfall in Gummersbach with 131 mm (5.2 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is more restricted in many locations in January. Cologne sees roughly 55 hours of sunlight. Our weather planner can help you find destinations with more sunshine if needed.

Explore North Rhine-Westphalia by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in North Rhine-Westphalia — and find the best time to visit. (based on Cologne)

January6°C (43°F) February8°C (46°F) March12°C (54°F) April16°C (61°F) May20°C (68°F) June23°C (73°F) This monthJuly25°C (77°F) August25°C (77°F) September21°C (70°F) October15°C (59°F) November10°C (50°F) December7°C (45°F)
Best Time to Visit North Rhine-Westphalia →

Best Places to Visit in North Rhine-Westphalia in January

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across North Rhine-Westphalia.

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 North Rhine-Westphalia

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany?

Temperature range in North Rhine-Westphalia (January)

Precipitation variation in North Rhine-Westphalia (January)

Cologne

In January Cologne generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 6°C (43°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
7°C (45°F)
6°C (43°F)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
1°C (34°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
45 hours
55 hours
80 hours
Monthly rainfall
99 mm (3.9 in)
88 mm (3.5 in)
82 mm (3.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
18 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Cologne →

Düsseldorf

In January Düsseldorf generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 7°C (45°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and moderate 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)
8°C (46°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
1°C (34°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
47 hours
55 hours
77 hours
Monthly rainfall
95 mm (3.7 in)
86 mm (3.4 in)
81 mm (3.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
18 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Düsseldorf →

Winterberg

In January Winterberg generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C (37°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -2°C (28°F) and moderate monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
4°C (39°F)
3°C (37°F)
4°C (39°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-2°C (28°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Monthly sun hours
31 hours
39 hours
72 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
89 mm (3.5 in)
88 mm (3.5 in)
79 mm (3.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
17 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Winterberg →

Schmallenberg

In January Schmallenberg generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 3°C (37°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -2°C (28°F) and high monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
4°C (39°F)
3°C (37°F)
4°C (39°F)
Min temperature
-1°C (30°F)
-2°C (28°F)
-2°C (28°F)
Monthly snow/rainfall
102 mm (4 in)
101 mm (4 in)
91 mm (3.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
17 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Schmallenberg →

Essen

In January Essen generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 6°C (43°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 1°C (34°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
7°C (45°F)
6°C (43°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
2°C (36°F)
1°C (34°F)
1°C (34°F)
Monthly sun hours
40 hours
46 hours
79 hours
Monthly rainfall
99 mm (3.9 in)
91 mm (3.6 in)
84 mm (3.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
18 days
18 days
14 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Essen →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in North Rhine-Westphalia, in Germany.

In our records: Germany January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Germany 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 Germany dropped to -27°C (-17°F) in Bad Füssing on January 7, 1985.
  • In our records, the coldest January daytime high in Germany was -19°C (-2°F) in Dresden on January 13, 1987.

Popular cities in January

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in North Rhine-Westphalia in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Cologne 6°C (43°F) 1°C (34°F) 88 mm (3.5 in)
Winterberg 3°C (37°F) -2°C (28°F) 88 mm (3.5 in)
Düsseldorf 7°C (45°F) 1°C (34°F) 86 mm (3.4 in)
Schmallenberg 3°C (37°F) -2°C (28°F) 101 mm (4 in)
Essen 6°C (43°F) 1°C (34°F) 91 mm (3.6 in)
Bonn 6°C (43°F) 1°C (34°F) 76 mm (3 in)

North Rhine-Westphalia weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany in January?

Expect poor weather across North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany in January. The popular destination of Cologne averages 6°C (43°F) by day and 1°C (34°F) at night during this winter month.

What is the average temperature in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany in January?

Cologne averages a daytime maximum of 6°C (43°F) in January, with overnight lows close to 1°C (34°F).

Does North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany get a lot of rain in January?

January is on the drier side in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. Cologne averages only about 88 mm (3.5 in), with most days staying dry.

Is January a Good Time to Visit North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany?

In our opinion, January may not be the ideal time to visit North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany due to the typically poor weather in Cologne.

Generally speaking, May, June, July, August and September provide perfect weather in Cologne. The weather in January, February, 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 North Rhine-Westphalia.

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

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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