Tibet Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Tibet, China in January.

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Lhasa Shigatse

Planning a trip to Tibet, China this January? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in Tibet in January

Tibet, China is a region in China. January in Tibet generally has temperatures that range from very cold to cold, with precipitation levels ranging from almost none to low. January is a winter month.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from very cold in Lhasa at 1°C (34°F) to cold in Shigatse at 5°C (41°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to -10°C (14°F) in Shigatse and -15°C (5°F) in Lhasa. 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 Tibet, China, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From almost no snow/rainfall in Shigatse with an average of 2.6 mm (0.1 in) to low snow/rainfall in Lhasa with 11 mm (0.4 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is generally plentiful throughout many areas. Lhasa enjoys about 251 hours of sunlight, ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Tibet by month

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

Best Places to Visit in Tibet in January

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

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 Tibet

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Tibet, China?

Temperature range in Tibet (January)

Precipitation variation in Tibet (January)

Lhasa

In January Lhasa generally has very low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 1°C (34°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -15°C (5°F) and low monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
3°C (37°F)
1°C (34°F)
4°C (39°F)
Min temperature
-13°C (9°F)
-15°C (5°F)
-11°C (12°F)
Monthly sun hours
258 hours
251 hours
232 hours
Monthly snow/rainfall
8.7 mm (0.3 in)
11 mm (0.4 in)
12 mm (0.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
a single day
a single day
2 days
Weather conditions
poor
poor
poor
Climate in Lhasa →

Shigatse

In January Shigatse generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 5°C (41°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around -10°C (14°F) and almost no monthly snow/rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
7°C (45°F)
5°C (41°F)
7°C (45°F)
Min temperature
-9°C (16°F)
-10°C (14°F)
-8°C (18°F)
Monthly snow/rainfall
2.1 mm (0.1 in)
2.6 mm (0.1 in)
3.5 mm (0.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
0 days
a single day
a single day
Weather conditions
unpleasant
poor
unpleasant
Climate in Shigatse →

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

In our records: China January extremes

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

  • In our records, the coldest January daytime high in China was -43°C (-45°F) in Ergun on January 11, 2001.

Popular cities in January

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Lhasa 1°C (34°F) -15°C (5°F) 11 mm (0.4 in)
Shigatse 5°C (41°F) -10°C (14°F) 2.6 mm (0.1 in)

Tibet weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Tibet, China in January?

Tibet, China typically experiences poor weather in January, part of the winter season. Daytime highs in Lhasa average around 1°C (34°F), and temperatures drop to about -15°C (5°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Tibet, China in January?

Average temperatures in Tibet, China during January range from a nighttime low near -15°C (5°F) to a daytime high around 1°C (34°F) in Lhasa.

Does Tibet, China get a lot of snow/rain in January?

Not particularly. Lhasa averages just 11 mm (0.4 in) of snow/rain in January, making it a mostly dry month for Tibet, China.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Tibet, China?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Lhasa, January may not be the ideal time to visit Tibet, China.

Generally speaking, May, June, July and August provide tolerable weather in Lhasa. In contrast, January, February and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Tibet.

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

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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