Wales Weather in January

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

Thinking about venturing to Wales, 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 Wales in January

Wales, the United Kingdom is a region in the United Kingdom. January in Wales generally has cold temperatures, with high precipitation. January is a winter month.

Temperatures

You can expect cold maximum daytime temperatures of around 9°C (48°F) and nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) in Cardiff. 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 Wales, the United Kingdom in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From high rainfall in Cardiff with an average of 105 mm (4.1 in) to high rainfall in Swansea with 133 mm (5.2 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine tends to be more scarce in many locations. Cardiff gets roughly 53 hours of sunlight. For sunnier alternatives, check our weather planner to find destinations with better conditions.

Explore Wales by month

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

Best Places to Visit in Wales in January

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

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 Wales

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

Temperature range in Wales (January)

Precipitation variation in Wales (January)

Cardiff

In January Cardiff generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
49 hours
53 hours
78 hours
Monthly rainfall
119 mm (4.7 in)
105 mm (4.1 in)
90 mm (3.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
20 days
15 days
Weather conditions

Swansea

In January Swansea generally has low temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 9°C (48°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 4°C (39°F) and high monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
10°C (50°F)
9°C (48°F)
9°C (48°F)
Min temperature
5°C (41°F)
4°C (39°F)
4°C (39°F)
Monthly sun hours
49 hours
53 hours
78 hours
Monthly rainfall
146 mm (5.7 in)
133 mm (5.2 in)
110 mm (4.3 in)
Monthly rainy days
20 days
21 days
15 days
Weather conditions

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Cardiff 9°C (48°F) 4°C (39°F) 105 mm (4.1 in)
Swansea 9°C (48°F) 4°C (39°F) 133 mm (5.2 in)

Wales weather in January: frequently asked questions

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

January in Wales, the United Kingdom brings poor weather. In Cardiff, daytime temperatures are typically around 9°C (48°F) and nighttime lows hover near 4°C (39°F).

What is the average temperature in Wales, the United Kingdom in January?

Average temperatures in Wales, the United Kingdom during January range from a nighttime low near 4°C (39°F) to a daytime high around 9°C (48°F) in Cardiff.

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

Cardiff typically receives notable rainfall in January, about 105 mm (4.1 in) on average across Wales, the United Kingdom.

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

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

Generally speaking, July and August provide perfect weather in Cardiff. In contrast, January, February, November and December tend to have poor weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Wales.

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.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.