United Kingdom
Edinburgh in January: weather, sea & travel advice
This month's data profile
Rain shapes the decision
Edinburgh in January is climatically mixed. The average daily high is around 5 °C, and the sea is about 7 °C. With about 16 rainy days it is very wet.
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Rank among 12 monthly averages
14/100 · #11
Warmth
#12
Dryness
#8
Sun
#11
Sea warmth
#10
Published best categories: none
Edinburgh · JanuaryPhoto: 瑞丽江的河水 · CC BY-SA 4.0Climate facts
- Average high
- 5 °C
- Average low
- 2 °C
- Sea
- 7 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 16 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 1 h/day
- Humidity
- 94 %
Climate evidence with direct month comparison
The highlighted row is the selected month. Precipitation total and rainy days are separate monthly averages.
| Month | Avg high °C | Avg low °C | Rainy days (est.) | Precipitation mm | Sun h/day (est.) | Humidity % | Wind m/s | Sea °C | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | 6 | 2 | 16 | 78 | 0.4 | 94 | 4.5 | 8 | 14 |
| January (selected) | 5 | 2 | 16 | 71 | 0.6 | 94 | 5.0 | 7 | 14 |
| February | 6 | 2 | 13 | 61 | 1.4 | 92 | 5.0 | 6 | 20 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: January (14/100)
Positive and negative values show the change from the selected month.
| Score Δ | Average high Δ | Average low Δ | Rainy days Δ | Rain Δ | Sun Δ | Humidity Δ | Wind Δ | Sea Δ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| December | ±0 | +0.5 °C | +0.7 °C | +0.2 | +6.9 mm | -0.2 h | +0.4 % | -0.4 m/s | +1.3 °C |
| February | +6 | +0.7 °C | ±0 °C | -2.7 | -9.6 mm | +0.8 h | -1.9 % | ±0 m/s | -0.8 °C |
All twelve months in context
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Where to stay in Edinburgh
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Useful next decisions
Frequently asked questions
How warm is Edinburgh in January?
The average daily high is around 5 °C, with an average daily low of about 2 °C.
Can you swim in Edinburgh in January?
The sea is about 7 °C (cold).
Does it rain a lot in Edinburgh in January?
The curated estimate is about 16 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 71 mm for the month. A rainy day does not mean all-day rain.
When is the best time to visit Edinburgh?
No month in Edinburgh reaches the threshold for a clear recommendation in the climate score; the month comparison above shows the differences.