Australia
Sydney in January: weather, sea & travel advice
This month's data profile
Rain shapes the decision
Sydney in January is climatically well suited to beach holidays, family holidays and city breaks. The average daily high is around 26 °C, and the sea is about 23 °C. With about 13 rainy days it is wet.
Historical monthly averages, not a weather forecast. Individual days and years can differ substantially.
Rank among 12 monthly averages
79/100 · #3
Warmth
#1
Dryness
#10
Sun
#2
Sea warmth
#3
Published best categories: Overall, Beach, Family
Sydney · JanuaryPhoto: Dietmar Rabich · CC BY-SA 4.0Climate facts
- Average high
- 26 °C
- Average low
- 20 °C
- Sea
- 23 °C
- Rainy days (est.)
- 13 rainy days (est.)
- Sun (est.)
- 8 h/day
- Humidity
- 75 %
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 | 24 | 19 | 11 | 74 | 8.3 | 73 | 3.1 | 21 | 80 |
| January (selected) | 26 | 20 | 13 | 91 | 8.0 | 75 | 3.3 | 23 | 79 |
| February | 25 | 21 | 13 | 121 | 7.1 | 76 | 3.2 | 23 | 79 |
How do the previous and next months compare?
Baseline: January (79/100)
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 | +1 | -1.3 °C | -1.6 °C | -1.6 | -16.8 mm | +0.3 h | -1.9 % | -0.1 m/s | -1.4 °C |
| February | ±0 | -0.4 °C | +0.3 °C | +0.3 | +30.6 mm | -0.9 h | +1 % | ±0 m/s | +0.6 °C |
All twelve months in context

Find a place to stay
Where to stay in Sydney
Compare available stays, prices and cancellation terms for Sydney on Booking.com.
Booking.comFind places to stayAffiliate link: there is no extra cost to you.
Useful next decisions
Frequently asked questions
How warm is Sydney in January?
The average daily high is around 26 °C, with an average daily low of about 20 °C.
Can you swim in Sydney in January?
The sea is about 23 °C (swimmable).
Does it rain a lot in Sydney in January?
The curated estimate is about 13 rainy days per month, not a directly measured long-term average. Total precipitation averages around 91 mm for the month. A rainy day does not mean all-day rain.
When is the best time to visit Sydney?
By the climate score, January, February, April and December are the strongest months for Sydney. For a beach trip: January, February, March and December. January is one of them.