There are definitely more pleasant months to visit Helsinki rather than January, with an average high temperature of +28°F, and only 2 sunny days in total throughout the whole month. Pack for extremes to ensure that you are as comfortable as possible. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Average weather
☀️
+28°F
Avg. max. temperature
-27°F
Min.
+48°F
Max.
14 mm
Total precipitation
87%
Avg. humidity
4 m/s
Avg. wind
2 ☀️
Sunny Days
11 ⛅️
Cloudy
2 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Helsinki has uncomfortable weather in January.
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Average temperature in {destination} in {month}
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in {destination} for {month} based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average maximum temperature goes {direction} {percent}% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from {startTemperature} to {endTemperature}.
Is Helsinki warm or cold in January?
Helsinki is typically cold in January.
Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +32°F to +28°F. The minimum temperature also goes down from +25°F to +19°F.
Wear your winter warms as it will be cold. To save space, layer, and don’t forget gloves and a scarf.
January is one of the coolest months in Helsinki, here is the comparison with other months:
Water temperature in Helsinki in January
Water in Helsinki in January is Cold. It varies from +29°F to +37°F, with an average of +33°F.Note that the air temperature is lower than the water temperature, averaging around +28°F.
In January, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:
The warmest water temperatures in Helsinki are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +55°F. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +31°F.
Can you swim in Helsinki in January?
We would not recommend swimming in Helsinki in January, the water is very cold (+33°F on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +61°F
🏄♂️
Fresh
61°F - 70°F
🏊
Comfortable
70°F - 77°F
👙
Warm
77°F - 82°F
🔥
Very warm
+82°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.
Climate in Helsinki in January
Helsinki weather looks like this, on average, in January and the surrounding months.
December
January
February
Avg. temperature
+32°F
+28°F
+27°F
Min. temperature
-11°F
-27°F
-20°F
Max. temperature
+50°F
+48°F
+46°F
Rainfall
27 mm
14 mm
10 mm
Wind
5 m/s
4 m/s
4 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+35°F
+33°F
+31°F
Humidity
87%
87%
85%
Air pressure
1008 HPa
1008 HPa
1011 HPa
Sunny days
2
2
3
Cloudy days
9
11
11
Rainy days
5
2
1
Snowy days
15
16
12
January weather is still as bad as in December.It’s getting colder in January. From +32°F in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +28°F.As January arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 27 mm to 14 mm.Humidity levels don’t change as the month goes on, averaging around 87%.Winds are calmer in comparison to December, going down from 5 m/s to 4 m/s on average.The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 2 sunny days during the month.
But maybe it is worth considering traveling in February as the weather gets better.
Wind speed in Helsinki in January based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 8 m/s getting up to 12 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in Helsinki is gradually increasing during January, going from 6 m/s to 9 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during January in Helsinki based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
A chance of rain on a typical day in January stands at 35%, leading to total precipitation of around 69 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 12 mm, which is considered light rain.January is a pretty wet month with over 11 rainy days, so don’t forget to pack an umbrella, raincoat, and a pair of wellies.
Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Helsinki wettest month is October, where a typical day has a 55% chance of precipitation and 83 mm of rainfall per day. February, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 3% chance of precipitation and 10 mm of rainfall per day.
Snow
Amount of snow in mm during January in Helsinki based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The chance of snow on a typical day in January is 16%, for a monthly total of around 65 mm.
January is one of the snowiest months in Helsinki.
Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of snow, total mm:
How was the weather last January in Helsinki?
This is the weather in Helsinki in January 2023:
1 January
☀️
+39°F
2 January
☀️
+33°F
3 January
🌨️
+32°F
4 January
☁️
+30°F
5 January
☀️
+18°F
6 January
🌨️
+20°F
7 January
☁️
+21°F
8 January
🌨️
+23°F
9 January
🌨️
+26°F
10 January
🌨️
+35°F
11 January
🌧️
+35°F
12 January
🌧️
+36°F
13 January
🌧️
+37°F
14 January
🌧️
+38°F
15 January
🌧️
+37°F
16 January
🌧️
+37°F
17 January
☁️
+36°F
18 January
☁️
+36°F
19 January
☁️
+33°F
20 January
🌫️
+34°F
21 January
🌫️
+26°F
22 January
🌫️
+25°F
23 January
☁️
+32°F
24 January
🌧️
+34°F
25 January
🌧️
+37°F
26 January
☁️
+37°F
27 January
☀️
+30°F
28 January
☁️
+33°F
29 January
☁️
+36°F
30 January
🌧️
+38°F
31 January
☁️
+35°F
In January 2023 Helsinki had 4 sunny days, 10 cloudy days, and 6 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +32°F, with an absolute maximum of +39°F and a minimum of +18°F. The average humidity was 91%, with a maximum of 99% and a minimum of 69%. The average wind speed was 8 m/s, with a maximum of 16 m/s and a minimum of 1 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in January?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how Helsinki climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in Helsinki in January has not changed that much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1987 (+41°F) and the highest in 2020 (+52°F). The driest year was 2002 with only 248 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2020 with 1153 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Helsinki in January:
Is January a good time to visit Helsinki?
There is never a bad time to go to Helsinki, but the weather isn’t the best in January, so plan on enjoying the great indoor attractions of Helsinki and pack for the extremes in weather.
Can you sunbathe in Helsinki in January?
Not really, January is not the best time to sunbathe, unless you visit a local solarium.
Can you swim in Helsinki in January?
Swimming in Helsinki in January is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is Helsinki rainy in January?
Helsinki is usually dry in January. Plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring.
Is it sunny in Helsinki in January?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Helsinki in January, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
Other cities in Finland
Check out the weather for other cities in Finland.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Helsinki, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.
