If you plan to visit Istanbul in January, the weather is typically alright, with an average high temperature of +48°F during the day and approximately 6 sunny days. Expect some rainy, though, as there are typically 13 rainy days in the month and around 65 mm of precipitation. The weather is changeable so you may have to pack for every eventuality. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
January is usually the coldest month of the year in Istanbul;
Average weather
☀️
+48°F
Avg. max. temperature
+18°F
Min.
+66°F
Max.
65 mm
Total precipitation
76%
Avg. humidity
4 m/s
Avg. wind
6 ☀️
Sunny Days
9 ⛅️
Cloudy
13 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Istanbul has OK weather in January.
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Average temperature in Istanbul in January
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Istanbul for January based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Going from a maximum of +66°F during the day to a minimum of +34°F during the night, the temperature in January averages around +54°F.
The average maximum temperature goes down 33% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +54°F to +43°F.
Is Istanbul warm or cold in January?
Istanbul is typically chill in January.
Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +52°F to +48°F. The minimum temperature also goes down from +45°F to +41°F.
Pack a jumper and a jacket as there will be cooler temperatures.
January is the coldest month in Istanbul, here is the comparison with other months:
Water temperature in Istanbul in January
Water in Istanbul in January is Cold. It varies from +43°F to +51°F, with an average of +47°F.This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +48°F.
The water temperature in January is one of the coldest of the entire year:
The warmest water temperatures in Istanbul are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +77°F. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +46°F.
Can you swim in Istanbul in January?
We would not recommend swimming in Istanbul in January, the water is very cold (+47°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 Istanbul in January
Istanbul weather looks like this, on average, in January and the surrounding months.
December
January
February
Avg. temperature
+52°F
+48°F
+48°F
Min. temperature
+28°F
+18°F
+23°F
Max. temperature
+75°F
+66°F
+73°F
Rainfall
81 mm
65 mm
50 mm
Wind
4 m/s
4 m/s
4 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+51°F
+47°F
+46°F
Humidity
76%
76%
75%
Air pressure
1018 HPa
1018 HPa
1018 HPa
Sunny days
6
6
7
Cloudy days
9
9
7
Rainy days
14
13
11
Snowy days
1
2
3
January weather is still as ok as in December.It’s getting colder in January. From +52°F in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +48°F.As January arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 81 mm to 65 mm.Humidity levels don’t change as the month goes on, averaging around 76%.The average wind speed doesn’t change much during January, staying around 4 m/s.The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 6 sunny days during the month.
February brings much the same weather, it remains ok.
Wind speed in Istanbul in January based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 4 m/s getting up to 7 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in Istanbul is gradually increasing during January, going from 1 m/s to 3 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during January in Istanbul based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 23% chance of rain on an average day in January, with total rainfall of approximately 13 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 3 mm, which is considered light rain.On average, there are about 7 rainy days during January, so prepare to bring an umbrella.
January is one of the rainiest months in Istanbul, here is a comparison with other months, total mm:
Istanbul wettest month is December, where a typical day has a 45% chance of precipitation and 81 mm of rainfall per day. August, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 16% chance of precipitation and 14 mm of rainfall per day.
Snow
Amount of snow in mm during January in Istanbul based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 0% chance of snow on an average day in January, with a total monthly snowfall of approximately 0 mm.
January is one of the snowiest months in Istanbul.
Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of snow, total mm:
How was the weather last January in Istanbul?
This is the weather in Istanbul in January 2023:
1 January
🌫️
+54°F
2 January
🌫️
+54°F
3 January
🌫️
+54°F
4 January
🌫️
+51°F
5 January
☁️
+55°F
6 January
🌫️
+55°F
7 January
🌫️
+54°F
8 January
☀️
+53°F
9 January
☀️
+53°F
10 January
☀️
+58°F
11 January
☁️
+55°F
12 January
☁️
+56°F
13 January
🌧️
+51°F
14 January
☁️
+51°F
15 January
☁️
+52°F
16 January
☀️
+53°F
17 January
☀️
+60°F
18 January
☀️
+66°F
19 January
☀️
+66°F
20 January
☀️
+67°F
21 January
☀️
+63°F
22 January
☀️
+61°F
23 January
☁️
+52°F
24 January
☁️
+49°F
25 January
☁️
+44°F
26 January
☀️
+54°F
27 January
🌧️
+57°F
28 January
☁️
+52°F
29 January
🌧️
+41°F
30 January
🌧️
+41°F
31 January
☀️
+42°F
In January 2023 Istanbul had 12 sunny days, 9 cloudy days, and 4 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +54°F, with an absolute maximum of +66°F and a minimum of +41°F. The average humidity was 77%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 34%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 10 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in January?
Climate Change Over the Years
This is how Istanbul climate has changed over the last 43 years.
The climate in Istanbul in January has not changed that much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1997 (+61°F) and the highest in 2019 (+68°F). The driest year was 1984 with only 361 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2010 with 859 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Istanbul in January:
Is January a good time to visit Istanbul?
It’s always a good time to visit Istanbul, but the weather is changeable in January, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.
Can you sunbathe in Istanbul in January?
Not really, January is not the best time to sunbathe, unless you visit a local solarium.
Can you swim in Istanbul in January?
Swimming in Istanbul in January is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.
Is Istanbul rainy in January?
Istanbul is often rainy in January. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.
Is it sunny in Istanbul in January?
Usually, it’s not very sunny in Istanbul in January, often it’s pretty cloudy. Pack for any eventuality; layering can help reduce the number of bulky items needed.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Istanbul, 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.
