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Weather in Sweden in January – is it worth traveling to?

Is the weather pleasant in Sweden? See historical weather data for January to see if it meets your needs.
Check flight prices to Sweden on Avionero:
January

Is the weather good in Sweden in January 2025?

OK Weather
Chill
☁️
Cloudy

For the past few decades, the average daily temperatures in Sweden during January have been around +28°F.

The weather differs across the Sweden in January. You may encounter maximum temperatures of +28°F at noon in Ronneby and +14°F in Kiruna. So plan your activities, and packing, based on the individual locations rather than the country as a whole.

Temperature, wind and humidity in January

Average
Angelholm
Arvidsjaur
Gothenburg
Halmstad
Kristianstad
Ostersund
Stockholm
Visby
Gallivare
Lulea
Ronneby
Skelleftea
Kiruna
Jonkoping
Lycksele
Mora
Umea
Vaxjo
Vilhelmina
Sundsvall
☀️
+28°F
Avg. max. temperature
-42°F
Min.
+54°F
Max.
20 mm
Total precipitation
85%
Avg. humidity
3 m/s
Avg. wind
3 ☀️
Sunny Days
22 ⛅️
Cloudy
2 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Sweden has OK weather in January.
Sweden in January – what city is the…
  • rainiest? Ostersund, with an average of 3 mm of rain and humidity of 84%;
  • warmest? Ronneby, with daytime temperatures averaging +36°F;
  • windiest? Visby, with an average of 5 m/s;
  • coolest? Kiruna, with daytime temperatures averaging +14°F;

How good is the weather in Sweden in January?

During January, the Sweden is characterized by variable weather with air pressure around 1010 HPa and therefore elements of sun, rain, and wind – with a little extra emphasis on the latter two. The humidity in January ranges between 81% in Kiruna and 89% in Vaxjo.

How warm is it in Sweden during January?

Variable weather with sun, rain and wind: +28°F in average daily temperature.

This is how hot it usually is in January

The average daily temperatures above don't tell you everything about how hot it can be in Sweden. For example, cold nights can make a big difference for those staying in tents or unheated houses. Extra hot days, on the other hand, can make a big difference for those who plan to engage in demanding physical training or competition. So here are some more temperatures for January:
Average
Angelholm
Arvidsjaur
Gothenburg
Halmstad
Kristianstad
Ostersund
Stockholm
Visby
Gallivare
Lulea
Ronneby
Skelleftea
Kiruna
Jonkoping
Lycksele
Mora
Umea
Vaxjo
Vilhelmina
Sundsvall
  • Average maximum temperature for the month: +28°F;
  • Average minimum temperature for the month: +19°F;
  • Highest monthly temperature: +30°F;
  • Lowest monthly temperature: +16°F;

Monthly temperatures:

Average
Angelholm
Arvidsjaur
Gothenburg
Halmstad
Kristianstad
Ostersund
Stockholm
Visby
Gallivare
Lulea
Ronneby
Skelleftea
Kiruna
Jonkoping
Lycksele
Mora
Umea
Vaxjo
Vilhelmina
Sundsvall
  • Warmest: July with an average +68°F during the day;
  • Coldest: January with an average +28°F of the day;
  • Hottest month in hottest city: July in Kristianstad;
  • Coldest month in coolest city: January in Kiruna;

Winds in Sweden during January

Wind speed in Sweden in January based on historical data:
Average
Angelholm
Arvidsjaur
Gothenburg
Halmstad
Kristianstad
Ostersund
Stockholm
Visby
Gallivare
Lulea
Ronneby
Skelleftea
Kiruna
Jonkoping
Lycksele
Mora
Umea
Vaxjo
Vilhelmina
Sundsvall

January tends to offer light winds averaging 3 m/s. However, coastal cities may experience breezes during the mornings and afternoons.

Comparison between cities in January:

  • Highest average wind speed: Visby with 4 m/s;
  • Lowest average wind speed: Gallivare with 1 m/s;
  • Windiest day of the month: Visby with 6 m/s;
  • The least windy day of the month: Gallivare with 1 m/s;

Humidity and precipitation in Sweden in January

Amount of rainfall in mm during January in Sweden based on historical data:
Average
Angelholm
Arvidsjaur
Gothenburg
Halmstad
Kristianstad
Ostersund
Stockholm
Visby
Gallivare
Lulea
Ronneby
Skelleftea
Kiruna
Jonkoping
Lycksele
Mora
Umea
Vaxjo
Vilhelmina
Sundsvall
January tends to be an extremely humid month with 79% humidity and 50 mm rainfall. In general the humidity tends to be a little lower in mountainous regions and more humid closer to water.

Comparison between cities in January:

Average
Angelholm
Arvidsjaur
Gothenburg
Halmstad
Kristianstad
Ostersund
Stockholm
Visby
Gallivare
Lulea
Ronneby
Skelleftea
Kiruna
Jonkoping
Lycksele
Mora
Umea
Vaxjo
Vilhelmina
Sundsvall
  • Highest average rainfall: Ostersund with 86 mm;
  • Lowest average rainfall: Arvidsjaur with 1 mm;
  • Most number of rainy days: Gothenburg with 6 rainy days;
  • Least number of rainy days: Arvidsjaur with 0 rainy days;
  • Highest risk of rain during the day: Gothenburg with 19%;
  • Least risk of rain during the day: Arvidsjaur with 0%;
  • Highest average humidity: Vaxjo with 89%;
  • Lowest average humidity: Kiruna with 81%;

Snow

Amount of snow in mm. during January in Sweden based on historical data:
Average
Angelholm
Arvidsjaur
Gothenburg
Halmstad
Kristianstad
Ostersund
Stockholm
Visby
Gallivare
Lulea
Ronneby
Skelleftea
Kiruna
Jonkoping
Lycksele
Mora
Umea
Vaxjo
Vilhelmina
Sundsvall
Total snow in January is about 16 mm, with a 6% chance of snow on a typical day.

Comparison between cities in January:

Average
Angelholm
Arvidsjaur
Gothenburg
Halmstad
Kristianstad
Ostersund
Stockholm
Visby
Gallivare
Lulea
Ronneby
Skelleftea
Kiruna
Jonkoping
Lycksele
Mora
Umea
Vaxjo
Vilhelmina
Sundsvall
  • Highest average snowfall: Ostersund with 159 mm;
  • Lowest average snowfall: Angelholm with 21 mm;
  • Most number of snowy days: Vilhelmina with 6 snowy days;
  • Least number of snowy days: Angelholm with 3 snowy days;
  • Highest chance of snow during the day: Vilhelmina with 19%;
  • Least chance of snow during the day: Angelholm with 10%;

Tips for traveling to Sweden in January

Looking for some tips for traveling to the sun, snow, or whatever you're aiming for Sweden? Activities, weather, and clothing are closely linked. In addition, it's important to pack only what you really need so you don't have to worry about heavy packing or paying extra baggage fees.

Here is some advice on what to pack and what kind of activities you can do in the Sweden based on the weather that January is expected to bring. The advice applies to the country as a whole – local weather and possible activities may differ somewhat.

Cloudy, chill weather with light winds and very high humidity in January
Avionero

Pack right for January

The weather makes a difference when it comes to packing - especially which items should go in your suitcase. The tips below are designed to help you pack light and right without carrying more than necessary.
  • When it’s cold you need warm clothes such as a hat, gloves and scarf. If you plan on varied activities it might be a good idea to pack flexible clothing and wear multiple layers, as you can then easily adapt and regulate the temperature. For example you may want to wear cotton closest to the body, covered by a waterproof layer of wool or synthetics and then some warm layer of for example wool, fleece or down.
  • Light winds are probably most comfortable in hot weather but is cooling in cool and cold weather. If it is hot (when the air temperature is about 30 degrees), the wind can have a warming effect. A thin, windproof jacket and long trousers help to counteract these effects.
  • High humidity means that the air conducts heat to and from the skin more easily. For example, if the air is hot (above skin temperature), it will be harder to stay cool. On the other hand, if the air is cool or cold, it is more difficult to stay warm. In high humidity, the choice of clothing makes less of a difference. However, your physical activity plays a bigger role.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Sweden in January:

What can you do outside when it's warm in Sweden?

Bathing and sunbathing can be suitable. Warm (but not hot) days are also good for activities that are not so physically demanding: sightseeing on foot, by boat, on a scooter, camel riding. You can also exercise easily as long as you make sure to cool down and quench thirst.

Is January a good time to visit Sweden?

It’s always a good time to visit Sweden, but the weather is changeable in January, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.

Monthly weather in Sweden

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Sweden, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2022.

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.