Edinburgh · WinterMonth summary
Edinburgh weather in January
❌ Poor
🌡️ Temperature min / max
2°C – 6°C
🌧 Rainy days
42% of days
☀️ Sunshine
3.4h per day on average
🌊 🌊 Season
Winter
⭐ ⭐ Weather score
2.4/10
📅 📅 Best month
June (7.0/10)
Quick decision
Should you visit Edinburgh in January?
❌ Poor
✅ Yes if: you enjoy winter atmosphere and the lowest prices of the year.
❌ No if: you're looking for sunshine or outdoor activities.
Our take: January is a difficult time for Edinburgh. June (7.0/10) is much more favourable.
By trip type
Edinburgh in January by trip type
- 🏙️ 🏙️ City break / culture : ⚠️ Possible
- 🚶 🚶 Outdoor activities : ❌ Not recommended
- 🏖️ Beach / swimming : ❌ Not recommended
- 💰 💰 Budget : ✅ Low season
Local context
What to expect in January
🎯 Quiet period for families — fewer crowds but limited outdoor activities Winter in Edinburgh is cool (6°C during the day). Days are short (3.4h of sunshine) but the city reveals a different side. Expect rain on 42% of days — a light raincoat in the bag is recommended.
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Annual table
Month-by-month comparison
| Month | Min °C | Max °C | Rain % | Precip mm | Sun h/d | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🌦️ January | 2°C | 6°C | 42% | 2.4 | 3.4h | 2.4/10 |
| 🌦️ February | 2°C | 7°C | 48% | 2.7 | 5.3h | 3.0/10 |
| 🌦️ March | 3°C | 9°C | 47% | 2.4 | 6.8h | 4.0/10 |
| 🌦️ April | 4°C | 11°C | 38% | 1.7 | 10.4h | 5.5/10 |
| 🌦️ May | 8°C | 14°C | 40% | 2.2 | 11.3h | 6.6/10 |
| 🌦️ June | 10°C | 16°C | 47% | 2.6 | 11.9h | 7.0/10 |
| 🌦️ July | 12°C | 18°C | 53% | 2.9 | 11.2h | 7.0/10 |
| 🌦️ August | 12°C | 18°C | 47% | 2.6 | 10.6h | 7.0/10 |
| 🌦️ September | 10°C | 16°C | 46% | 2.6 | 8.2h | 6.0/10 |
| 🌦️ October | 8°C | 12°C | 52% | 3.2 | 5.1h | 4.0/10 |
| 🌦️ November | 4°C | 9°C | 47% | 2.7 | 4.5h | 3.4/10 |
| 🌦️ December | 3°C | 7°C | 47% | 3.0 | 2.2h | 1.8/10 |
Ideal
Fair
Challenging climate
◀ Current month · Source Open-Meteo · 10 years
📊 Data source
Data based on 10 years of ERA5 records via Open-Meteo, with ECMWF seasonal adjustment. In January, Edinburgh averages 6°C, 42% rainy days and 3.4h of sunshine per day. Overall weather score: 2.4/10.
See methodology →
Comparison
January vs June (best month)
The best month is June (score 7.0/10). Difference:
- 🌡️ Max temperature : +10°C
- 🌧 Rainy days : +5%
- ☀️ Sunshine : +8.5h/day
FAQ
FAQ — Edinburgh in January
Is January a good time to visit Edinburgh?
January is not recommended for Edinburgh (score 2.4/10). With 42% rainy days and 3.4h of sunshine, consider June (7.0/10) instead.
What's the weather like in Edinburgh in January?
It's cool with 6°C daytime and 2°C at night. 3.4h of sunshine per day. Pack warm clothes and favour indoor visits.
Accommodation
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