Rome in January
What to expect
January in Rome is mid-winter, with a settled seasonal pattern already in place. The overall feel is cool without being harsh, with a noticeable cool-down after sunset. Daylight is shorter, so timing matters more than in longer-day months. Most days feel close to what the averages suggest, with straightforward pacing.
January in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Rome.
Monthly climate breakdown
Temperature
- Daytime high
-
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Sunshine
- Daylight hours
- 9.5 h
- UV index (max)
- 3
- Typical sun hours
- 07:32 - 17:04
Rain & Snow
- Total rain
-
- Rainy days
- 12 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 52%
- Snowfall
-
Humidity & Wind
- Humidity (avg)
- 80%
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Daily climate explorer
Day 15 selected for January. Typical high 12.4°C and low 4.3°C.
Typical disruptions in January
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in January.
Cold feels-like nights Measures: Cold feels-like nights (min <=5C). Observed about 85% of days (26.3 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
26.3 days / month
~85% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 26.3 days / month
- Probability ~85% of days
- Intensity Up to ~4°C (P95)
Cold feels-like nights are possible on ~26 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 14% of days (4.4 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
4.4 days / month
~14% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 4.4 days / month
- Probability ~14% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23mm (P95)
Washout conditions are possible on ~4 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 2% of days (0.7 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.7 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.7 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~75km/h (P95)
Stormy conditions are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 2% of days (0.6 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.6 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.6 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~75km/h (P95)
Strong gusts are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 14% of days (4.5 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
4.5 days / month
~14% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 4.5 days / month
- Probability ~14% of days
- Intensity Up to ~23mm (P95)
Rain disruption risk appears on ~4 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Freezing nights Measures: Freezing nights (min <=0C). Observed about 11% of days (3.5 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
3.5 days / month
~11% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 3.5 days / month
- Probability ~11% of days
- Intensity Up to ~0°C (P95)
Freezing nights are possible on ~4 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Show all disruptions (18 more)
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 0.9 days/month in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.9 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.9 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~21mm (P95)
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Very heavy rain Measures: Very heavy rain days (>=25mm). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.2 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.2 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~45mm (P95)
Very heavy rain is possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 8% of days (2.5 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.5 days / month
~8% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.5 days / month
- Probability ~8% of days
- Intensity Up to ~29mm (P95)
Heavy rain is possible on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cold snap run Measures: Cold snap runs (>=3 cold days). Observed about 1.1 days/month in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
1.1 days / month
Probability unavailable
Why this matters
- Expected days 1.1 days / month
- Probability —
- Intensity Up to ~10°C (P95)
Cold snap runs are possible on ~1 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Cold nights Measures: Cold nights (min <=5C). Observed about 66% of days (20.5 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
20.5 days / month
~66% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 20.5 days / month
- Probability ~66% of days
- Intensity Up to ~5°C (P95)
Cold nights are possible on ~20 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 61% of days (18.8 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
18.8 days / month
~61% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 18.8 days / month
- Probability ~61% of days
- Intensity Up to ~91% (P95)
High humidity is possible on ~19 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 46% of days (14.4 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
14.4 days / month
~46% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 14.4 days / month
- Probability ~46% of days
- Intensity Up to ~99% (P95)
Cloudy skies are possible on ~14 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 44% of days (13.7 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
13.7 days / month
~44% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 13.7 days / month
- Probability ~44% of days
- Intensity Up to ~18mm (P95)
Measurable rain is possible on ~14 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 36% of days (11.1 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
11.1 days / month
~36% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 11.1 days / month
- Probability ~36% of days
- Intensity Up to ~20h (P95)
Several rainy hours are possible on ~11 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 27% of days (8.3 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.3 days / month
~27% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.3 days / month
- Probability ~27% of days
- Intensity Up to ~22h (P95)
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~8 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 26% of days (8.2 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
8.2 days / month
~26% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 8.2 days / month
- Probability ~26% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~8 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cold days Measures: Cold days (max <=10C). Observed about 21% of days (6.6 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
6.6 days / month
~21% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 6.6 days / month
- Probability ~21% of days
- Intensity Up to ~10°C (P95)
Cold daytime conditions are possible on ~7 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 17% of days (5.4 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
5.4 days / month
~17% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 5.4 days / month
- Probability ~17% of days
- Intensity Up to ~63km/h (P95)
Gusty conditions are possible on ~5 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 9% of days (2.8 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
2.8 days / month
~9% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 2.8 days / month
- Probability ~9% of days
- Intensity Up to ~100% (P95)
Overcast skies are possible on ~3 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 2% of days (0.6 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.6 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.6 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~93% (P95)
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data Measures: Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data. Observed about 2% of days (0.6 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.6 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.6 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~93 (P95)
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data is possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Hard freeze nights Measures: Hard freeze nights (min <=-2C). Observed about 2% of days (0.5 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.5 days / month
~2% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.5 days / month
- Probability ~2% of days
- Intensity Up to ~-2°C (P95)
Hard freeze conditions are possible on ~1 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Snow days Measures: Snow days (>=0.1mm snowfall). Observed about 1% of days (0.3 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
0.3 days / month
~1% of days
Why this matters
- Expected days 0.3 days / month
- Probability ~1% of days
- Intensity Up to ~1.7mm (P95)
Snowfall is possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Frequently asked questions
Is January a good time to visit Rome?
Typical January days in Rome reach highs of 12°C (54°F) with nights around 4°C (39°F). It usually feels cool by day and cold after dark. Overall, January sits in the middle of the Rome climate range.
What are temperatures like in January?
In January, you can usually expect highs of 12°C (54°F) and lows near 4°C (39°F). That means cool days and cold nights, so pack layers you can add or remove.
How much does it rain in January?
Rainfall in January averages 70 mm (2.8 in) across roughly 12 days. Overall it is a quite rainy time of year, so a light rain jacket and waterproof shoes are very handy.
How many hours of daylight are there in January?
You can expect about 10 hours of daylight in January. Sunrise is typically around 07:32 and sunset near 17:04. Days are on the shorter side, so plan activities around limited daylight.
How strong is the sun in January?
UV levels are moderate (around 3); sunscreen and sunglasses are still a good idea.
Is it windy in January?
In January, average wind speeds are around 9 km/h (6 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 46 km/h (29 mph). On the ground, it is it often feels breezy, especially in more exposed spots or along the coast.