Monthly climate guide

Rome in January

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.

Annual ranking snapshot

Ranked across 12 months

January in context

How it compares to the rest of the year in Rome.

Hottest (avg)
COOLER
#12 / 12

On the cooler side.

Wettest (avg)
IN-BETWEEN
#8 / 12

Typical rainfall for the year.

Daylight Hours
SHORTER
#11 / 12

Shorter days.

Windiest (avg)
WIND
#5 / 12

Close to the yearly wind average.

Highest UV
UV
#11 / 12

UV is gentler than usual.

Most Humid
HUMID
#3 / 12

Humidity sits on the higher side.

Climate normals

Four planning pillars

Monthly climate breakdown

A detailed look at the typical climate conditions for January.

Thermal profile

Temperature

Typical daytime high

Nighttime low
Feels like (avg)

Light window

Sunshine

9.5 h

Average daylight

UV index (max)
3
Typical sun hours
07:32 - 17:04

Wet-day pattern

Rain & Snow

Typical rainfall

Rainy days
12 days
Cloud cover (avg)
52%
Snowfall

Air feel

Humidity & Wind

80%

Average humidity

Wind (avg)
Wind (max gusts)

Historical daily baseline

Daily climate explorer

Pick a day to inspect the usual conditions through January in Rome. Based on a 30-year historical climate baseline, not a forecast.

Primary control

Select a day

Scroll to compare daily conditions. The summary updates with your selection.

Secondary context

Monthly trend

Day 15 selected

Median daytime highs across the month, with a softer low line.

Daily climate explorer for JanuaryMonthly trend chart for the selected climate metric, with the chosen day marked.0510152011631°C
Median temperatureMedian lowTypical range

Day 15 selected for January. Temperature 12.4°C.

Historical disruption baseline

Typical disruptions in January

Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in January.

Cold High impact

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.

Likely frequency

26.3 days / month

Share of days
~85% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~4°C (P95)
Why this matters

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.

Rain High impact

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.

Likely frequency

4.4 days / month

Share of days
~14% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~23mm (P95)
Why this matters

Washout conditions are possible on ~4 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.

Wind High impact

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.

Likely frequency

0.7 days / month

Share of days
~2% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~75km/h (P95)
Why this matters

Stormy conditions are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.

Wind High impact

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.

Likely frequency

0.6 days / month

Share of days
~2% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~75km/h (P95)
Why this matters

Strong gusts are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.

Rain Moderate

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.

Likely frequency

4.5 days / month

Share of days
~14% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~23mm (P95)
Why this matters

Rain disruption risk appears on ~4 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.

Cold Moderate

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.

Likely frequency

3.5 days / month

Share of days
~11% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~0°C (P95)
Why this matters

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)
Rain High impact

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.

Likely frequency

0.9 days / month

Share of days
Upper edge
Up to ~21mm (P95)
Why this matters

Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.

Rain High impact

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.

Likely frequency

0.2 days / month

Share of days
~1% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~45mm (P95)
Why this matters

Very heavy rain is possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.

Rain Moderate

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.

Likely frequency

2.5 days / month

Share of days
~8% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~29mm (P95)
Why this matters

Heavy rain is possible on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.

Cold Moderate

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.

Likely frequency

1.1 days / month

Share of days
Upper edge
Up to ~10°C (P95)
Why this matters

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 Minor

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.

Likely frequency

20.5 days / month

Share of days
~66% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~5°C (P95)
Why this matters

Cold nights are possible on ~20 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.

Humidity Minor

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.

Likely frequency

18.8 days / month

Share of days
~61% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~91% (P95)
Why this matters

High humidity is possible on ~19 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.

Cloud Minor

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.

Likely frequency

14.4 days / month

Share of days
~46% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~99% (P95)
Why this matters

Cloudy skies are possible on ~14 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.

Rain Minor

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.

Likely frequency

13.7 days / month

Share of days
~44% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~18mm (P95)
Why this matters

Measurable rain is possible on ~14 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.

Rain Minor

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.

Likely frequency

11.1 days / month

Share of days
~36% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~20h (P95)
Why this matters

Several rainy hours are possible on ~11 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.

Rain Minor

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.

Likely frequency

8.3 days / month

Share of days
~27% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~22h (P95)
Why this matters

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.

Cloud Minor

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.

Likely frequency

8.2 days / month

Share of days
~26% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~100% (P95)
Why this matters

Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~8 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.

Cold Minor

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.

Likely frequency

6.6 days / month

Share of days
~21% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~10°C (P95)
Why this matters

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.

Wind Minor

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.

Likely frequency

5.4 days / month

Share of days
~17% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~63km/h (P95)
Why this matters

Gusty conditions are possible on ~5 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.

Cloud Minor

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.

Likely frequency

2.8 days / month

Share of days
~9% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~100% (P95)
Why this matters

Overcast skies are possible on ~3 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.

Visibility Minor

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.

Likely frequency

0.6 days / month

Share of days
~2% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~93% (P95)
Why this matters

Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.

Other Minor

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.

Likely frequency

0.6 days / month

Share of days
~2% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~93 (P95)
Why this matters

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.

Cold Minor

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.

Likely frequency

0.5 days / month

Share of days
~2% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~-2°C (P95)
Why this matters

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 Minor

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.

Likely frequency

0.3 days / month

Share of days
~1% of days
Upper edge
Up to ~1.7mm (P95)
Why this matters

Snowfall is possible on ~0 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.

Travel planning FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers to the weather questions you ask the most.

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.

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