Monthly climate guide
Zurich weather in January
With highs near 3°C (38°F) and lows around -3°C (27°F), January feels cold in Zurich. Rainfall averages about 107 mm (wet) and the sky is often cloudy. Daytime highs are about the same as December and about the same as February.
What stands out in January
- Mornings start cold: the average low is -3°C, and frost is common.
- Just 100 km apart, but Zurich runs about 7°C warmer than Lauterbrunnen this month.
- Expect more cloud than at any other time of year.
- Seasonally, January counts as mid-winter in Zurich.
January is typically Zurich's coolest month.
Avg high
3°C
38°F
Avg low
-3°C
27°F
Rainfall
107 mm
wet
Humidity
89%
relative
Sky
79%
cloud · often cloudy
Zurich weather by month
Show the monthly averages as a table
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rain | Humidity | Cloud cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 3°C / 38°F | -3°C / 27°F | 107 mm | 89% | 79% |
| February | 4°C / 40°F | -3°C / 27°F | 76 mm | 86% | 74% |
| March | 10°C / 50°F | 1°C / 33°F | 73 mm | 82% | 62% |
| April | 14°C / 58°F | 5°C / 40°F | 90 mm | 78% | 64% |
| May | 17°C / 63°F | 8°C / 46°F | 147 mm | 79% | 70% |
| June | 21°C / 70°F | 12°C / 54°F | 154 mm | 79% | 65% |
| July | 23°C / 74°F | 14°C / 58°F | 141 mm | 77% | 58% |
| August | 23°C / 74°F | 14°C / 58°F | 137 mm | 78% | 57% |
| September | 19°C / 67°F | 10°C / 51°F | 103 mm | 81% | 58% |
| October | 15°C / 58°F | 6°C / 43°F | 104 mm | 85% | 68% |
| November | 9°C / 48°F | 2°C / 35°F | 82 mm | 88% | 75% |
| December | 5°C / 40°F | -1°C / 30°F | 111 mm | 87% | 74% |
What to pack for January
- A proper insulated winter coat
- A hat, scarf and gloves
- Thermal base layers and warm, grippy boots for icy mornings
- A compact umbrella or packable rain jacket
- Water-resistant shoes
Is January a good time to visit Zurich?
Our Zurich guide recommends: May to September for lake swimming and outdoor life, or December for Christmas markets.
Public transport (trains, trams, boats) runs on a single integrated ticket system — a day pass is usually the simplest option for visitors.
Best time to visit Zurich →Other Switzerland cities in January
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Zurich weather in January. WeatherCompare, 2026 (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020 monthly averages). https://weathercompare.eu/weather/switzerland/zurich/january
<a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/switzerland/zurich/january">Zurich weather in January</a> (WeatherCompare)
<iframe src="https://weathercompare.eu/embed/switzerland/zurich" width="300" height="160" style="border:0;border-radius:12px" loading="lazy" title="Zurich weather in January"></iframe> <p style="font-size:12px"><a href="https://weathercompare.eu/weather/switzerland/zurich/january">Zurich weather in January</a> – WeatherCompare</p>
Zurich in January: quick answers
Is January a good time to visit Zurich?
January is cool in Zurich, with highs around 3°C. Better for museums and city walks than the beach, and usually quieter.
How warm is Zurich in January?
Average highs are about 3°C (38°F) and average lows about -3°C (27°F), based on 10 years of daily data.
Does it rain a lot in Zurich in January?
Zurich typically gets around 107 mm of rain in January — wet.
When is the best time to visit Zurich?
May to September for lake swimming and outdoor life, or December for Christmas markets.
Figures are long-term averages for the area around Zurich (NASA POWER / ERA5, 2011–2020), not a forecast for a specific year. For upcoming days, see the live multi-source forecast.