SeasonMapFranz Josef weather in January
New Zealand
January in Franz Josef: nice, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 17 rainy days.
#2 of 12 months in Franz Josef · #553 of 1383 destinations to visit in January · comfort 76/100 (tier B)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Franz Josef in January
Franz Josef's forum is candid that January's warm, long days come with the West Coast's notoriously dramatic weather — brilliant sunshine one minute, monsoon-style downpours the next. Regulars actually rate winter (July/August) as more settled for clear, flyable glacier days, even though January is warmer and busier.
Add your own note from Franz Josef's card on the map.
Franz Josef climate normals — January
| Daytime high | 18°C / 65°F | 😎 nice |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 12°C / 54°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 19°C / 66°F | |
| Sea temperature | 21°C / 70°F | 🌊 fresh |
| Rainfall | 330 mm / 13 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 17 days | |
| Humidity | 84% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 13°C / 55°F | |
| Sunshine | 11 h/day | |
| Daylight | 15 h | |
| Wind | 17 km/h / 10 mph | |
| Snowfall | 0.5 cm / 0.2 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 24 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Franz Josef in January
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Peak crowdsSummer peak in the village, Summer holidays in New Zealand, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Franz Josef's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherFranz Josef's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
What's on in Franz Josef in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Hazard
Highway closures in heavy rain
1 Jan – 31 DecFlood seasonClosuresThere is one road in and one road out, and a big West Coast rain event closes it north or south of the village a few times a year. Check the highway before you commit to a night here. Source ↗
- Hazard
Sandflies at their worst
1 Nov – 31 Mar · usuallyInsect seasonSandflies are here all year and unbearable in the warm months, worst on still overcast days by the river and at the glacier car park. Repellent and covered ankles are not optional. Source ↗
- Holiday
Summer peak in the village
20 Dec – 5 Feb · usuallySchool holidaysCrowdedBook earlyThe village doubles over the New Zealand holidays and the heli-hike slots go weeks ahead. Book the flight for your first morning here, because the second one may be weathered out. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Franz Josef — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Franz Josef?
Franz Josef in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Franz Josef?
- January in Franz Josef: nice, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 17 rainy days. It ranks #2 of 12 months for Franz Josef on SeasonMap's comfort score (76/100).
- What is the weather like in Franz Josef in January?
- In January, Franz Josef averages a daily high of 18.2°C and a low of 12.4°C, with about 329.6 mm of rain over roughly 16.8 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Franz Josef in January?
- Franz Josef has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 24 in January.
Other months in Franz Josef
Compare Franz Josef in January
Warmer or cooler than Franz Josef in January
Similar destinations in Oceania — January
Within 300 km: Lake Tekapo's Lupins along the lake around 15 Nov – 10 Jan, and Christchurch's Bread & Circus buskers festival around 20 Jan – 3 Feb.