SeasonMapKars weather in January
Turkey
January in Kars: freezing, dry, with clean air — one of the weakest months to visit.
#12 of 12 months in Kars · #1242 of 1383 destinations to visit in January · comfort 41/100 (tier F)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Kars in January
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Kars climate normals — January
| Daytime high | 0°C / 32°F | 🥶 freezing |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | -11°C / 12°F | |
| Rainfall | 30 mm / 1.2 in | ☀️ dry |
| Rainy days | 7 days | |
| Humidity | 67% | 💧 humid |
| Dew point | -12°C / 11°F | |
| Sunshine | 7.3 h/day | |
| Daylight | 9.6 h | |
| Wind | 11 km/h / 7 mph | |
| Snowfall | 31.1 cm / 12.2 in | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 37 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Kars 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.
BusySemester (winter) break in Turkey, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Kars'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).
Toughest weatherKars's weather peaks July–September.
January coincides with Deep winter on the plateau.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Kars in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Cildir lake ice season
1 Jan – 28 Feb · usuallyThe lake an hour north freezes hard enough to stand on, and the Golden Horse Crystal Ice Festival runs horse-drawn sleighs, cirit and ice fishing on the ice each February. It is the day trip everyone makes from Kars in deep winter, and it needs a cold January. Source ↗
- Season
Deep winter on the plateau
1 Dec – 15 Mar · usuallyExtreme coldFour months of lying snow on average at 1,800 m, and the town takes it seriously: double doors, stoves going all day, and roads out to Ani and the Georgian border that close without much warning. Source ↗
- Season
Sarikamis ski season
15 Dec – 31 Mar · usuallyBook earlyThe resort in the pine forest an hour southwest is the reason winter flights into Kars fill, and its dry crystal snow is the local boast. School holidays in late January and February are the weeks to avoid or to book early. Source ↗
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 31 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Kars — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Kars?
Kars in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Kars?
- January in Kars: freezing, dry, with clean air — one of the weakest months to visit. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Kars on SeasonMap's comfort score (41/100).
- What is the weather like in Kars in January?
- In January, Kars averages a daily high of -0.2°C and a low of -11.3°C, with about 29.7 mm of rain over roughly 7.2 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Kars in January?
- Kars has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 37 in January.
- Does it snow in Kars in January?
- Kars sees roughly 31.1 cm of snowfall in January.
Other months in Kars
Compare Kars in January
Warmer or cooler than Kars in January
Similar destinations in Western Asia — January
Within 300 km: Tbilisi's Caucasus ski season around 15 Dec – 10 Apr, and Gudauri's Ski season around 10 Dec – 15 Apr.