SeasonMapKatoomba (Blue Mountains) weather in January
Australia
January in Katoomba: warm, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 17 rainy days.
#9 of 12 months in Katoomba · #491 of 1383 destinations to visit in January · comfort 79/100 (tier B)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Katoomba in January
Other months in Katoomba
Katoomba's forum calls November good, reliable spring weather for exploring the Blue Mountains — regulars flag that the altitude keeps it noticeably cooler than Sydney, by as much as 10°C on a given day, so it's worth packing a layer even on a warm-looking Sydney forecast.
Add your own note from Katoomba's card on the map.
Katoomba climate normals — January
| Daytime high | 25°C / 77°F | 🌤 warm |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 14°C / 58°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 26°C / 79°F | |
| Rainfall | 162 mm / 6.4 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 17 days | |
| Humidity | 77% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 13°C / 55°F | |
| Sunshine | 10.1 h/day | |
| Daylight | 14.1 h | |
| Wind | 13 km/h / 8 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 28 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Katoomba 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 crowdsNew South Wales summer holidays, Summer holidays in Australia, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Katoomba'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 weatherKatoomba's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.
What's on in Katoomba in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Hazard
Bushfire season
1 Oct – 1 Mar · usuallySmoke seasonClosuresThe whole town sits inside the national park, so a bad fire week means smoke, closed tracks and, on the worst days, a closed highway. The fire service rates the district daily. Source ↗
- Season
Canyoning season
1 Nov – 31 MarTrail seasonThe slot canyons below the escarpment are swum, not walked, so the guided trips run from November to March. Outside that the water is cold enough to make it a different sport.
- Holiday
New South Wales summer holidays
18 Dec – 27 Jan · usuallySchool holidaysCrowdedSydney drives up for the cool air over the summer break and the lookout car parks fill by mid-morning. The trains from Central are the easier way in on those weekends. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Katoomba — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Katoomba?
Katoomba in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Katoomba?
- January in Katoomba: warm, soaked, with clean air — fine if you can take 17 rainy days. It ranks #9 of 12 months for Katoomba on SeasonMap's comfort score (79/100).
- What is the weather like in Katoomba in January?
- In January, Katoomba averages a daily high of 25.2°C and a low of 14.3°C, with about 161.5 mm of rain over roughly 17.2 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Katoomba in January?
- Katoomba has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 28 in January.
Other months in Katoomba
Compare Katoomba in January
Warmer or cooler than Katoomba in January
Similar destinations in Oceania — January
Within 300 km: Sydney's Sydney Festival on 8–25 Jan, and Canberra's Summernats around 5–12 Jan.