Launceston weather in January
January in Launceston: warm, a little rain, with clean air — one of the best months to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#2 of 12 months in Launceston · #37 of 1413 destinations to visit in January · comfort 93/100 (tier S)
- Days
- 26°C
- Nights
- 13°C
- Wet days
- 4
- Sun
- 11.8 h
- Humidity
- 69%
- Daylight
- 15 h
Traveller notes on Launceston in January
Forum posters describe January days in Launceston as warm enough for shorts and a t-shirt, cooling to jumper-and-trousers territory by evening - genuinely pleasant on a good day, though Tasmania's weather is repeatedly called a 'surprise' that can shift quickly regardless of season. Wind is a real factor: posters note the 'feels like' temperature can run more than 10 degrees below the official reading even in relatively mild Tasmanian cities, so a windproof and rainproof layer is standard advice alongside summer clothing. January/February is consistently named as Tasmania's prime travel season with the most reliably good weather of the year, though 'reliable' here still means packing for real day-to-day variation rather than assuming a stable forecast.
Other months in Launceston
Forum posters describe July as Launceston's wettest month on average, though Tasmania's weather runs changeable enough that a lucky visit can still land plenty of sunny, clear days. Posters cite overnight temperatures commonly at or near freezing in July, with wind and rain especially pronounced around areas exposed to the mountains. Posters do note a real chance of snow at Cradle Mountain in July - a genuinely different, higher-elevation environment from Launceston itself, which stays well above true snow country. Posters also flag how short winter daylight runs here, with the sun up notably later and down much earlier than during Tasmania's long January evenings. Posters generally rate July as cold, wet and unpredictable for Launceston itself, workable with proper winter layers and realistic expectations, snow reserved for higher ground like Cradle Mountain rather than the city.
Add your own note from Launceston's card on the map.
Launceston climate normals — January
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Launceston 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 crowdsFestivale, Christmas and Boxing Day, Summer holidays in Australia(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Launceston'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).
Best weatherLaunceston's weather peaks January–March, best around February.
January includes Festivale.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Launceston in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Festival
Festivale
25 Jan – 10 Feb · usuallyFood & drink festivalCrowdedThree days of Tasmanian food, wine, beer and cider under the oaks in City Park, with bands on until late. It is the one weekend Launceston behaves like a much bigger town. Source ↗
- Season
The Basin pool opens
1 Dec – 31 Mar · usuallySummer season opensThe free pool at First Basin in Cataract Gorge is staffed and open for the summer only, a fifteen-minute walk from the middle of town. The chairlift and the suspension bridge run either side of it.
- Holiday
Christmas and Boxing Day
24 Dec – 1 JanChristmas & New YearClosuresCrowdedChristmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day are public holidays at the start of the long summer break: many shops, cafes and tours close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day sales fill the shopping centres, and much of the country is away on holiday until late January. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Launceston — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Launceston?
Launceston in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Launceston?
- January in Launceston: warm, a little rain, with clean air — one of the best months to visit. It ranks #2 of 12 months for Launceston on SeasonMap's comfort score (93/100).
- What is the weather like in Launceston in January?
- In January, Launceston averages a daily high of 25.7°C and a low of 13.3°C, with about 47 mm of rain over roughly 3.5 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Launceston in January?
- Launceston has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 17 in January.
Within 300 km: Hobart's Sydney to Hobart finish on 26 Dec – 3 Jan, and Cradle Mountain's Shuttle bus into the park on 1 Jan – 31 Dec.