Tehran (Iran) weather in January
January in Tehran: cold, a little rain, with reliable snow — a good time to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#11 of 12 months in Tehran · #867 of 1413 destinations to visit in January · comfort 64/100 (tier C)
- Days
- 10°C
- Nights
- 0°C
- Wet days
- 7
- Sun
- 8.5 h
- Humidity
- 60%
- Daylight
- 10 h

Traveller notes on Tehran in January
Tehran forum threads describe January as genuinely cold, typically hovering somewhere between -1 and 5C with real possibility of rain or snow, and posters comparing it to a winter in Denver, Colorado - cold, but not as harsh as a European winter further north. A recurring theme across threads: the Alborz mountains ringing the city to the north trap traffic smog in the valley, and posters flagged December and January as when that smog problem is worst. The consistent travel tip was that while Tehran itself runs cold this time of year, heading south to cities like Shiraz delivers noticeably milder weather within the same trip, making a north-to-south winter itinerary a common recommendation.
Other months in Tehran
Regulars are consistent this counts as one of the better months to be in the city specifically, mild and pleasant by day even as the far cooler, wetter north of the country deals with near-daily autumn rain by this point. Our row backs that mild, dry-for-autumn read, 15.8C over 7.9C nights feeling 5C, with just 30.3mm of rain across 6.2 days and a first trace of mountain snow, 5.3cm, visible on the peaks ringing the city rather than falling downtown. Regulars are specific that evenings turn genuinely chilly once the sun goes down, so a real jacket matters even though daytime layers can stay light. This remains within the broader autumn window regulars call the best overall stretch for pairing Tehran with Isfahan, Shiraz and Yazd. The record: humidity 55 percent, 8.6 hours of sun, a 7.8 kph wind and AQI 93.
March here is dominated by Nowruz, which starts about the 21st and empties this city while filling every road, train and hotel in the country. Regulars are specific: book transport a month ahead, expect closures in the first days, and if you can, shift your visit to the second week of the holiday when things reopen and the crowds thin. The weather is still winter's end - 17.3C by day reading as 16C, 7.2C nights that feel like 4C, and 9.7cm in our snow column, most of which belongs to the mountain edge of the city rather than the south. Rain is 57.7mm across 9.9 days. The record: humidity 58 percent, 9.9 hours of sun and AQI 78.
September opens the autumn half of the year travellers here recommend, running to November, and the phrase used for Tehran is hot but not humid. Our columns make that concrete in a way a board cannot: 26 percent humidity and a dew point of 1.9C under a 31.9C afternoon, which is why the feels-like comes in at 30C rather than above the reading. Nights fall to 21.4C. Rain is essentially absent, 5.4mm on a single day. The month starts with the first autumn winds, and the south of the country stays hot well after the capital has turned - so a September itinerary that runs from here to Yazd or Kerman is travelling back into summer. The record: 11.1 hours of sun and AQI 70.
Iran-forum threads on May weather (a woman traveler specifically asking if it runs too hot) land on warm, not brutal: high 20s Celsius by day, breathable cotton and light layers doing the job, with a scarf as a headcover rather than heavy fabric. The recurring practical note for anyone: pack a light layer for air-conditioned buses and cooler evenings even on a hot day, plus sunglasses and sunscreen for the strong daytime sun. Some rain is possible but described as light and occasional, not a planning concern. The record: 29.3C days feeling like 28C, 18.1C nights, just 21mm of rain across 5.4 days, 12.3 hours of sun and humidity a dry 37 percent - properly warm, properly dry, comfortable in the shade.
Add your own note from Tehran's card on the map.
Tehran climate normals — January
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Tehran 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.
Quietschool holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Tehran'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 weatherTehran's best weather comes in April, May and October — separate windows, not one continuous season.
January coincides with Winter inversion smog.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Tehran in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Hazard
Winter inversion smog
15 Nov – 28 Feb · usuallyWinter smogClosuresCold air traps the traffic exhaust against the mountains for days at a time and the government closes schools and offices when it gets bad. It is the worst thing about a Tehran winter. Source ↗
- Season
Ski season above the city
15 Dec – 10 Apr · usuallyDizin, Shemshak and the Tochal gondola from the top of the metro line: real snow, an hour from the centre, and a season that usually runs from December into April.
Where is Tehran?
Tehran in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Tehran?
- January in Tehran: cold, a little rain, with reliable snow — a good time to visit. It ranks #11 of 12 months for Tehran on SeasonMap's comfort score (64/100).
- What is the weather like in Tehran in January?
- In January, Tehran averages a daily high of 9.5°C and a low of 0.3°C, with about 42.9 mm of rain over roughly 6.9 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Tehran in January?
- Tehran has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 99 in January.
- Does it snow in Tehran in January?
- Tehran sees roughly 18.3 cm of snowfall in January.