Warsaw (Warszawa) weather in January
January in Warsaw: freezing, a little rain, with clean air — one of the weakest months to visit.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#12 of 12 months in Warsaw · #1296 of 1413 destinations to visit in January · comfort 39/100 (tier F)
- Days
- 3°C
- Nights
- -3°C
- Wet days
- 13
- Sun
- 2.5 h
- Humidity
- 85%
- Daylight
- 8 h

Traveller notes on Warsaw in January
Warsaw forum threads describe January as genuinely cold and unpredictable, typically ranging from about -6 to 3C but with posters warning real cold snaps can push it down toward -17C. The month's weather was called less predictable than nearby Prague's - the same week could bring +10C with heavy rain or -10C with heavy snow, or simply grey and foggy with no precipitation at all. A recurring theme across threads: Warsaw does have a winter air-quality problem, generally milder than some other Polish cities but still noticeable especially on still, windless days. The consistent advice was that proper cold-weather clothing makes the city entirely enjoyable regardless of which way a given January week goes.
Other months in Warsaw
Regulars describe a real split between two possible versions of this month - good sunny but cool days on one hand, multi-day stretches of rain when it does turn wet on the other - with a general cooling trend regulars place starting from the second week onward. Our row backs the mild average sitting between those extremes, 21.1C over 10.1C nights feeling 8C, with 57.6mm of rain across 9.6 days and a real 16.1 kph wind that regulars say makes the air feel colder than the number alone suggests. Layers and a proper jacket are the standard advice, with chilly mornings and evenings a near-constant even on an otherwise warm day. The record: humidity 73 percent, 8.3 hours of sun and AQI 47.
May sits inside the window regulars recommend for Poland generally - April through June, alongside September and October - for weather that is not too hot and not too cold, good for long walks through a city turning green. Our row backs the mild read at 20C over 8.3C, with 63.1mm of rain across 10.9 days, more of a passing shower than a soaking, and a trace of snow, 0.2cm, that most years will not see at all this late. The board's own preference sharpens toward the end of the month and into June, when the odds of a genuinely warm, settled stretch improve. The city itself feels noticeably livelier once the outdoor season opens. The record: humidity 65 percent, 11.4 hours of sun, a 16.9 kph wind and AQI 47.
Regulars give July here as usually pleasant at 20 to 25C, occasionally 30C or more, with heatwaves that rarely pass 35C and no real need for air conditioning - though it can turn humid. Our row's 26C over 14.5C is the middle of that. Their more useful point is comparative: July is less stable than August and can rain a good deal, with sunny heat building into afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Our 81.9mm across 13.3 days says rain falls on two days in five. Late July mornings can want a light jacket, so a rainproof layer and something warm are on the list. The record: humidity 68 percent, 11.6 hours of sun inside 16.2 of daylight, and AQI 51.
Warsaw-forum threads on August weather are consistent on one packing point: bring a proper rain jacket with a hood, not an umbrella - the city's August storms hit fast and the rain flies sideways once the wind picks up, and a flipped, shredded umbrella is a recurring complaint. Temperatures run warm, typically 18-28C with 30-plus days entirely possible, and humidity makes the warmer end feel heavier than the number alone suggests. It's also peak season: hotel rates jump 30-40 percent and Old Town gets genuinely busy, though a few posters say the city empties out a little as residents leave for their own holidays. The record: 26.1C days, 14.3C nights, 71mm of rain across nearly eleven days, 10.7 hours of sun and an AQI of 49.
Add your own note from Warsaw's card on the map.
Warsaw climate normals — January
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Warsaw 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 crowdsWOSP charity finale, Christmas lights and markets, school holidays in 7 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Warsaw'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 weatherWarsaw's weather peaks June–August.
January coincides with Winter smog.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Warsaw in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Festival
WOSP charity finale
24–31 Jan · usuallyMajor festivalCrowdedOn one Sunday at the end of January the country fundraises in the street; Warsaw gets the main stage and free concerts, closing with fireworks at eight in the evening. Road closures around the venue. Source ↗
- Hazard
Winter smog
1 Nov – 15 Mar · usuallyCoal and wood heating in the surrounding towns plus a cold, still inversion give the city its worst air between November and March. Bad days come in runs of three or four. Source ↗
- Festival
Christmas lights and markets
25 Nov – 6 Jan · usuallyChristmas & New YearCrowdedThe illuminations run the length of the Krakowskie Przedmiescie from late November to Epiphany, with a market on the Old Town square. Dark by half past three, which does the work. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Warsaw — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Warsaw?
Warsaw in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Warsaw?
- January in Warsaw: freezing, a little rain, with clean air — one of the weakest months to visit. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Warsaw on SeasonMap's comfort score (39/100).
- What is the weather like in Warsaw in January?
- In January, Warsaw averages a daily high of 2.8°C and a low of -3.1°C, with about 47 mm of rain over roughly 12.5 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Warsaw in January?
- Warsaw has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 38 in January.
- Does it snow in Warsaw in January?
- Warsaw sees roughly 14 cm of snowfall in January.
Within 300 km: Kaliningrad's Amber after the storms around 15 Oct – 31 Mar, and Kraków's Christmas market on 27 Nov – 1 Jan.