Yekaterinburg weather in January
January in Yekaterinburg: freezing, dry, with clean air — not the time — well below freezing.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#12 of 12 months in Yekaterinburg · #1385 of 1413 destinations to visit in January · comfort 26/100 (tier F)
- Days
- -9°C
- Nights
- -16°C
- Wet days
- 6
- Sun
- 3 h
- Humidity
- 80%
- Daylight
- 8 h

Traveller notes on Yekaterinburg in January
Forum posters discussing January travel through this part of Russia describe conditions as terribly cold, with temperatures easily reaching -30C in a given cold snap, though posters note precipitation itself stays minimal this time of year - one traveler on the Trans-Siberian route specifically reported no rain at all in January, consistent with the deep-winter continental pattern where cold, not wetness, defines the season. Given limited destination-specific detail for Yekaterinburg itself, this note leans on that broader regional pattern for Russia's Ural region in January: bitterly cold, generally dry, with short daylight hours. Posters generally recommend serious cold-weather gear as the non-negotiable preparation for any January visit to this part of Russia.
Other months in Yekaterinburg
Forum posters describe Russia's brief summer (June-July) as bringing normal warm-season temperatures generally in the 20-30C range, a real contrast to the long, very cold winters this Ural-region city is otherwise known for. Posters discussing Russia's broader climate note that summers this far into the Urals and beyond stay noticeably shorter than in European Russia, with the warm window itself lasting only about two months. Given limited detailed trip reports specific to Yekaterinburg's July weather, the general pattern posters describe for Russia's short, genuinely warm summer is the most reliable guide - real summer heat, but a narrow window compared to much of the rest of the year.
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Yekaterinburg climate normals — January
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Yekaterinburg 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.
BusyNew Year holidays, school holidays in 6 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Yekaterinburg'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 weatherYekaterinburg's weather peaks June–August.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Yekaterinburg in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Ice sculpture season
20 Dec – 25 Feb · usuallyIce seasonBlocks cut from the ponds go up as a temporary town in the centre and stay solid until the thaw takes them, which is usually late February. It is lit at night, which is when most of the city is out anyway.
- Holiday
New Year holidays
31 Dec – 8 JanNational holidayClosuresCrowdedThe country takes the first week of January off, and here it is spent at the ice town built on the square by the dam — carved slides, a snow maze and a queue for hot food. A lot of ordinary places are shut all week. Source ↗
- Season
Snow season
Ski seasonAbout 30 cm of snow falls in the month.
from the climate normals
Where is Yekaterinburg?
Yekaterinburg in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Yekaterinburg?
- January in Yekaterinburg: freezing, dry, with clean air — not the time — well below freezing. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Yekaterinburg on SeasonMap's comfort score (26/100).
- What is the weather like in Yekaterinburg in January?
- In January, Yekaterinburg averages a daily high of -8.7°C and a low of -16°C, with about 18.6 mm of rain over roughly 5.8 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Yekaterinburg in January?
- Yekaterinburg has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 32 in January.
- Does it snow in Yekaterinburg in January?
- Yekaterinburg sees roughly 30.1 cm of snowfall in January.