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What is the weather like in Sweden in January?

SMHI normals for January in the south, Stockholm and the far north.

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Short answer

In January the normal mean temperature is about -1 °C in Stockholm, 1 °C in Lund and -11 °C in Kiruna, according to SMHI. Precipitation for the month totals 37 mm in Stockholm, 54 mm in Lund and 35 mm in Kiruna. Sunshine is scarce, with a normal of 44 hours in Stockholm and only 7 hours in Kiruna.

When to travel to Sweden: a month-by-month guide Illustration of a season wheel with snow, a birch leaf, sun and rain around a red Swedish cottage

Why

  1. SMHI's 1991–2020 normal mean temperature for January is -0.9 °C in Stockholm, 0.9 °C in Lund and -11.3 °C at Kiruna airport.
  2. According to SMHI, Luleå airport has a January normal of -8.5 °C, which places it between Stockholm and Kiruna.
  3. SMHI's January normals for Stockholm are 37 mm of precipitation and 44 hours of sunshine, against 35 mm and 7 hours in Kiruna.

Details

January and February are the two coldest months at all three places. Lund and Malmö stay just above freezing on average (0.9 and 1.2 °C), roughly 12 degrees warmer than Kiruna. Precipitation is highest in the south, with 54 mm in Lund and 56 mm in Malmö.

Tip

Dress for the place, not for Sweden as a whole: the January normal differs by about 12 degrees between Lund and Kiruna. Check the SMHI forecast a few days before you leave.

What may differ

These are 30-year averages, and single months can differ a lot. In SMHI's January 2026 table Stockholm averaged -2.1 °C (normal -0.9) and Kiruna -17.2 °C (normal -11.3).

People also ask

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Sources

Information checked on 27 October 2026.

When to travel to Sweden: a month-by-month guide

  • What should I wear in Gothenburg?

    What to wear in Gothenburg depends on the month, because SMHI's normal mean temperature is about 1 °C in January and about 18 °C in July.

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  • What should I wear in Sweden in March?

    In March, wear a warm jacket and scarf, because SMHI's normal mean temperature is about 2 °C in Stockholm and about 3 °C in Gothenburg.

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  • What should I wear in Sweden in November?

    In November, wear a warm coat and scarf, because SMHI's normal mean temperature is about 4 °C in Stockholm and about 5 °C in Gothenburg.

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  • Is it always dark in Sweden in winter (polar night)?

    No, in Stockholm the sun is up from 8:47 am to 2:55 pm in January, and polar night, with no sunrise at all, only occurs in the far north.

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