Nelson weather in January
Temperature, sea and sunshine in January: long-term averages from 30 years of weather data, not a forecast.
Holiday weather in January
Fair
Best time to visit: January – February
What is the weather like in Nelson in January?
In January, Nelson is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 19.1 °C – bracing, so a wetsuit helps for longer swims. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 93 mm in total. All in all, January is a so-so month for a holiday in Nelson.
January compared
How the weather changes from December to February. Tap a month to open it.
| DecemberDec | JanuaryJan | FebruaryFeb | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Score | 28 | 47 | 52 |
| Day | 19° | 21° | 21° |
| Night | 12° | 13° | 14° |
| Sea | 18° | 19° | 20° |
| Sun | 8 h | 8 h | 8 h |
| Rain days | 13 | 10 | 8 |
More details for January
- Daylight
- 14 h 50 min06:10 – 21:00
- UV index
- 9 · very highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 1 daydew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 17 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 55 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 0 days30 °C or more
- Time zone
- UTC+13Pacific/Auckland
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 35 %32 %
- Seaweight 25 %30 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %82 %
- Few rainy daysweight 20 %61 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “Sun, sea & sand”.
What to pack in January
- Wetsuit for longer swims
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Nelson in January: quick answers
Is Nelson hot in January?
No. In January, Nelson is mild: daytime highs average 21 °C and nights drop to about 13 °C.
Can you swim in Nelson in January?
Only if you don't mind cold water: in January the sea averages just 19.1 °C. Comfortable swimming temperatures are not reached at any time of year.
Does it rain much in Nelson in January?
Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 93 mm in total.
Nelson month by month
The whole year in NelsonAll destinations: New ZealandWhere to go in JanuarySea temperature in January
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences