January Weather in Israel - 2026
Snowbirds who are looking to visit the Middle East during the colder winter months can look no further than visiting the stunning State of Israel. Israel sits on the Southeast shore of the Mediterranean Sea which translates to beautiful weather and sea breezes you will be sure to appreciate during your visit. Although Israel is a small country, it packs a punch with it's diverse geographical features. Israel draws tourists year-round not only because of its stunning beauty and numerous attractions, but Israel's thriving tourism industry can also be attributed to the country being recognized as the Holy Land by most religions. Its capital city of Jerusalem sits in the center of the country and draws many pilgrims each year.
The official language spoken in Israel is Hebrew and many nationals also speak Arabic as well. A lot of locals and people living in Israel also speak English. Israel has a rich history and culture with some of the earliest evidence of human migration out of Africa since the Middle Bronze and Iron ages. Israel also has some of the oldest civilizations of the world as archaeologists and historians agree that the kingdom of Israel existed as far back as 900 BCE before being conquered in720 BCE by the Neo-Assyrian Empire.
Generally, January in Israel will be slightly on the colder side, with an average temperature of around 64°F / 18°C. But due to the very dry air, it can feel somewhat uncomfortable for some people. You can expect around 8 rainy days, with on average 1.9 inches / 48 mm of rain during the month of January.

Contents
- 1 January weather in Israel
- 2 January weather in Israel in more detail
- 3 What to do in Israel in January
- 4 Is it humid in Israel in January?
- 5 Is January a good time to go to Israel?
- 6 Does it rain all day in Israel in January?
- 7 Is January the rainiest month in Israel?
- 8 Is January the most sunniest month in Israel?
- 9 More information about Israel
- 10 Weather in Israel in other months
- 11 What to do in Israel for each month
January weather in Israel
To get a good overview of the type of weather you can expect in January in Israel, we will look at the day and night temperature, minimum and maximum water temperature, and if January is comfortable or humidGenerally, January in Israel will be slightly on the colder side. Historical data shows that you can expect an average temperature of around 64°F / 18°C. But due to the very dry air, it can feel somewhat uncomfortable for some people. During the night, it will cool down to around 46°F / 8°C.
Israel has rainy days in January. You can expect around 8 rainy days, with on average 1.9 inches / 48 mm of rain during the whole month.
But remember that rain can be short and heavy for many tropical locations, particularly during the rainy season. It means that the number of days with rain and the amount of rain can be high, but you will still see many lovely days with a short period of heavy rain.



January weather in Israel in more detail
To get a better feeling for the type of weather, you can expect in January in Israel, we will look at the temperature, rain, wind, humidity, water temperature, and sun and clouds- What will the temperature be in Israel in January
Generally, you can expect in January an average temperature of 64°F / 18°C during the day and an average of 46°F / 8°C during the night. In January, during the warmest part of the afternoon, the temperature can often get as high as 77°F / 25°C, and at the end of the night, it can get as low as 37°F / 3°C.
When looking at the whole year, January is the coldest month, with an average temperature of around 64°F / 18°C. July and August are the hottest months, with an average temperature of around 95°F / 35°C. When comparing January with the temperature in the month before and after, this is slightly lower than December, which sees an average maximum temperature of around 69°F / 21°C. And almost equal to February, which sees an average maximum temperature of around 66°F / 19°C.
But average temperatures only tell half of the story. It is also good to check the maximum and minimum temperatures. When looking at the whole year, May and June are the hottest months, with a temperature of around 104°F / 40°C. January is the coldest month, with a temperature of around 77°F / 25°C. When comparing January with the temperature in the month before and after, this is slightly lower than December, which sees an average maximum temperature of around 82°F / 28°C. And slightly less than February, which sees an average maximum temperature of around 84°F / 29°C.
In the following graph, you can see how many cold and hot days you can expect in Israel each month:
- Can you expect rain in January in Israel?
Generally, you can expect about 8 rain days in January, with on average 1.9 inches / 48 mm of rain.
When looking at the whole year, June, July, August and September are the driest months, with an average rainfall of around 0 inches / 0 mm. January is the wettest month, with an average rainfall of around 1.9 inches / 48 mmmm. When comparing January with the month before and after, this is more than December, which sees around 1.7 inches / 42 mm of rain. And slightly more than February, which sees around 1.7 inches / 43 mm of rain
If we look at the number of days with rain, August is the month with the least amount of rain days with around 0 days. January is the month with the most rain days with an average of between 7 and 8 days. When comparing January with the month before and after, this is almost equal to December, which sees an average of between 6 and 7 days of rain. And almost equal to February, which sees an average of between 7 and 8 days of rain
There is one thing that is important to know, in many tropical destinations rain can be short and heavy, particularly during the rainy season. It means that the number of days with rain and the amount of rain can be high, but you will still see many lovely days with a short period of heavy rain.- What will the water temperature be in Israel for January
You can expect in January, the water temperature for Israel to be between 68°F / 20°C and 62°F / 17°C.
To compare the water temperature we will use the maximum water temperature. You can expect this temperature on a more sunny day, close to the shore, when the wind does not mix the relatively warmer and colder water.
August has the highest water temperature, with an average of between 84°F / 29°C and 86°F / 30°C. February has the lowest water temperature, with an average of between 64°F / 18°C and 66°F / 19°C. When comparing the water temperature from January with the month before and after, January has a water temperature almost equal to December, with a water temperature of an average of between 71°F / 22°C and 73°F / 23°C. And almost equal to the water temperature from February, that is an average of between 64°F / 18°C and 66°F / 19°C.
- Can you expect in January a lot of sunny days in Israel
Generally, you can expect around 10 sunny days in January and around 12 partly sunny days. The remaining days will be cloudy.
When looking at the whole year, November is the month with the highest number of sunny days, with an average of between 14 and 15 sunny days. August is the month with the lowest number of sunny days, with around 2 sunny days. When comparing January with the number of sunny days in the month before and after, it is almost equal to December, with an average of between 10 and 11 sunny days. And almost equal to February, with around 8 sunny days
We have looked at the sunny days in Israel. Let's also look at the cloudy or overcast days. January is the month with the highest number of cloudy days, with an average of between 9 and 10 cloudy days. June, July and August And are the months with the lowest number of cloudy days, with around 0 cloudy days. When comparing January with the number of cloudy days in the month before and after, it is almost equal to December, with an average of between 8 and 9 cloudy days. And almost equal to February, with an average of between 7 and 8 cloudy days
- Will it be comfortable in January in Israel?
Generally, January in Israel will have very dry air, and can feel somewhat uncomfortable for some people. But will be fine for most..
We use the humidity and temperature in Israel to calculate the Wintersun Expert Comfort level for each month. The lower the Wintersun Expert Comfort level, the more comfortable it will be. Only for certain people, extremely dry air can feel slightly uncomfortable.
When looking at the whole year, January has the lowest humidity, with a Wintersun Expert comfort level of "comfortable" (very dry air). July has the highest humidity, with a Wintersun Expert comfort level of "slightly uncomfortable" (moderately humid). When comparing January with the month before and after, this is less than December, which has a Wintersun Comfort level of "very comfortable" (low humidty). And almost equal to February, which has a Wintersun Comfort level of "very comfortable" (dry air)
What to do in Israel in January
- The dead sea: One cannot mention Israel without talking about the dead sea. This attracts visitors year-round because of its healing properties as people cover themselves in dead sea mud. It is also world-famous for being the only sea you can float effortlessly in and relax. If you would rather not float, you can enjoy the views and observe the beauty of nature.
- Beaches: Because of its advantageous location, there are tons of stunning beaches along Israel's Mediterranean coast and in Elat at the Red sea. This where snowbirds can gaze at the beautiful waves, sunbathe, or swim.
- Deserts: Israel also has some of the most beautiful deserts in the world where snowbirds can take jeep rides, ride a camel, or witness a flash flood.
- Historical sites: Israel is home to many historical sites that are not only impressive but inspiring as well. Whether you are religious or not, the sites are something to behold and offer insights into events that happened thousands of years ago. Sites like the Old City, Masada, Galilee, the underground cities of Jerusalem, and the Church of the Nativity are just a few must-see sites for all snowbirds.
- Nature reserves: Israel is also home to several nature reserves where snowbirds can observe wildlife indigenous to the region and bask in nature. You can observe the Safari Park Ramat Gan's selection of the Middle East's most extensive group of animals. Bahai Gardens, Timna Park, and Ein Gedi Nature Reserve are among the top parks to see in Israel.
- Museums: Israel has some of the world's leading museums in archaeology and art and in stark contrast, a modern design museum showcasing innovative designs and displays. Winter visitors may also wish to see the holocaust museums, historical exhibits, natural wonders, and living organisms in changing ecosystems displayed in Israel's museums as well.
Is it humid in Israel in January?
A lot of people ask interested in the humidity or relative humidity for Israel in January. But the real question they want to ask is not about humidity but the amount of moisture in the air. Or better, about comfort. Will it be comfortable in January in Israel, or will high humidity make it uncomfortable.To answer this question, we have to look at the dew point. Relative humidity can change a lot in Israel during the day and night, as it changes when the amount of moisture changes and, but also when the temperature changes. It is a lot less reliable for comfort. Where the dew point only varies with the amount of moisture in the air.
Looking at the dew point, we can see that for the month of January, you can expect that Israel will have very dry air, and can feel somewhat uncomfortable for some people. But will be fine for most..
January is the month with the most comfort. It will have very dry air, and can feel somewhat uncomfortable for some people. But will be fine for most.. July is the most uncomfortable month. It will be moderately humid, and can feel slightly uncomfortable for some. In the graph, you can see that there is a significant difference between the most comfortable and most uncomfortable months
Is January a good time to go to Israel?
Trying to answer the question of whether January is a good time to go to Israel is not as easy as it first seems. Some people like colder weather, and others prefer a warmer climate. Some are fine with some humidity, and others are not. If your location has air conditioning, the night temperature is less important.
These are some examples. I will try to answer the question with a more generic person in mind. The more detailed information in this article should be enough to check further if this applies to you as well.
If we look at the average temperature for Israel in January, we can see that it will be on slightly less than what most people like, but still ok for most. In January, you can expect it to be slightly on the colder side, with an average temperature of around 64°F / 18°C. But due to the very dry air, it can feel somewhat uncomfortable for some people. During the night, it will be around 46°F / 8°C.
The number of overcast days is more than 5, but you can still the sun with around 10 sunny days and 12 partly sunny days.
The last aspect we will look at is rain. You can expect around 8 rainy days, with on average 1.9 inches / 48 mm of rain during January. More then 5 days rain per month makes the chance higher you will see some rain during a shorter stay. But a day with rain does not mean a day you can not enjoy.
We have looked at the average day temperature, the night temperature, humidity, the number of overcast days, and the rain. We think that January in Israel is not the most optimal destination. But that doesn't mean it is not a good time for you to go. As said before, each visitor has their own preferences when it comes to the weather.
Does it rain all day in Israel in January?
In Israel, it does not rain all day in January. You can expect around 8 rainy days, with on average 1.9 inches / 48 mm of rain during the month.
Another way of looking at the rain is the number of sunny days. For Israel, there are, on average 10 sunny days and 12 partly sunny days in January. That clearly shows that it is not raining all the time.
And, as for many tropical locations, rain can be short and heavy. This applies particularly during the rainy season. It means that the number of days with rain and the amount of rain can be high, but you will still see many lovely days with a short period of heavy rain.
Is January the rainiest month in Israel?
January is the month with the most rainy days, and it is the month with the most rain.
To answer what the rainiest month is in Israel, we will both look at the month with the most rain, and the month with the highest number of rainy days.
January is the month with the the highest number of rainiest days. On average, you can expect 8 days with rain. August is the month with the lowest number of rainy days, with aproximately 0 days.
January is the month with the most rain. This is not equal as the one with the most rainy days. On average, you can expect 1.9 inches / 48 mm of rain. August is the month with the least amount of rain. This is not the same month as the one with the lowest number of rainy days. You can expect approximately 0 inches / 0 mm of rain.
Is January the most sunniest month in Israel?
January is not the month with the most sunny days, not the month with the most partly sunny days, and it is not the month with the lowest number of overcast days.
To answer what the sunniest month is in Israel, we will of course look at the month with the most sunniest days, but also look at the month with the biggest number of days that are sunny or partly sunny.
November is the month with the highest number of sunny days. On average, you can expect 10 sunny days, and 12 partly suny days. August is the month with the lowest number of sunny days.
July is the month with the highest number of sunny days and partly sunny days combined. While February is the month with the lowest number of sunny days and partly sunny days combined.
The last thing we will look at is the number of overcast days. June, July and August are the months with the lowest number of overcast days. While January is the month with the highest number of overcast days.
More information about Israel
Weather in Israel in other months
- Weather in Israel for February
- Weather in Israel for March
- Weather in Israel for April
- Weather in Israel for May
- Weather in Israel for June
- Weather in Israel for July
- Weather in Israel for August
- Weather in Israel for September
- Weather in Israel for October
- Weather in Israel for November
- Weather in Israel for December
What to do in Israel for each month
- What to do in January in Israel
- What to do in February in Israel
- What to do in March in Israel
- What to do in April in Israel
- What to do in May in Israel
- What to do in June in Israel
- What to do in July in Israel
- What to do in August in Israel
- What to do in September in Israel
- What to do in October in Israel
- What to do in November in Israel
- What to do in December in Israel