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Marseille in January: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Discover the weather for Marseille in January and if it’s a good time to travel (based on historical data).
Check flight prices to Marseille on Avionero:
January

Weather in Marseille in January 2025

OK Weather
Mild
☀️
Sunny
🌊
Cold water
January could be a good time to visit Marseille, as the weather is generally fine. The average high temperature is around +12°C, and there are typically 10 sunny days in January. However, expect about 10 rainy days, and total monthly rainfall of approximately 57 mm. The weather is changeable so pack for every eventuality. Search flights in one click on Avionero.
Good to know:
  • January is usually the coldest month of the year in Marseille;

Average weather

☀️
+12°C
Avg. max. temperature
-9°C
Min.
+20°C
Max.
57 mm
Total precipitation
75%
Avg. humidity
5 m/s
Avg. wind
10 ☀️
Sunny Days
10 ⛅️
Cloudy
10 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Marseille has OK weather in January.

Average temperature in Marseille in January

Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Marseille for January based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The expected average maximum temperature in January is +12°C with a maximum of +18°C and a minimum of -1°C.

The average maximum temperature goes down 21% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +17°C to +13°C.

Is Marseille warm or cold in January?

Marseille is typically mild in January.

Maximum temperatures go down compared to the previous month from +13°C to +12°C. The minimum temperature also goes down from +5°C to +4°C.

Pack a light jacket as it will be warm in the day and cool in the evenings.

January is the coldest month in Marseille, here is the comparison with other months:

Water temperature in Marseille in January

Water in Marseille in January is Cold. It varies from +12°C to +14°C, with an average of +13°C. Note that the air temperature is lower than the water temperature, averaging around +12°C.

The water temperature in January is one of the coldest of the entire year:

The warmest water temperatures in Marseille are reached in August, when the average sea temperature rises to +23°C. The coldest water temperatures are in February, with an average of +13°C.

Can you swim in Marseille in January?

We would not recommend swimming in Marseille in January, the water is very cold (+13°C on average). Consider swimming only if you are an experienced cold-water swimmer with proper gear.
🦭
Cold
Below +16°C
🏄‍♂️
Fresh
16°C - 21°C
🏊
Comfortable
21°C - 25°C
👙
Warm
25°C - 28°C
🔥
Very warm
+28°C and up
You will need a full-body wetsuit, cap, gloves, a warm change of clothes, and a hot drink ready for after your swim.

Climate in Marseille in January

Marseille weather looks like this, on average, in January and the surrounding months.
DecemberJanuaryFebruary
Avg. temperature
+13°C+12°C+13°C
Min. temperature
-6°C-9°C-9°C
Max. temperature
+20°C+20°C+24°C
Rainfall
62 mm57 mm44 mm
Wind
5 m/s5 m/s5 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+15°C+13°C+13°C
Humidity
76%75%72%
Air pressure
1017 HPa1018 HPa1017 HPa
Sunny days
101010
Cloudy days
9109
Rainy days
12109
Snowy days
010

January weather is still as ok as in December. It’s getting colder in January. From +13°C in the day, the average maximum temperature lowers to +12°C. As January arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 62 mm to 57 mm. It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 76% to 75%. The average wind speed doesn’t change much during January, staying around 5 m/s. The amount of sunny days stay about the same, averaging 10 sunny days during the month.

But maybe it is worth considering traveling in February as the weather gets better.

Wind

Wind speed in Marseille in January based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The average wind speed is 4 m/s getting up to 11 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.

The average wind speed in Marseille is gradually decreasing during January, going from 5 m/s to 4 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during January in Marseille based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Total precipitation in January is about 16 mm, with a 29% chance of rain on a typical day. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 3 mm, which is considered light rain. On average, there are about 9 rainy days during January, so prepare to bring an umbrella.
Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Marseille wettest month is October, where a typical day has a 35% chance of precipitation and 89 mm of rainfall per day. July, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 13% chance of precipitation and 12 mm of rainfall per day.

Snow

Amount of snow in mm during January in Marseille based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The total snow in January is about 0 mm, with a 0% chance of snow on a typical day.

January is one of the snowiest months in Marseille.

Here’s how January is compared with other months in the amount of snow, total mm:

How was the weather last January in Marseille?

This is the weather in Marseille in January 2023:
1 January
☀️
+17°C
2 January
☀️
+18°C
3 January
☀️
+15°C
4 January
☀️
+14°C
5 January
☀️
+17°C
6 January
☁️
+15°C
7 January
🌧️
+15°C
8 January
🌧️
+15°C
9 January
☀️
+13°C
10 January
☀️
+13°C
11 January
☀️
+14°C
12 January
☀️
+15°C
13 January
☀️
+15°C
14 January
☀️
+15°C
15 January
☀️
+14°C
16 January
☀️
+12°C
17 January
☀️
+10°C
18 January
☀️
+10°C
19 January
☀️
+8°C
20 January
☀️
+8°C
21 January
☀️
+9°C
22 January
☀️
+8°C
23 January
☀️
+7°C
24 January
☀️
+12°C
25 January
☀️
+10°C
26 January
☀️
+9°C
27 January
☀️
+9°C
28 January
☁️
+7°C
29 January
☀️
+10°C
30 January
☀️
+9°C
31 January
☀️
+13°C
In January 2023 Marseille had 27 sunny days, 2 cloudy days, and 2 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +12°C, with an absolute maximum of +18°C and a minimum of +7°C. The average humidity was 65%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 35%. The average wind speed was 4 m/s, with a maximum of 19 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in January?

Climate Change over Years

This is how Marseille climate have been changing during last 43 years period.

The climate in Marseille in January has not changed much over the last 43 years.

The average temperature was the lowest in 1980 (+18°C) and the highest in 2022 (+22°C). The driest year was 2017 with only 303 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2019 with 1057 mm.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Marseille in January:

Is January a good time to visit Marseille?

It’s always a good time to visit Marseille, but the weather is changeable in January, so plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities and exploring, and pack for every eventuality.

Can you sunbathe in Marseille in January?

January has mild temperatures in Marseille. Not ideal for sunbathing, but still good for daytime outdoor activities, but plan for cool evenings. Pack a light jacket and shorts!

Can you swim in Marseille in January?

Swimming in Marseille in January is challenging and not recommended for inexperienced swimmers or without proper equipment and preparation.

Is Marseille rainy in January?

Marseille is often rainy in January. You may get a bit damp when outside, so pack an umbrella, and maybe even a raincoat.

Is it sunny in Marseille in January?

The amount of sunny days in Marseille during January varies; prepare for a mix of clouds and sun.

Other cities in France

Check out the weather for other cities in France.

Monthly weather in Marseille

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Marseille, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.

For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.