Pyeongchang weather in January

In January, Pyeongchang sees average daytime highs of 0°C and overnight lows near -9°C, with 25 mm of precipitation across 4.6 wet days and about 9.7 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 11th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 0°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 50% of the time in January, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 30 min at the start of January to 10 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Pyeongchang's 2nd-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Pyeongchang's year-round climate.

Daytime high
12th warmest
Overnight low
-9°
1st coldest
Precipitation
25 mm
4.6 wet days
Daylight
9 h 42 min
7:45 AM – 5:26 PM
Cloud cover
45%
2nd clearest
Wind
9 km/h
3rd windiest
Solar energy
2.81 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Temperature in January

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 0°C through the month.

A typical January day in Pyeongchang reaches about 0°C in the afternoon and slips back to -9°C overnight — a 9°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between -5°C and 5°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs about 2°C cooler than December and about 3°C cooler than February.

-20°-10°10°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
11-8
21-8
31-8
41-8
51-9
61-9
70-9
80-9
90-9
100-9
110-9
120-9
130-9
140-9
150-9
160-9
170-9
180-9
190-9
200-9
210-9
220-9
230-9
240-9
250-9
260-9
271-9
281-9
291-9
301-9
311-9

How January really feels in Pyeongchang

Once humidity and wind are folded in, January averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 31 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
31
31 feel bitter (≤ -10°C)

The story in January is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Pyeongchang weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 12th-warmest and 11th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan / -9°254.64.69.70.0
Feb / -6°314.63.610.60.0
Mar / -1°547.9411.71.9
Apr16° / 828.70.912.95.0
May21° / 10°898.70146.6
Jun24° / 15°1209.6014.56.8
Jul26° / 19°24616.6014.35.4
Aug27° / 19°20216013.45.6
Sep23° / 14°1299012.36.7
Oct17° / 555.20116.3
Nov10° / 436.81.1102.3
Dec / -6°235.23.79.50.0

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 50% of the time in January.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 37%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17030
27030
36931
46931
56832
66832
76733
86634
96634
106436
116337
126238
136139
146040
156040
166040
175941
185941
195941
205941
215941
226040
236139
246139
256238
266337
276337
286535
296535
306535
316535

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitationSnow

Pyeongchang gets around 25 mm of rain and snow over 4.6 wet days in January. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable precipitation averages around 14% and peaks near 16% on the wettest days, and about 5 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
11414
21414
31413
41413
51313
61313
71313
81313
91313
101313
111314
121414
131414
141414
151415
161415
171515
181516
191516
201516
211616
221616
231616
241616
251616
261515
271514
281514
291514
301513
311513

Humidity in January

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of January feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, January lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100
29100
30100
31100

Wind in January

Winds average 9 km/h in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 9 km/h on the calmest days to 9 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
19calm
29calm
39calm
49calm
59calm
69calm
79calm
89calm
99calm
109calm
119calm
129calm
139calm
149calm
159calm
169calm
179calm
189calm
199calm
209calm
219calm
229calm
239calm
249calm
259calm
269calm
279calm
289calm
299calm
309calm
319calm

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 30 min at the start of January to 10 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 36 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 7:46 AM to 7:38 AM, and sunset from 5:14 PM to 5:42 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.57:465:14
29.57:465:14
39.57:465:15
49.57:465:16
59.57:465:17
69.57:465:17
79.57:465:18
89.57:465:19
99.67:465:20
109.67:465:21
119.67:465:22
129.67:465:23
139.67:465:24
149.67:455:24
159.77:455:25
169.77:455:26
179.77:455:27
189.77:445:28
199.87:445:29
209.87:445:30
219.87:435:31
229.87:435:32
239.97:425:33
249.97:425:35
259.97:415:36
269.97:415:37
2710.07:405:38
2810.07:405:39
2910.07:395:40
3010.07:385:41
3110.17:385:42

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 2.81 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.45 kWh/m² to a high of 5.83 kWh/m² in May across the year — January's 2.81 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.6Moderate
22.6Moderate
32.6Moderate
42.6Moderate
52.6Moderate
62.6Moderate
72.6Moderate
82.6Moderate
92.7Moderate
102.7Moderate
112.7Moderate
122.7Moderate
132.7Moderate
142.7Moderate
152.7Moderate
162.8Moderate
172.8Moderate
182.8Moderate
192.8Moderate
202.9Moderate
212.9Moderate
222.9Moderate
233.0Moderate
243.0Moderate
253.0Moderate
263.1Moderate
273.1Moderate
283.1Moderate
293.2Moderate
303.2Moderate
313.2Moderate
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Pyeongchang

In seasonPeak

None of Pyeongchang's seasonal hazards are active in January. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Pyeongchang's rainy season runs June–September, when most of the year's rain falls.

Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is January a good time to visit Pyeongchang?

Our two travel scores rate January for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

0.0
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

January is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Pyeongchang.

What to pack for Pyeongchang in January

From January's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In January, Pyeongchang sees daytime highs around 0°C and nights near -9°C. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 5 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

Sea temperature near Pyeongchang in January

The nearest coast averages about 10°C in January — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 70 km away) is warmest in August at about 24°C and coldest in February near 9°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 1 to Oct 7 — about 3.3 months when the water holds above 20°C.

5°10°15°20°25°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan10Bracing
Feb9Bracing
Mar9Bracing
Apr12Bracing
May14Bracing
Jun18Cool
Jul22Refreshing
Aug24Warm
Sep22Refreshing
Oct19Cool
Nov16Cool
Dec13Bracing

UV index in Pyeongchang in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Pyeongchang peaks around August 14 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 22 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateAug 14UV 9Dec 22UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Moderate
Feb3Moderate
Mar5Moderate
Apr6High
May7Very high
Jun8Very high
Jul9Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep8Very high
Oct5High
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Pyeongchang in January

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where January falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Pyeongchang is worst in March — around 57 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 1.8× the cleanest month (August, 31 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecPoorPoorModeratePoorMar 1856 µg/m³Aug 1731 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan48Poor
Feb49Poor
Mar57Unhealthy
Apr51Poor
May46Poor
Jun41Poor
Jul33Moderate
Aug31Moderate
Sep32Moderate
Oct41Poor
Nov46Poor
Dec43Poor
Location & terrain

Where is Pyeongchang?

Pyeongchang sits at 37.4°N, 128.4°E, 0 m above sea level, in South Korea. The nearest listed city is Neietsu, 22 km away.

WŏnjuT’aebaekHongch’ŏnGangneungChungjuYeongjuDonghae City

Topography around Pyeongchang

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Pyeongchang.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Pyeongchang has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 550 m around an average of 386 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,163 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,549 m.

The land around Pyeongchang is covered by trees (64%) and cropland (20%) within 3 km, trees (89%) within 16 km, and trees (83%) within 80 km.

3 km
550 m
16 km
1,163 m
80 km
1,549 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
January weather nearby: Neietsu 22 km · Wŏnju 40 km · T’aebaek 57 km · Hongch’ŏn 57 km · Gangneung 60 km · Chungju 60 km · Yeongju 65 km · Donghae City 66 km

South Korea travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type C / F
220 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 57% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$36,227
2025
Happiness
6.0 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
99%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
0.5
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
8.6
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 522
Religion
none 60%Protestant 17%Buddhist 16%Catholic 6%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Pyeongchang (37.3703°, 128.3931°, elevation 0 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).