Sokcho weather in January

In January, Sokcho sees average daytime highs of 1°C and overnight lows near -6°C, with 43 mm of precipitation across 6.4 wet days and about 9.6 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 1°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 53% of the time in January, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 24 min at the start of January to 10 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Sokcho's 2nd-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Sokcho's year-round climate.

Daytime high
12th warmest
Overnight low
-6°
1st coldest
Precipitation
43 mm
6.4 wet days
Daylight
9 h 36 min
7:46 AM – 5:23 PM
Cloud cover
43%
2nd clearest
Wind
14 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
2.67 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Sokcho is human settlement.

Density
771/km²
people per km²

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in January

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 1°C through the month.

A typical January day in Sokcho reaches about 1°C in the afternoon and slips back to -6°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between -3°C and 6°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs about 2°C cooler than December and about 2°C cooler than February.

-15°-10°-5°10°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12-5
22-5
32-5
42-5
52-5
62-5
72-5
82-5
92-5
101-5
111-5
121-6
131-6
141-6
151-6
161-6
171-6
181-6
191-6
201-6
211-6
221-6
231-6
241-6
251-6
261-6
271-6
281-6
292-6
302-6
312-6

How January really feels in Sokcho

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.

Sokcho weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 12th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan / -6°436.45.39.60.0
Feb / -4°3964.610.50.0
Mar / 548.24.411.71.4
Apr14° / 738.21134.2
May18° / 12°877.90146.2
Jun22° / 16°949.5014.66.6
Jul25° / 20°20714.1014.46.0
Aug25° / 21°20015.2013.55.9
Sep22° / 17°14910.4012.36.5
Oct17° / 10°717.30.1116.0
Nov10° / 668.31.59.92.6
Dec / -3°395.93.59.40.1

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 53% of the time in January.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 12% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 34%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17327
27228
37228
47129
57030
66931
76931
86733
96634
106535
116535
126436
136337
146238
156238
166238
176238
186238
196337
206337
216337
226436
236535
246535
256535
266634
276634
286634
296634
306634
316535

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitationSnow

Sokcho gets around 43 mm of rain and snow over 6.4 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 20% and peaks near 22% on the wettest days, and about 5 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
11613
21714
31714
41714
51815
61815
71815
81916
92016
102017
112117
122118
132118
142218
152219
162219
172219
182219
192219
202218
212218
222218
232218
242218
252117
262117
272117
282116
292016
302016
312016

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 14 km/h in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 14 km/h on the calmest days to 15 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
115light breeze
215light breeze
315light breeze
415light breeze
515light breeze
615light breeze
715light breeze
814light breeze
914light breeze
1014light breeze
1114light breeze
1214light breeze
1314light breeze
1414light breeze
1514light breeze
1614light breeze
1714light breeze
1814light breeze
1914light breeze
2014light breeze
2114light breeze
2214light breeze
2314light breeze
2414light breeze
2514light breeze
2614light breeze
2714light breeze
2814light breeze
2914light breeze
3014light breeze
3114light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 24 min at the start of January to 10 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 36 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 7:47 AM to 7:39 AM, and sunset from 5:10 PM to 5:39 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.47:475:10
29.47:475:11
39.47:485:12
49.47:485:13
59.47:485:13
69.47:485:14
79.57:485:15
89.57:485:16
99.57:485:17
109.57:485:18
119.57:475:19
129.57:475:20
139.67:475:21
149.67:475:21
159.67:475:22
169.67:465:23
179.67:465:24
189.77:465:25
199.77:455:26
209.77:455:27
219.77:455:29
229.87:445:30
239.87:445:31
249.87:435:32
259.87:435:33
269.97:425:34
279.97:415:35
289.97:415:36
2910.07:405:37
3010.07:395:38
3110.07:395:39

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 2.67 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.34 kWh/m² to a high of 5.8 kWh/m² in May across the year — January's 2.67 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.5Moderate
22.5Moderate
32.5Moderate
42.5Moderate
52.5Moderate
62.5Moderate
72.5Moderate
82.5Moderate
92.5Moderate
102.5Moderate
112.5Moderate
122.6Moderate
132.6Moderate
142.6Moderate
152.6Moderate
162.6Moderate
172.6Moderate
182.7Moderate
192.7Moderate
202.7Moderate
212.8Moderate
222.8Moderate
232.8Moderate
242.8Moderate
252.9Moderate
262.9Moderate
272.9Moderate
283.0Moderate
293.0Moderate
303.0Moderate
313.1Moderate
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Sokcho

In seasonPeak

In January, Sokcho sits inside its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Sokcho sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.

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

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

Is January a good time to visit Sokcho?

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

0.0
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

January is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Sokcho.

What to pack for Sokcho in January

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

In January, Sokcho sees daytime highs around 1°C and nights near -6°C. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 6 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

Sea temperature near Sokcho 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 offshore is warmest in August at about 24°C and coldest in February near 8°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 1 to Oct 5 — about 3.2 months when the water holds above 20°C.

5°10°15°20°25°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan10Bracing
Feb8Bracing
Mar9Bracing
Apr11Bracing
May14Bracing
Jun18Cool
Jul22Refreshing
Aug24Warm
Sep22Refreshing
Oct19Cool
Nov15Cool
Dec12Bracing

UV index in Sokcho 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 Sokcho peaks around August 17 at about 9 (very high) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 20 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 9 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highModerateLowAug 17UV 9Dec 20UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May6High
Jun7Very high
Jul7Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep8Very high
Oct5Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Sokcho 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 Sokcho is worst in March — around 46 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 2.4× the cleanest month (September, 19 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecPoorModerateMar 2046 µg/m³Sep 1120 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan35Poor
Feb38Poor
Mar46Poor
Apr43Poor
May36Poor
Jun29Moderate
Jul23Moderate
Aug21Moderate
Sep19Moderate
Oct26Moderate
Nov31Moderate
Dec30Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Sokcho?

Sokcho sits at 38.2°N, 128.6°E, 20 m above sea level, in South Korea. The nearest listed city is Kosong, 22 km away.

JumunjinYangguGangneungHwacheonChuncheonHongch’ŏnDonghae City

Topography around Sokcho

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Sokcho has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 132 m around an average of 11 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,694 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,646 m.

The land around Sokcho is covered by water (47%) and artificial surfaces (25%) within 3 km, water (50%) and trees (37%) within 16 km, and trees (62%) and water (32%) within 80 km.

3 km
132 m
16 km
1,694 m
80 km
1,646 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
January weather nearby: Kosong 22 km · Jumunjin 41 km · Yanggu 54 km · Gangneung 56 km · Hwacheon 78 km · Chuncheon 84 km · Hongch’ŏn 84 km · Donghae City 86 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 Sokcho (38.207°, 128.5918°, elevation 20 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. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). 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).