January 2026 brought notably cooler conditions to the province of Utrecht, with temperatures averaging 2.2 degrees Celsius, falling 1.3 degrees below the normal January average of 3.5 degrees. This temperature deficit reflects a colder than typical winter month across the region, though conditions remained variable throughout the period.
Temperature Overview
The month exhibited significant temperature fluctuations. The warmest day occurred on January 17 in Utrecht, reaching 11.0 degrees Celsius, providing a brief respite from winter conditions. In stark contrast, the coldest temperature was recorded in Leusden on January 11, plummeting to minus 9.4 degrees Celsius. This 20-degree spread between the warmest and coldest days demonstrates the dynamic nature of January weather patterns in Utrecht province.
Precipitation Patterns
Rainfall during January totaled 86.3 millimeters on average, slightly exceeding the normal precipitation of 83.4 millimeters by approximately 3 percent. The wettest single day occurred on January 3 in Woerden, with 16.1 millimeters of precipitation recorded. Woerden also registered as the wettest location overall for the month, accumulating 95.6 millimeters of total rainfall, indicating that southern parts of the province experienced above-average moisture.
Sunshine and Notable Observations
Sunshine hours totaled 110.1 hours throughout January, marginally exceeding the normal value of 108.7 hours by 1 percent. This slight surplus suggests that despite the cold temperatures, cloud cover was not excessive, allowing for reasonable daylight conditions typical of early winter in the Netherlands.
The combination of below-normal temperatures, near-normal precipitation, and slightly above-normal sunshine hours created a characteristically cool but relatively dry January for Utrecht province, with the most significant weather event being the cold snap around January 11 and the substantial rainfall event on January 3.