Guangzhou Weather in January 2027 and What to Wear
Last checked November 13, 2026 against official sources. How we check
Quick answer
January is Guangzhou's coldest month. The 1991–2020 averages are a high of 18.7°C and a low of 10.6°C, and on about 15 days the night falls to 10°C or lower. Strong cold air can push lows to about 5°C, and buildings have no central heating, so pack a warm jacket and layers.
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Key facts
| Average high / low | 18.7°C / 10.6°C (1991–2020) |
|---|---|
| Rain | 51 mm on 4.9 days with 1 mm or more |
| Cold nights | About 15 days with a low of 10°C or less |
| Coldest night, 1991–2020 | 1.2°C, January 24, 2016 |
| Pack | Sweaters, a warm jacket, warm clothes for indoors, a small umbrella |
How cold is Guangzhou in January?
January is the coldest month of the year. Days are cool and nights are often cold. These are the averages for 1991 to 2020 at the Guangzhou weather station (WMO station 59287):
| January | 1991–2020 |
|---|---|
| Average high | 18.7°C |
| Average low | 10.6°C |
| Daily mean | 13.8°C |
| Rain | 51 mm |
| Days with 1 mm of rain or more | 4.9 |
| Sunshine | 112.9 hours |
| Days with a low of 10°C or less | 14.7 |
| Days with a low below 0°C | 0 |
| Highest temperature | 28.4°C (January 31, 2006) |
| Lowest temperature | 1.2°C (January 24, 2016) |
Source: WMO Climatological Standard Normals 1991 to 2020, Guangzhou station 59287, submitted by China.
For the weather this week, see the Guangzhou weather forecast, which shows today and the next 8 days.
Photo: Beryl Chan · CC0 DetailsThe months ahead
February is a little warmer than January, but wetter and greyer. Use this table to compare months:
| 1991–2020 | November | December | January | February |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high | 25.3°C | 20.7°C | 18.7°C | 20.0°C |
| Average low | 16.7°C | 11.9°C | 10.6°C | 12.5°C |
| Rain | 37 mm | 33 mm | 51 mm | 56 mm |
| Rainy days (1 mm+) | 3.4 | 3.7 | 4.9 | 5.9 |
| Days with a low of 10°C or less | 1.2 | 9.7 | 14.7 | 9.1 |
Source: WMO 1991 to 2020 normals, Guangzhou station 59287. For the whole year, see when to visit Guangzhou.
What happens when cold air arrives?
Cold air from the north reaches Guangzhou in waves. A strong wave brings clear, dry and cold weather for several days, with the coldest early mornings.
China grades cold air by how far the daily low falls within 48 hours (China Meteorological Administration):
| Level | Fall in the daily low within 48 hours |
|---|---|
| Weak cold air (弱冷空气) | Less than 6°C |
| Moderate cold air (中等强度冷空气) | 6°C to under 8°C |
| Fairly strong cold air (较强冷空气) | 8°C or more, low stays above 8°C |
| Strong cold air (强冷空气) | 8°C or more, low falls to 8°C or below |
| Cold wave (寒潮) | 8°C in 24 hours, 10°C in 48 hours or 12°C in 72 hours, and the low falls to 4°C or below |
Recent Januarys in Guangzhou:
- January 3, 2026: Guangzhou had just issued its first orange cold warning of 2026. For that morning, the Guangzhou Observatory forecast lows of 3°C to 5°C in the north of the city (around freezing in the mountains, −2°C to 1°C, with local frost), 5°C to 7°C in the centre and 7°C to 9°C in the south, followed by sunny, dry days (Guangzhou Daily, reprinted on the Guangzhou government portal). An orange signal means lows expected below 5°C, which fits the forecast for the north of the city.
- January 2025: the first yellow cold warning of 2025, reported on January 10. The forecast was a drop of 3°C to 5°C, with the coldest mornings on January 12 and 13: 5°C to 7°C in central Guangzhou and 8°C to 10°C in the south, then a little warmer (Guangzhou Daily, reprinted on the Guangzhou government portal).
- January 24, 2016: the coldest day in the 1991 to 2020 normals, with a low of 1.2°C. An article on the China Meteorological Administration’s website (October 2026) notes that the strong cold wave of January 2016 came during a very strong El Niño, so a mild winter overall does not rule out a severe cold spell.
Guangzhou issues cold warning signals. A yellow signal means the temperature is expected to fall by more than 10°C within 24 hours, or the daily mean to stay below 12°C. An orange signal means lows below 5°C or a daily mean below 10°C (Guangzhou Meteorological Bureau). Warnings appear on the Guangzhou Observatory’s English site, tqyb.com.cn/en.
Is there heating indoors?
No public central heating. China’s heated zone is the north, and the north–south heating line follows the Qinling Mountains and the Longhai railway. Southern cities get through winter with air conditioners and electric heaters (Southern Daily, reprinted by the China Meteorological Administration, 2012).
In January this matters most, because about half the nights fall to 10°C or lower. Check that your room’s air conditioner has a heating mode (制热), and pack warm clothes for indoors.
Photo: HMGiovanniV · CC BY-SA 4.0 DetailsWhat to wear in Guangzhou in January
Dress in warm layers. This list follows from the averages and the cold spells above:
- Daytime: a sweater or fleece over long sleeves. Highs average 19°C.
- Evening: a warm jacket. Lows average 11°C.
- During a cold spell: a padded jacket or coat, a hat, a scarf and gloves for early mornings. Lows can reach about 5°C in the city.
- Indoors: warm sleepwear, socks and a spare layer, because rooms are not centrally heated.
- Rain: a small folding umbrella. January has rain on about 5 days.
- Shoes: closed, warm shoes with grip.
Planning a day indoors? See what to do in Guangzhou when it rains.
What do the official outlooks say about this winter?
These are two official seasonal outlooks and one official’s comment. Outlooks give the odds for a whole season, not a forecast for any day:
- Hong Kong Observatory (assessment as of October 29, 2026), for November 2026 to January 2027 in Hong Kong: normal to above-normal temperature and normal to above-normal rainfall. The Observatory says the El Niño has become a very strong event.
- China’s National Climate Center (November 6, 2026), for December 2026 to February 2027: Guangdong’s winter rainfall is expected to be 50% to 80% above normal. Across most of China, December is expected near normal to slightly cooler, and January and February warmer than normal.
- Guangdong Climate Center (a chief forecaster in a press interview, October 12, 2026, reprinted on the Guangdong Meteorological Service site; not a formal outlook): during El Niño, Guangdong often has a warm winter, but heavy rain, cold waves and strong cold air can still occur.
Guangdong’s own winter outlook was not out when we checked on November 13, 2026. The Hong Kong Observatory’s forecast for December to February is due around December 1, 2026. We will add both here when they are published.
What is on in January?
- New Year’s Day holiday: Friday, January 1 to Sunday, January 3, 2027.
- Before Chinese New Year: the Spring Festival holiday runs from February 5 to 13, 2027, and Sunday, January 31 is a working day.
See China’s public holidays in 2027 and the Guangzhou events calendar.
Traps and how to avoid them
- Avoid Packing for the daytime high, not for nights near 5°C
Afternoons can reach 18°C or more, but strong cold air can bring lows of about 5°C in the city. A light jacket is not enough for those days.
- Avoid Booking a room that cannot be heated
Southern China has no public central heating. Hotels and homes heat with air conditioners and electric heaters, so check that your room's air conditioner has a heating mode.
- Avoid Planning your dates from the seasonal outlook
Seasonal outlooks give odds for a whole season. Check the 8-day forecast a few days before you travel.
FAQ
Is Guangzhou cold in January?
Cool by day and cold at night by southern China's standards. The average high is 18.7°C and the average low 10.6°C. On about 15 days in the month, the night falls to 10°C or lower.
How cold does it get in Guangzhou in winter?
The lowest temperature in the 1991 to 2020 normals was 1.2°C, on January 24, 2016. During the first cold warning of 2026, forecasters expected lows of 5°C to 7°C in central Guangzhou on January 3.
Does it snow in Guangzhou?
Very unlikely. The 1991 to 2020 normals record no January day with a low below 0°C.
What should I wear in Guangzhou in January?
Sweaters and a warm jacket, plus warm clothes for indoors, because rooms are not centrally heated. On a cold-wave day, a padded coat, hat and scarf.
Sources
- WMO Climatological Standard Normals 1991–2020, Guangzhou station 59287 (submitted by China; NOAA NCEI archive 0253808)
- China Meteorological Administration: the five levels of cold air (November 3, 2021, in Chinese)
- Guangzhou Meteorological Bureau on the Guangzhou government portal: cold warning signals and what to do (in Chinese)
- Guangzhou government portal, reprinting Guangzhou Daily: Guangzhou's first orange cold warning of 2026 and the January 3 forecast (January 3, 2026, in Chinese)
- Guangzhou government portal, reprinting Guangzhou Daily: first yellow cold warning of 2025 (January 10, 2025, in Chinese)
- China Meteorological Administration website, reprinting a 科普中国 article: a warm winter and severe cold are not the same thing (October 15, 2026, in Chinese)
- China Meteorological Administration, reprinting Southern Daily: no public heating in the south (March 2, 2012, in Chinese)
- Hong Kong Observatory: seasonal forecast for November 2026 to January 2027 (assessment as of October 29, 2026)
- National Climate Center (CMA): 2026/2027 winter climate outlook (November 6, 2026, in Chinese)
- Guangdong Meteorological Service, reprinting New Express: El Niño and the coming winter (October 14, 2026, in Chinese)
- Guangzhou Observatory (Guangzhou Weather): forecasts and warnings in English
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