Snow in Lapland / Saariselkä / January
Snow almost certain. By mid-January there was snow on the ground in Saariselkä in every one of the last 10 winters, typically 60 cm.
Measured at Inari Saariselkä matkailukeskus by the Finnish Meteorological Institute. A solid cover of 20 cm or more was there in every one of the last 10 winters.
How the snow builds up (or melts) during January, over the last 10 winters.
| Date | Any snow | 20+ cm | Typical depth | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 January | 10 of 10 | 10 of 10 | 54 cm | 27–71 cm |
| 15 January | 10 of 10 | 10 of 10 | 60 cm | 29–83 cm |
| 31 January | 10 of 10 | 10 of 10 | 68 cm | 54–83 cm |
Daily temperatures at Inari Saariselkä matkailukeskus over the last ten Januarys.
Tours you can book for your trip. Husky and snowshoe tours need a proper snow cover, so check the numbers above.
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By 15 January there was snow on the ground in Saariselkä in every one of the last 10 winters, typically 60 cm. A solid cover of 20 cm or more was there in 10 of 10.
The average daily high in January is about -9 °C and the average low about -17 °C. The coldest night in the last ten Januarys reached -35 °C.
On 15 January the sun rises around 11:02 and sets around 13:37 in Saariselkä: about 2 h 35 min of daylight.
Yes, January is in the northern lights season, when the nights are long and dark. You need a clear sky and some solar activity, so stay a few nights and get away from town lights.