If you’re stepping out of a cab onto a wet Parisian street this week, the first thing you’ll notice isn't the Eiffel Tower. It's the humidity. It clings. One minute you’re walking through a light, misty drizzle that feels almost poetic, and the next, a gust of wind from the Seine is trying to turn your umbrella inside out. Honestly, Paris weather this month has been a bit of a moody teenager. We just came off a week that felt more like the Arctic than the City of Light, thanks to Storm Goretti.
Everyone was talking about it. The "polar freeze." We saw actual snow sticking to the Butte Montmartre—a rare sight that had locals digging out vintage sleds and tourists taking blurry photos of a white-capped Sacré-Cœur. But that icy grip has finally loosened.
The Mid-Month Shift: From Ice to "Oceanic Mild"
Right now, we are in a weird transition phase. Météo-France is calling it a "significant warm-up," but don't let that fool you into thinking it's sundress season. We’re basically moving from "freezing your face off" to "mild but damp."
Temperatures this week (January 12–18, 2026) are hovering between $4\text{°C}$ and $12\text{°C}$. That’s a massive jump from the $-4\text{°C}$ we saw during the first week of the month. Experts like the ones over at Sortiraparis are seeing temperature anomalies about $2\text{°C}$ to $4\text{°C}$ above the seasonal norm. It’s weirdly balmy for January.
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You’ve got to be careful with the wind, though. While the heavy 99 mph gusts from Goretti are gone, the breeze is still snappy. The sky is mostly a flat, charcoal gray. If you see a patch of blue, take a picture quickly because it probably won’t last more than twenty minutes.
Why Paris Weather This Month is Breaking the Rules
Usually, January is the month where you just hunker down. It’s historically the coldest time of the year in France. But 2026 is doing its own thing. Meteorologists are tracking a "Scandinavian block"—basically a high-pressure system sitting over Northern Europe that's pushing the nastier Atlantic storms away.
What does that mean for your afternoon at the Louvre?
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- Less rain than usual: While it feels damp, we’re actually projected to have rainfall totals 50% below the norm for the rest of the month.
- Higher daytime peaks: Don’t be surprised if the mercury hits $13\text{°C}$ or $14\text{°C}$ next week.
- The "Grey Ceiling": Even without heavy rain, the cloud cover is dense. You’ll get about two hours of actual "bright" sunshine a day if you’re lucky.
The Fashion Dilemma (And How to Win)
If you look at the locals near the Marais right now, they aren't wearing those massive, puffy sleeping-bag coats as much. The trend for 2026 is all about the "layered transition." Since Paris weather this month is swinging between chilly mornings and mild afternoons, the big "it" item is the faux fur scarf or a heavy wool wrap.
I saw a woman yesterday near Rue de Rivoli wearing a pillbox hat and elbow-length leather gloves. It looked regal, sure, but it was also practical. Leather doesn't soak up the mist like knit gloves do. If your gloves get wet in $6\text{°C}$ weather, your day is basically ruined.
Survival Tips for the Rest of January
You’re going to walk. A lot. Paris is a city built for wandering, but the limestone sidewalks become ice rinks when they’re wet.
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- Forget the cheap umbrellas. The wind tunnels between buildings will snap them in seconds. Buy a sturdy one at a local monoprix or, better yet, wear a hooded water-resistant coat.
- Waterproof your shoes. Suede is the enemy this month. Stick to leather Chelsea boots or treated sneakers.
- The "Museum Move." If the drizzle turns into a downpour, head for the covered passages (Passage des Panoramas is a vibe). They’re heated, dry, and full of weird old stamp shops and bistros.
- Hydrate your skin. The constant flip-flopping between the damp outdoor air and the dry, blasted heat inside the Metro will wreck your face. Bring the heavy-duty lip balm.
What’s Coming Next?
As we head toward the final week of January, the forecast looks stable. No more major storms are on the horizon for now. We’re looking at consistent highs of $9\text{°C}$ to $11\text{°C}$. It’s "walking weather," provided you have a scarf tucked into your collar.
The frost has mostly disappeared, so the morning commute is less of a slip-and-slide. Honestly, it’s a great time to be here if you hate crowds. The cold start to the month scared a lot of people off, leaving the cafes a little quieter and the museum lines a lot shorter.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check the "Vigilance" Map: Before you plan a day trip to Versailles or Normandy, check the Météo-France Vigilance map. They use a color-coded system (Yellow/Orange/Red). If it's orange for wind or ice, stay in the city.
- Book Indoors for Mornings: Since mornings are the chilliest, schedule your museum visits for 10:00 AM and save your walks along the Seine for 2:00 PM when the air is at its "warmest."
- Pack a "Dry Bag": If you’re carrying a camera or a tablet, keep a small waterproof dry bag inside your backpack. The Parisian mist is sneaky and gets into everything.