Berlin in January is a vibe. Honestly, it’s mostly a "stay inside a cozy cafe with a third flat white" kind of vibe. If you’re looking at the berlin germany weather forecast 10 days out, you’re probably seeing a lot of gray icons.
Current conditions are pretty much what you'd expect for mid-January in the German capital. As of right now, it's 38°F outside, but with that southeast wind hitting you, it feels more like 32°F. It’s cloudy. It’s damp. Humidity is sitting at a heavy 95%. Basically, if you step outside, the air feels like a cold, wet blanket.
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The 10-Day Reality Check
Don't let the "mostly cloudy" start fool you. Things are about to get significantly colder. We're moving from a relatively "mild" 43°F today (Friday, January 16) down into a deep freeze by the end of next week.
Here is the breakdown of what is actually happening with the Berlin germany weather forecast 10 days out:
The Gentle Descent (Friday to Sunday)
Friday is the warmest you’re going to get, peaking at 43°F with a low of 33°F. Saturday drops slightly to a high of 40°F. By Sunday, January 18, the clouds finally break. You'll see the sun! But there’s a catch. The temperature drops to 38°F, and the low hits 29°F.
The Blue Sky Freeze (Monday to Wednesday)
This is that classic Berlin winter "trick." Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday (Jan 19-21) are forecasted to be perfectly sunny. It looks beautiful through a window. However, daytime highs will struggle to pass 35°F, and Tuesday night will plummet to 25°F. Wednesday night is even worse, hitting a frigid 21°F.
The Deep Freeze & Snow (Thursday to Sunday)
This is where you need the heavy gear.
- Thursday, Jan 22: Mostly sunny but the high is only 30°F. Low is 19°F.
- Friday, Jan 23: High of 27°F. Low of 16°F.
- Saturday, Jan 24: High of 25°F. This is "don't leave your gloves at home" weather. There’s a 30% chance of snow showers at night.
- Sunday, Jan 25: Light snow is expected during the day. High 26°F, Low 15°F.
Why the "Feels Like" Temperature is the Only One That Matters
In Berlin, the raw number on your phone is a lie. The city is flat and the wind coming off the Spree river or across the Tempelhofer Feld is no joke. Even on a "sunny" 35°F day, an 8 mph wind from the east makes it feel like your face is being lightly sanded.
Humidity also plays a massive role here. Because Berlin is quite humid in the winter (often 80-90%), the cold doesn't just sit on your skin—it seeps into your bones. It’s a "wet cold." You’ll see locals doing what they call the "onion tactic" (Zwiebelprinzip). It’s just layers. Lots of them.
What You Actually Need to Pack
If you’re coming for this 10-day stretch, forget fashion for a second. You need function.
You've got to have thermal base layers. Uniqlo Heattech or basic merino wool from a shop like Decathlon at Alexanderplatz will save your life. Jeans are actually kind of terrible when it’s 25°F because the denim gets cold and stays cold. Wear leggings or thermals underneath them.
Shoes are the biggest mistake travelers make. You don't necessarily need heavy snow boots for the 10% chance of snow we're seeing early on, but you need waterproof soles. Cobblestones are slippery when damp, and they are freezing. A pro tip from Berliners: go to a drugstore like dm or Rossmann and buy "Lammfellsohlen" (lambskin insoles). They cost about 4€ and turn regular boots into heaters.
The Sunlight Factor (Or Lack Thereof)
The UV index for the next ten days is 0 or 1. That is essentially non-existent. The sun sets around 4:25 PM right now, though it’s creeping later by a minute or two every day.
By the time we hit the end of this forecast on January 25, the sun will stay up until 4:39 PM. It’s a small victory, but in the middle of a German winter, we take what we can get.
Survival Tips for the Berlin Chill
- The Museum Strategy: If you’re here during the sunny-but-freezing days (Jan 19-21), do your walking while the sun is up, then duck into a museum like the Pergamon or the Neues Museum once the temp drops at 3 PM.
- Watch for Ice: The German Weather Service (DWD) often issues warnings for "Glätte" (slippery conditions). Even if it hasn't rained, the morning frost on the sidewalks can be lethal.
- Embrace the "Späti" Culture: If you're freezing while walking between bars in Neukölln or Kreuzberg, pop into a Spätkauf (late-night shop). Most have a coffee machine or at least a shielded spot to block the wind for a second.
This 10-day window is a transition. We are moving from the damp, gray "Berliner Winter" into the actual "Freezing Winter."
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your footwear today; if they aren't waterproof, buy a waterproofing spray (Imprägnierspray) at any supermarket.
- Plan your outdoor sightseeing for Monday or Tuesday when the sun is out, but keep it brief—the 12 mph winds will make those 38°F highs feel much lower.
- If you're here on the 24th or 25th, keep an eye on the S-Bahn apps (VBB or BVG), as light snow can sometimes cause minor delays in the overground trains.