Armenia sees wetter-than-normal January

Armenia experienced a colder start and wetter conditions than usual in January 2026, according to the country’s Hydrometeorology and Monitoring Center.

The average monthly air temperature was -5.6C, broadly in line with the seasonal norm. The coldest reading came on 3 January in Ashotsk, plunging to -37C, while the warmest was recorded in Kapan on 9 January at 20C.

Rain and snow reached 43.8mm, amounting to 125% of the monthly norm. Heavy snowfall was reported in mountainous regions, including Aragatsotn, Vayots Dzor, Gegharkunik and Shirak.

While most areas warmed above average in the second half of the month, Yerevan and the Ararat Valley saw persistent cold due to stagnant air and fog, with daytime temperatures hovering at -3 to -2C.

By the end of January, snow depth reached 90–102cm at high-altitude stations such as Amberd and Aragats, but was absent in valleys of Syunik and Tavush.

Historical records show Armenia’s warmest January was in 1966 with an average of -0.3C, and the coldest in 1964 at -11.7C. The wettest January came in 2010 with 76.5mm of precipitation, while the driest was in 1999 with just 2.3mm.

Long-term climate assessments indicate that since 1935, Armenia’s average January temperature has risen by 1.8C, while precipitation has declined by about 7%.