Hottest (avg)
#2 / 12
One of the warmer months.
January in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Dunedin.
Wettest (avg)
#2 / 12
Among the wetter months.
Daylight Hours
#2 / 12
Long daylight hours.
Windiest (avg)
#4 / 12
Close to the yearly wind average.
Highest UV
#2 / 12
UV runs high compared with most months.
Most Humid
#8 / 12
Humidity stays close to the yearly norm.
Monthly climate breakdown
A detailed look at the typical climate conditions for January.
Thermal profile
Temperature
Typical daytime high
- Nighttime low
-
- Feels like (avg)
-
Light window
Sunshine
15.3 h
Average daylight
- UV index (max)
- 9
- Typical sun hours
- 06:09 - 21:24
Wet-day pattern
Rain & Snow
Typical rainfall
- Rainy days
- 16 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 70%
- Snowfall
-
Air feel
Humidity & Wind
77%
Average humidity
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Historical daily baseline
Daily climate explorer
Pick a day to inspect the usual conditions through January in Dunedin. Based on a 30-year historical climate baseline, not a forecast.
Primary control
Select a day
Scroll to compare daily conditions. The summary updates with your selection.
Secondary context
Monthly trend
Median daytime highs across the month, with a softer low line.
Median temperatureMedian lowTypical range
Day 15 selected for January. Temperature 17.9°C.
Historical disruption baseline
Typical disruptions in January
Based on 30 years of historical data, these are the disruption patterns most likely to affect plans in January.
Wind High impact
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 21% of days (6.5 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
6.5 days / month
- Share of days
- ~21% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~98km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Strong gusts are possible on ~6 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rain High impact
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 18% of days (5.5 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
5.5 days / month
- Share of days
- ~18% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~25mm (P95)
Why this matters
Rain disruption risk appears on ~6 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cold High impact
Cold feels-like nights Measures: Cold feels-like nights (min <=5C). Observed about 17% of days (5.4 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
5.4 days / month
- Share of days
- ~17% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~5°C (P95)
Why this matters
Cold feels-like nights are possible on ~5 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Rain High impact
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 17% of days (5.3 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
5.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~17% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~25mm (P95)
Why this matters
Washout conditions are possible on ~5 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain High impact
Heavy rain days Measures: Heavy rain days (>=10mm). Observed about 9% of days (2.9 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
2.9 days / month
- Share of days
- ~9% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~31mm (P95)
Why this matters
Heavy rain is possible on ~3 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind High impact
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 5% of days (1.6 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
1.6 days / month
- Share of days
- ~5% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~98km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Stormy conditions are possible on ~2 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Show all disruptions (16 more)
Wind High impact
Severe gusts Measures: Severe gust days (>=80 km/h). Observed about 5% of days (1.5 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
1.5 days / month
- Share of days
- ~5% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~105km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Severe gusts are possible on ~1 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rain High impact
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 1.1 days/month in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
1.1 days / month
- Share of days
- —
- Upper edge
- Up to ~29mm (P95)
Why this matters
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain High impact
Very heavy rain Measures: Very heavy rain days (>=25mm). Observed about 1% of days (0.3 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~46mm (P95)
Why this matters
Very heavy rain is possible on ~0 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind High impact
Wind disruption Measures: Disruptive wind days. Observed about 1% of days (0.3 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~105km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Disruptive wind is possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Visibility Moderate
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 4% of days (1.2 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
1.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~4% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~97% (P95)
Why this matters
Fog-likely conditions are possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Cloud Minor
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 69% of days (21.4 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
21.4 days / month
- Share of days
- ~69% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~100% (P95)
Why this matters
Cloudy skies are possible on ~21 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wind Minor
Gusty days Measures: Gusty days (>=40 km/h). Observed about 62% of days (19.3 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
19.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~62% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~86km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Gusty conditions are possible on ~19 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Rain Minor
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 62% of days (19.3 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
19.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~62% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~18mm (P95)
Why this matters
Measurable rain is possible on ~19 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain Minor
Rainy hours Measures: Rain-hours signal (>=3h rain). Observed about 50% of days (15.4 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
15.4 days / month
- Share of days
- ~50% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~20h (P95)
Why this matters
Several rainy hours are possible on ~15 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cloud Minor
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 40% of days (12.3 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
12.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~40% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~100% (P95)
Why this matters
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~12 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Humidity Minor
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 40% of days (12.3 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
12.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~40% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~92% (P95)
Why this matters
High humidity is possible on ~12 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Rain Minor
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 32% of days (10.0 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
10.0 days / month
- Share of days
- ~32% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~21h (P95)
Why this matters
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~10 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cloud Minor
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 17% of days (5.3 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
5.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~17% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~100% (P95)
Why this matters
Overcast skies are possible on ~5 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wind Minor
Breezy days Measures: Breezy days (mean wind >=25 km/h). Observed about 8% of days (2.5 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
2.5 days / month
- Share of days
- ~8% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~36km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Breezy conditions are possible on ~2 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Other Minor
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data Measures: Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data. Observed about 4% of days (1.2 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
1.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~4% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~97 (P95)
Why this matters
Low visibility proxy: same as fog-likely (RH ≥90% AND cloud ≥95%) — true visibility requires hourly visibility data is possible on ~1 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Wind Minor
Windy days Measures: Windy days (mean wind >=35 km/h). Observed about 1% of days (0.3 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~40km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Strong mean winds are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Travel planning FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the weather questions you ask the most.
Is January a good time to visit Dunedin?
Typical January days in Dunedin reach highs of 18°C (64°F) with nights around 11°C (52°F). It usually feels mild by day and cool after dark. It is among the wetter months, so it is wise to have some indoor backup plans or flexible activities.
What are temperatures like in January?
Daytime temperatures in January typically peak near 18°C (64°F), while nights drop to around 11°C (52°F). Expect mild afternoons and cool evenings.
How much does it rain in January?
Rainfall in January averages 88 mm (3.5 in) across roughly 16 days. Overall it is a very wet time of year, so a light rain jacket and waterproof shoes are very handy.
How many hours of daylight are there in January?
You can expect about 15 hours of daylight in January. Sunrise is typically around 06:09 and sunset near 21:24. Very long days give you plenty of daylight for exploring.
How strong is the sun in January?
UV levels frequently reach very high levels (around 9), so strong sun protection is essential, especially around midday.
Is it windy in January?
In January, average wind speeds are around 14 km/h (9 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 70 km/h (43 mph). On the ground, it is it is a notably windy place, and strong gusts are fairly common.