Hottest (avg)
#4 / 12
Sits around the middle of the year.
January in context
How it compares to the rest of the year in Johannesburg South.
Wettest (avg)
#2 / 12
Among the wetter months.
Daylight Hours
#2 / 12
Long daylight hours.
Windiest (avg)
#8 / 12
Close to the yearly wind average.
Highest UV
#1 / 12
Peak UV levels for the year.
Most Humid
#1 / 12
The muggiest month of the year.
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
13.6 h
Average daylight
- UV index (max)
- 10
- Typical sun hours
- 05:29 - 19:03
Wet-day pattern
Rain & Snow
Typical rainfall
- Rainy days
- 20 days
- Cloud cover (avg)
- 52%
Air feel
Humidity & Wind
71%
Average humidity
- Wind (avg)
-
- Wind (max gusts)
-
Historical daily baseline
Daily climate explorer
Pick a day to inspect the usual conditions through January in Johannesburg South. 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 24.8°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.
Rain High impact
Rain disruption Measures: Likely rain disruption days. Observed about 27% of days (8.3 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
8.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~27% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~26mm (P95)
Why this matters
Rain disruption risk appears on ~8 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Rain High impact
Washout risk Measures: Washout day risk. Observed about 25% of days (7.6 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
7.6 days / month
- Share of days
- ~25% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~27mm (P95)
Why this matters
Washout conditions are possible on ~8 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 14% of days (4.3 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
4.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~14% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~31mm (P95)
Why this matters
Heavy rain is possible on ~4 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Visibility Minor
Fog-likely signal Measures: Fog-likely visibility proxy. Observed about 3% of days (0.8 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.8 days / month
- Share of days
- ~3% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~96% (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.
Heat Minor
Hot days Measures: Hot days (>=30C). Observed about 2% of days (0.6 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.6 days / month
- Share of days
- ~2% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~36°C (P95)
Why this matters
Hot days are possible on ~1 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Show all disruptions (16 more)
Rain High impact
Washout run Measures: Multi-day washout runs. Observed about 1.8 days/month in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
1.8 days / month
- Share of days
- —
- Upper edge
- Up to ~30mm (P95)
Why this matters
Multi-day washout runs are possible on ~2 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 2% of days (0.6 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.6 days / month
- Share of days
- ~2% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~45mm (P95)
Why this matters
Very heavy rain is possible on ~1 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Wind High impact
Strong gusts Measures: Strong gust days (>=60 km/h). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~70km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Strong gusts are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Wind High impact
Stormy conditions Measures: Storm-impact proxy days. Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~62km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Stormy conditions are possible on ~0 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Heat Moderate
Hot feels-like days Measures: Hot feels-like days (>=32C). 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 ~36°C (P95)
Why this matters
Feels-like heat >=32C is possible on ~0 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Cold Moderate
Cold feels-like nights Measures: Cold feels-like nights (min <=5C). Observed about 1% of days (0.2 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.2 days / month
- Share of days
- ~1% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~4°C (P95)
Why this matters
Cold feels-like nights are possible on ~0 days. Long outdoor blocks become harder to sustain, so layer up and keep a warm indoor fallback nearby.
Rain Minor
Wet days Measures: Wet days (>=0.1mm). Observed about 76% of days (23.7 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
23.7 days / month
- Share of days
- ~76% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~19mm (P95)
Why this matters
Measurable rain is possible on ~24 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 59% of days (18.3 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
18.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~59% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~20h (P95)
Why this matters
Several rainy hours are possible on ~18 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Cloud Minor
Cloudy days Measures: Cloudy days (cloud cover >=60%). Observed about 42% of days (12.9 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
12.9 days / month
- Share of days
- ~42% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~100% (P95)
Why this matters
Cloudy skies are possible on ~13 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
Rain Minor
Wet most of day Measures: Wet-most-of-day signal (>=6h rain). Observed about 38% of days (11.8 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
11.8 days / month
- Share of days
- ~38% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~23h (P95)
Why this matters
Wet-most-of-day conditions are possible on ~12 days. Outdoor plans can become unreliable, so keep an indoor backup and flexibility around start times.
Humidity Minor
High humidity Measures: High humidity days (RH >=80%). Observed about 28% of days (8.7 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
8.7 days / month
- Share of days
- ~28% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~91% (P95)
Why this matters
High humidity is possible on ~9 days. Comfort and pace can drop quickly, so plan shorter outdoor blocks with air-conditioned backup stops.
Cloud Minor
Mostly cloudy days Measures: Mostly cloudy days (cloud cover >=80%). Observed about 24% of days (7.5 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
7.5 days / month
- Share of days
- ~24% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~100% (P95)
Why this matters
Mostly cloudy skies are possible on ~7 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 22% of days (6.7 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
6.7 days / month
- Share of days
- ~22% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~55km/h (P95)
Why this matters
Gusty conditions are possible on ~7 days. Exposed activities and transport links are more likely to be disrupted, so keep sheltered alternatives ready.
Cloud Minor
Overcast days Measures: Overcast days (cloud cover >=95%). Observed about 7% of days (2.3 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
2.3 days / month
- Share of days
- ~7% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~100% (P95)
Why this matters
Overcast skies are possible on ~2 days. Fixed-time outdoor plans are safer with a backup option and flexible timing.
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 3% of days (0.8 days/month) in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.8 days / month
- Share of days
- ~3% of days
- Upper edge
- Up to ~96 (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.
Heat Minor
Heatwave run Measures: Heatwave runs (>=3 hot days). Observed about 0.1 days/month in January. Historical risk signal only, not a day-by-day forecast.
Likely frequency
0.1 days / month
- Share of days
- —
- Upper edge
- Up to ~36°C (P95)
Why this matters
Heatwave runs are possible on ~0 days. Midday activity often needs adjustment around shade, hydration, and indoor fallback options.
Travel planning FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the weather questions you ask the most.
Is January a good time to visit Johannesburg South?
Typical January days in Johannesburg South reach highs of 25°C (77°F) with nights around 14°C (57°F). It usually feels warm 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?
In January, you can usually expect highs of 25°C (77°F) and lows near 14°C (57°F). That means warm days and cool nights, so pack layers you can add or remove.
How much does it rain in January?
Rainfall in January averages 126 mm (5.0 in) across roughly 20 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 14 hours of daylight in January. Sunrise is typically around 05:29 and sunset near 19:03. You get long days with comfortable amounts of daylight.
How strong is the sun in January?
UV levels frequently reach very high levels (around 10), so strong sun protection is essential, especially around midday.
Is it windy in January?
In January, average wind speeds are around 10 km/h (6 mph), with gusts on the windiest days reaching about 44 km/h (27 mph). On the ground, it is it often feels breezy, especially in more exposed spots or along the coast.