Western Cape · South Africa
Cape Town in January
In January, Cape Town averages a daytime high of 26 °C and a night-time low of 15 °C, with about 16 mm of rain over the month. By the measure used here it is one of the most comfortable months to visit; they run September to April.
- Average high
- 26 °C
- Average low
- 15 °C
- Rain in the month
- 16 mm
- Daylight on 15 Jan
- 14 h 10 min
- Comfortable month
- Yes
- Places to stay
- 274
When to go
How January compares with the rest of the year in Cape Town
January is tied for the 2nd warmest month in Cape Town by average daytime high; across the year the highs run from 18 °C to 27 °C and the lows from 8 °C to 16 °C. By day, January is 1 °C warmer than December, and February is 1 °C warmer than January.
January brings 16 mm of rain, less than the monthly average of 57 mm (683 mm a year); it is the 11th wettest month.
On 15 January the sun is up for about 14 h 10 min, against 9 h 50 min at the shortest and 14 h 20 min at the longest point of the year (calculated from the latitude, sunrise to sunset).
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26 °C | 15 °C | 16 mm | Yes |
| February | 27 °C | 16 °C | 15 mm | Yes |
| March | 26 °C | 15 °C | 19 mm | Yes |
| April | 23 °C | 13 °C | 52 mm | Yes |
| May | 21 °C | 11 °C | 89 mm | |
| June | 18 °C | 9 °C | 122 mm | |
| July | 18 °C | 8 °C | 124 mm | |
| August | 18 °C | 8 °C | 101 mm | |
| September | 20 °C | 9 °C | 62 mm | Yes |
| October | 22 °C | 11 °C | 32 mm | Yes |
| November | 24 °C | 13 °C | 30 mm | Yes |
| December | 25 °C | 14 °C | 22 mm | Yes |
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
When to go
Is January a good time to visit Cape Town?
Yes, by the measure used here: in January the average high of 26 °C is between 18 °C and 29 °C and the 16 mm of rain is under 80 mm. The comfortable months in Cape Town are September to April.
The measure is about weather for a city stay only; it says nothing about events, school holidays or prices.
Public holidays in South Africa in January
Nationwide public holidays; shops and offices may close on these dates.
When to go
Destinations near Cape Town that are comfortable in January
Within 300 km, nearest first, by the same measure.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Cape Town
This guide lists 274 places to stay in Cape Town, hotels recorded in Wikidata. By straight-line distance from the centre: under 1 km, 37; 1–3 km, 84; 3–10 km, 96; 10 km or more, 57.
Sources: climate from CRU TS v4.10 (Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia; Open Database License), 1991–2020 averages; day length calculated from the latitude; public holidays from the OpenHolidays API (ODbL); places to stay from each operator's own public pages and Wikidata. How this guide is made.