Australia weather in January
Australia in January averages 30°C (86°F) and 23 mm of rain.
Of the twelve months in Australia, January is the warmest and the third wettest.
- Average temp
- 30°C (86°F)
22–37°C · 72–99°F
- Rainfall
- 23 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- —
What is Australia like in January?
Daytime
Days are hot, often above 32°C.
Rain
Rain is usually light.
Evening
Evenings stay warm.
What should I pack for Australia in January?
High-factor sun cream
With daytime highs around 37°C, burn time is short even in shade.
Sunglasses and a brimmed hat
Midday glare is the part people underpack for, not the heat itself.
Loose cotton or linen
Synthetics stop working once you are sweating through them all day.
A refillable water bottle
Daily highs this warm need roughly double the water a temperate day does.
A layer for the evening
The day swings about 15°C between its low and its high.
Comfortable walking shoes you can rinse
Dry warm weather is walking weather, and dust gets into everything.
January compared with December and February
January in Australia is 2.4°C warmer than December and 10 mm drier than it, which averages 27°C (81°F).
January in Australia is 1.2°C warmer than February and 14 mm drier than it, which averages 29°C (83°F).
Daylight in Australia in January
On 15 January the sun is up for 13 hours 33 minutes in Australia, rising about 05:57 and setting about 19:30 local time.
January ends 24 minutes shorter than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
Travel guides for Australia
What to read before you book.
Australia weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How January compares with the rest of the year
January is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 30°C / 86°F | 23 mm |
| February | 29°C / 83°F | 37 mm |
| March | 25°C / 78°F | 16 mm |
| April | 21°C / 70°F | 13 mm |
| May | 16°C / 61°F | 14 mm |
| June | 12°C / 54°F | 16 mm |
| July | 12°C / 54°F | 15 mm |
| August | 14°C / 58°F | 5 mm |
| September | 20°C / 67°F | 8 mm |
| October | 22°C / 72°F | 20 mm |
| November | 26°C / 78°F | 23 mm |
| December | 27°C / 81°F | 33 mm |
Check another month
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FAQs about Australia in January
January climate averages for Australia, 1991–2020.
Australia averages 30°C (86°F) in January, ranging from about 22°C (72°F) at night to 37°C (99°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Barely. January sees only about 23 mm, so rain is unlikely to affect your plans.
Yes. January averages 30°C (86°F) against 29°C (83°F) in February — 1.2°C warmer.
January is 2.4°C warmer than December, and 10 mm drier.
It is outside the easiest window. The most comfortable stretch here is September to December; January sits outside it, which usually means more heat, more rain, or both — worth it if you would rather have the place to yourself.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what January is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 13 hours 33 minutes of daylight in mid-January, against 13 hours 42 minutes in December and 10 hours 34 minutes in June.
On 15 January, sunrise is about 05:57 and sunset about 19:30 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 24 minutes shorter than it starts.
