Weather in Cape Town in January
January in Cape Town is warm outdoor weather. Days are long enough to be useful. Shade starts to matter at midday.
In South Africa, this is how Cape Town actually wears January, not how a country centroid would. January is high summer in the southern year. Do not pack Cape Town as if it were a northern winter. Compared with February and July, January sits in the middle of Cape Town's year.
- Average temp
- 22°C
17–27°C
- Rainfall
- 10 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- 11.3 h
hours per day
What to expect
Daytime
Warm days in Cape Town in January. A hat starts to earn its keep at midday. Evenings are the comfortable part of the clock.
You can walk at more hours than in the fierce months. Still build in a pause when the sun is high. Nights are easy.
Rain
Rain is not the story in Cape Town in January. Pack for sun. A shower would be news, not a plan.
Do not build the trip around weather windows. Build it around shade if it is hot, and around getting outside if it is not.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What to pack
Sun protection
A layer for cooler evenings
Where to stay in Cape Town
Dates are a starting point for January.
Travel guides for Cape Town
What to read before you book.
Average weather in Cape Town
TemperatureRainfall
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FAQs about Cape Town
Climate averages for Cape Town, 1991–2020.
The best time to visit Cape Town is between November and April, the most comfortable stretch of the year on these averages.
February is the hottest month, with an average around 22°C.
June is the wettest month, with about 97 mm of rain.
No. These are 1991–2020 climate normals from Meteostat, not a live forecast. Actual weather in any given week can differ.
