Rockhampton weather in January

In January, Rockhampton sees average daytime highs of 31°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 99 mm of rain across 11 wet days and about 13.3 hours of daylight. It is the 1st-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 31°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 39% of the time in January, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 24 min at the start of January to 13 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Rockhampton's 11th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Rockhampton's year-round climate.

Daytime high
31°
1st warmest
Overnight low
23°
12th coldest
Rainfall
99 mm
11 wet days
Daylight
13 h 18 min
5:28 AM – 6:46 PM
Cloud cover
53%
11th clearest
Wind
13 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
6.62 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.4
out of 10

Rockhampton is city in Queensland, Australia.

Founded
1858

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in January

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 31°C through the month.

A typical January day in Rockhampton reaches about 31°C in the afternoon and slips back to 23°C overnight — a 9°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 28°C and 35°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs on par with December and on par with February.

20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13123
23123
33123
43123
53123
63123
73123
83123
93123
103123
113123
123123
133123
143123
153123
163123
173123
183123
193123
203123
213123
223123
233123
243123
253123
263123
273123
283123
293123
303123
313123

How January really feels in Rockhampton

Once humidity and wind are folded in, January averages 31 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
31
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in January is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Rockhampton weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 1st-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan31° / 23°991113.34.4
Feb31° / 23°12211.512.84.4
Mar30° / 21°757.212.25.4
Apr28° / 18°374.211.57.0
May26° / 15°293.210.98.1
Jun23° / 12°293.410.68.4
Jul23° / 11°242.610.78.6
Aug24° / 11°222.311.28.8
Sep27° / 14°202.411.98.2
Oct29° / 17°354.712.56.7
Nov30° / 20°506.113.15.6
Dec31° / 22°859.513.44.7

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 39% of the time in January.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 22% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 38%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16337
26337
36337
46238
56238
66238
76238
86238
96238
106238
116238
126337
136337
146337
156337
166337
176337
186337
196337
206238
216238
226238
236238
246139
256139
265941
275941
285842
295842
305743
315743

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Rockhampton gets around 99 mm of rain over 11 wet days in January. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 35% and peaks near 42% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
137
238
338
438
538
637
737
836
936
1035
1134
1234
1333
1432
1532
1631
1731
1831
1931
2032
2132
2233
2334
2435
2536
2637
2738
2839
2940
3041
3142

Humidity in January

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of January feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, January lands in the muggy band about 46% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 87% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
111744353
211644353
311644363
411544363
511545353
611545354
711446354
811446344
911447344
1011448334
1111448334
1211349324
1311349324
1411350324
1511350324
1611350334
1711249334
1811249344
1901248345
2001148355
2101147375
2201047385
2301046395
240945405
250845415
260844426
270844436
280843436
290743446
300742446
310742446

Wind in January

Winds average 13 km/h in January, the windiest month of the year.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 13 km/h on the calmest days to 13 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
113light breeze
213light breeze
313light breeze
413light breeze
513light breeze
613light breeze
713light breeze
813light breeze
913light breeze
1013light breeze
1113light breeze
1213light breeze
1313light breeze
1413light breeze
1513light breeze
1613light breeze
1713light breeze
1813light breeze
1913light breeze
2013light breeze
2113light breeze
2213light breeze
2313light breeze
2413light breeze
2513light breeze
2613light breeze
2713light breeze
2813light breeze
2913light breeze
3013light breeze
3113light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 24 min at the start of January to 13 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 18 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 5:19 AM to 5:39 AM, and sunset from 6:44 PM to 6:44 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.45:196:44
213.45:196:44
313.45:206:44
413.45:206:44
513.45:216:45
613.45:226:45
713.45:226:45
813.45:236:45
913.45:246:45
1013.45:246:46
1113.35:256:46
1213.35:266:46
1313.35:266:46
1413.35:276:46
1513.35:286:46
1613.35:286:46
1713.35:296:46
1813.35:306:46
1913.35:316:46
2013.25:316:46
2113.25:326:46
2213.25:336:46
2313.25:336:46
2413.25:346:45
2513.25:356:45
2613.25:356:45
2713.15:366:45
2813.15:376:45
2913.15:376:44
3013.15:386:44
3113.15:396:44

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 6.62 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.61 kWh/m² to a high of 6.78 kWh/m² in December across the year — January's 6.62 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.8Intense
26.8Intense
36.8Intense
46.8Intense
56.7Intense
66.7Intense
76.7Intense
86.7Intense
96.6Intense
106.6Intense
116.6Intense
126.6Intense
136.6Intense
146.6Intense
156.5Intense
166.5Intense
176.5Intense
186.5Intense
196.5Intense
206.5Intense
216.4Intense
226.4Intense
236.4Intense
246.3Intense
256.3Intense
266.3Intense
276.2Intense
286.2Intense
296.2Intense
306.1Intense
316.1Intense
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Rockhampton

In seasonPeak

In January, Rockhampton sits inside its cyclone and rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Rockhampton sits in the South Indian Ocean cyclone belt; the season peaks January–March.

Rockhampton's rainy season runs December–March, when most of the year's rain falls.

Cyclone
Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is January a good time to visit Rockhampton?

Our two travel scores rate January for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

4.4
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
6.5
Beach & pool
11th-best month of the year

January is a reasonable time to visit Rockhampton for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Rockhampton in January

From January's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In January, Rockhampton sees daytime highs around 31°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 11 days see rain.

light clothessun protectionrain gear

Sea temperature near Rockhampton in January

The nearest coast averages about 28°C in January — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 38 km away) is warmest in February at about 28°C and coldest in July near 20°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

20°25°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan28Warm
Feb28Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr25Warm
May23Refreshing
Jun21Refreshing
Jul20Refreshing
Aug20Refreshing
Sep22Refreshing
Oct24Refreshing
Nov25Warm
Dec27Warm

UV index in Rockhampton in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 14 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Rockhampton peaks around February 11 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 21 at about 6 (high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highHighVery highExtremeFeb 11UV 15Jun 21UV 6
UV index (midday)Level
Jan14Extreme
Feb15Extreme
Mar12Extreme
Apr10Very high
May7High
Jun6High
Jul6High
Aug7Very high
Sep9Very high
Oct12Extreme
Nov12Extreme
Dec13Extreme

Air quality in Rockhampton in January

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where January falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Rockhampton is worst in September — around 20 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.2× the cleanest month (July, 5 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodGoodSep 1518 µg/m³Jul 115 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb6Good
Mar6Good
Apr5Good
May6Good
Jun6Good
Jul5Good
Aug11Good
Sep20Moderate
Oct10Good
Nov13Moderate
Dec11Good
Location & terrain

Where is Rockhampton?

Rockhampton sits at 23.4°S, 150.5°E, 13 m above sea level, in Australia. The nearest listed city is Gladstone, 93 km away.

BundabergMackayHervey BayMaryboroughGympieAirlie BeachNoosa

Topography around Rockhampton

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Rockhampton.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Rockhampton has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 62 m around an average of 13 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 602 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 733 m.

The land around Rockhampton is covered by artificial surfaces (42%), trees (28%) and grassland (22%) within 3 km, grassland (53%) and trees (38%) within 16 km, and trees (45%) and grassland (33%) within 80 km.

3 km
62 m
16 km
602 m
80 km
733 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetlandmangroves
January weather nearby: Gladstone 93 km · Bundaberg 249 km · Mackay 283 km · Hervey Bay 312 km · Maryborough 327 km · Gympie 381 km · Airlie Beach 392 km · Noosa 425 km

Australia travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type I
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 90% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$65,130
2025
Happiness
6.9 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
0.9
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
4.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
none 38%Roman Catholic 20%Protestant 18%other Christian 4%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Rockhampton (-23.3803°, 150.506°, elevation 13 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).