Placencia weather in January

In January, Placencia sees average daytime highs of 25°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 160 mm of rain across 21 wet days and about 11.1 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 25°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 52% of the time in January, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 hours at the start of January to 11 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Placencia's 4th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Placencia's year-round climate.

Daytime high
25°
12th warmest
Overnight low
24°
1st coldest
Rainfall
160 mm
21 wet days
Daylight
11 h 06 min
6:29 AM – 5:36 PM
Cloud cover
44%
4th clearest
Wind
18 km/h
7th windiest
Solar energy
4.02 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.4
out of 10

Placencia is town in Belize.

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 25°C through the month.

A typical January day in Placencia reaches about 25°C in the afternoon and slips back to 24°C overnight — a 2°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 24°C and 27°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs on par with December and on par with February.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12624
22624
32624
42624
52624
62624
72624
82624
92524
102524
112524
122524
132524
142524
152524
162524
172524
182524
192524
202524
212524
222524
232524
242524
252524
262524
272524
282624
292624
302624
312624

How January really feels in Placencia

Once humidity and wind are folded in, January averages 0 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
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

January sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Placencia weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 12th-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan25° / 24°1602111.15.4
Feb26° / 24°8117.111.45.8
Mar26° / 25°7916.211.96.2
Apr27° / 26°5613.812.46.2
May28° / 27°17020.312.84.8
Jun28° / 27°34326.7133.5
Jul28° / 26°34229.312.93.4
Aug29° / 26°32728.712.63.4
Sep29° / 26°33627.612.13.4
Oct28° / 26°36325.211.64.1
Nov27° / 25°29823.311.24.6
Dec26° / 24°17222.1115.1

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 52% of the time in January.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 21% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 27%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16931
26931
36931
47030
57030
67228
77228
87327
97327
107327
117426
127426
137426
147426
157327
167327
177426
187426
197426
207327
217327
227327
237426
247426
257426
267426
277525
287525
297624
307624
317723

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Placencia gets around 160 mm of rain over 21 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 68% and peaks near 72% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
171
271
371
471
572
672
771
871
970
1070
1169
1269
1368
1468
1567
1667
1766
1866
1965
2065
2165
2265
2365
2465
2565
2665
2765
2866
2966
3066
3166

Humidity in January

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, January lands in the oppressive band about 57% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 86% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
113923622
213923622
313923622
413924612
5131024602
6131025592
7131025601
8131026591
9141127561
10141128551
11041228551
12041229541
13041229541
14041230540
15041230540
16041230540
17041230540
18041230540
19041230540
20041230540
21041230540
22031230550
23031130560
24031130560
25031030570
26031029580
2703929590
2802928601
2902828611
3002827621
3102826631

Wind in January

Winds average 18 km/h in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 18 km/h on the calmest days to 18 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
118light breeze
218light breeze
318light breeze
418light breeze
518light breeze
618light breeze
718light breeze
818light breeze
918light breeze
1018light breeze
1118light breeze
1218light breeze
1318light breeze
1418light breeze
1518light breeze
1618light breeze
1718light breeze
1818light breeze
1918light breeze
2018light breeze
2118light breeze
2218light breeze
2318light breeze
2418light breeze
2518light breeze
2618light breeze
2718light breeze
2818light breeze
2918light breeze
3018light breeze
3118light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 hours at the start of January to 11 h 18 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 18 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 6:26 AM to 6:29 AM, and sunset from 5:28 PM to 5:45 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.06:265:28
211.06:265:28
311.06:265:29
411.06:275:29
511.06:275:30
611.16:275:30
711.16:285:31
811.16:285:32
911.16:285:32
1011.16:285:33
1111.16:285:33
1211.16:295:34
1311.16:295:34
1411.16:295:35
1511.16:295:36
1611.16:295:36
1711.16:295:37
1811.16:305:37
1911.16:305:38
2011.16:305:39
2111.26:305:39
2211.26:305:40
2311.26:305:40
2411.26:305:41
2511.26:305:41
2611.26:305:42
2711.26:305:42
2811.26:295:43
2911.26:295:44
3011.26:295:44
3111.36:295:45

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 4.02 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.88 kWh/m² to a high of 6.38 kWh/m² in April across the year — January's 4.02 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.9Moderate
23.9Moderate
33.9Moderate
43.9Moderate
53.9Moderate
63.9Moderate
73.9Moderate
83.9Moderate
94.0Moderate
104.0Moderate
114.0Moderate
124.0Moderate
134.0Moderate
144.0Bright
154.0Bright
164.0Bright
174.0Bright
184.0Bright
194.1Bright
204.1Bright
214.1Bright
224.1Bright
234.1Bright
244.2Bright
254.2Bright
264.2Bright
274.2Bright
284.3Bright
294.3Bright
304.3Bright
314.3Bright
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Placencia

In seasonPeak

None of Placencia's seasonal hazards are active in January. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Placencia sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

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

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

Is January a good time to visit Placencia?

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

5.4
Sightseeing
4th-best month of the year
5.0
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

January is a reasonable time to visit Placencia for sightseeing.

What to pack for Placencia in January

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

In January, Placencia sees daytime highs around 25°C and nights near 24°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes. About 21 days see rain.

rain gearlight clothes

Sea temperature near Placencia in January

The nearest coast averages about 27°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 16 km away) is warmest in September at about 30°C and coldest in January near 27°C.

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

26°28°30°32°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb27Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr28Tropical
May29Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug30Tropical
Sep30Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov28Tropical
Dec27Warm

UV index in Placencia in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 9 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Placencia peaks around April 10 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 16 at about 8 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highApr 10UV 13Dec 16UV 8
UV index (midday)Level
Jan9Very high
Feb12Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct11Extreme
Nov9Very high
Dec8Very high

Air quality in Placencia 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 Placencia is worst in July — around 29 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 6.4× the cleanest month (December, 5 µg/m³).

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

010203040JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1228 µg/m³Dec 145 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb7Good
Mar9Good
Apr20Moderate
May23Moderate
Jun26Moderate
Jul29Moderate
Aug19Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct9Good
Nov6Good
Dec5Good
Location & terrain

Where is Placencia?

Placencia sits at 16.5°N, 88.4°W, 0 m above sea level, in Belize. The nearest listed city is Hopkins, 40 km away.

HopkinsDangrigaPunta GordaLívingstonOmoaPuerto CortesPuerto BarriosBelmopan

Topography around Placencia

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Placencia has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 9 m around an average of 0 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 37 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,120 m.

The land around Placencia is covered by water (87%) within 3 km, water (64%) and grassland (23%) within 16 km, and water (58%) and trees (35%) within 80 km.

3 km
9 m
16 km
37 m
80 km
1,120 m
treesgrasslandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetlandmangroves
January weather nearby: Hopkins 40 km · Dangriga 53 km · Punta Gorda 66 km · Lívingston 87 km · Omoa 89 km · Puerto Cortes 90 km · Puerto Barrios 91 km · Belmopan 92 km

Belize travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type A / B / G
110 / 220 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 53% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$7,865
2025
Happiness
6.7 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
28.1
per 100k, 2022
Road deaths
22.6
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
Religion
Roman Catholic 40%Protestant 32%none 16%other 11%

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 Placencia (16.5142°, -88.3665°, elevation 0 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).