Santiago de Cuba weather in January

In January, Santiago de Cuba sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 21°C, with 12 mm of rain across 2.6 wet days and about 10.9 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 12th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 71% of the time in January, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 48 min at the start of January to 11 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Santiago de Cuba's 2nd-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Santiago de Cuba's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
12th warmest
Overnight low
21°
2nd coldest
Rainfall
12 mm
2.6 wet days
Daylight
10 h 54 min
6:45 AM – 5:40 PM
Cloud cover
31%
2nd clearest
Wind
11 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
4.55 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.0
out of 10

Temperature in January

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month.

A typical January day in Santiago de Cuba reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 21°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 26°C and 29°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs on par with December and on par with February.

15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12821
22821
32821
42821
52821
62821
72821
82821
92821
102821
112821
122821
132821
142821
152821
162821
172821
182821
192821
202821
212820
222820
232820
242820
252820
262820
272820
282820
292820
302820
312820

How January really feels in Santiago de Cuba

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.

Santiago de Cuba weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan28° / 21°122.610.98.0
Feb28° / 20°122.711.37.9
Mar28° / 21°285.511.97.1
Apr29° / 22°468.112.46.1
May29° / 23°11415.612.94.8
Jun30° / 24°8013.313.24.4
Jul31° / 24°5612.613.14.3
Aug31° / 25°8214.912.74.0
Sep30° / 24°1152012.13.7
Oct29° / 24°11117.311.54.4
Nov29° / 23°597.811.16.0
Dec28° / 21°223.410.87.4

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 71% of the time in January.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 16% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 13%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18317
28515
38515
48515
58515
68515
78515
88614
98614
108614
118614
128614
138713
148812
158812
168812
178812
188812
198812
208812
218911
228911
238911
248911
258911
269010
279010
289010
299010
309010
319010

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Santiago de Cuba gets around 12 mm of rain over 2.6 wet days in January, the driest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 8% and peaks near 9% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
17
27
38
48
58
68
78
88
99
109
119
129
139
149
159
169
179
189
199
209
219
229
238
248
258
268
278
288
298
308
318

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 67% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 69% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
10517735
20518734
30519733
40519733
50520723
60521722
70521722
81522702
91522702
101522702
111522702
121523692
131523692
141623682
152623672
162623672
172623672
182723662
192724652
202724652
212724652
222825641
231825651
241826641
251827631
261827631
271828621
281829611
291830601
301830601
311830601

Wind in January

Winds average 11 km/h in January, the windiest month of the year.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 11 km/h on the calmest days to 11 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
111calm
211calm
311calm
411calm
511calm
611calm
711calm
811calm
911calm
1011calm
1111calm
1211calm
1311calm
1411calm
1511calm
1611calm
1711calm
1811calm
1911calm
2011calm
2111calm
2211calm
2311calm
2411calm
2511calm
2611calm
2711calm
2811calm
2911calm
3011calm
3111calm

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 48 min at the start of January to 11 h 06 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 6:42 AM to 6:44 AM, and sunset from 5:31 PM to 5:49 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.86:425:31
210.86:435:31
310.86:435:32
410.86:435:32
510.86:435:33
610.86:445:34
710.86:445:34
810.86:445:35
910.96:445:35
1010.96:455:36
1110.96:455:37
1210.96:455:37
1310.96:455:38
1410.96:455:39
1510.96:455:39
1610.96:455:40
1710.96:455:41
1810.96:455:41
1910.96:455:42
2011.06:455:42
2111.06:455:43
2211.06:455:44
2311.06:455:44
2411.06:455:45
2511.06:455:46
2611.06:455:46
2711.06:455:47
2811.06:455:47
2911.16:445:48
3011.16:445:49
3111.16:445:49

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 4.55 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.25 kWh/m² to a high of 6.69 kWh/m² in July across the year — January's 4.55 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

024151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.3Bright
24.3Bright
34.4Bright
44.4Bright
54.4Bright
64.4Bright
74.4Bright
84.4Bright
94.4Bright
104.5Bright
114.5Bright
124.5Bright
134.5Bright
144.5Bright
154.5Bright
164.5Bright
174.5Bright
184.6Bright
194.6Bright
204.6Bright
214.6Bright
224.7Bright
234.7Bright
244.7Bright
254.7Bright
264.7Bright
274.8Bright
284.8Bright
294.8Bright
304.8Bright
314.9Bright
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Santiago de Cuba

In seasonPeak

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

Santiago de Cuba sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

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

Is January a good time to visit Santiago de Cuba?

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

8.0
Sightseeing
1st-best month of the year
8.4
Beach & pool
2nd-best month of the year

January is one of the better times to visit Santiago de Cuba for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Santiago de Cuba in January

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

In January, Santiago de Cuba sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 21°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: sun protection.

light clothessun protection

Sea temperature near Santiago de Cuba 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 17 km away) is warmest in September at about 30°C and coldest in February 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
Apr28Warm
May28Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug30Tropical
Sep30Tropical
Oct30Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec28Warm

UV index in Santiago de Cuba in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 8 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Santiago de Cuba peaks around June 14 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 15 at about 7 (high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highHighJun 14UV 12Dec 15UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan8Very high
Feb10Very high
Mar12Extreme
Apr11Extreme
May12Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct10Very high
Nov7Very high
Dec7High

Air quality in Santiago de Cuba 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 Santiago de Cuba is worst in June — around 25 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.6× the cleanest month (December, 7 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJun 2124 µg/m³Dec 167 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb9Good
Mar10Good
Apr12Good
May15Moderate
Jun25Moderate
Jul23Moderate
Aug19Moderate
Sep15Moderate
Oct12Moderate
Nov8Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Santiago de Cuba?

Santiago de Cuba sits at 20.0°N, 75.8°W, 33 m above sea level, in Cuba. The nearest listed city is San Luis, 19 km away.

GuantánamoCuetoSan GermánJiguaníGuisa

Topography around Santiago de Cuba

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Santiago de Cuba has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 125 m around an average of 29 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 993 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,730 m.

The land around Santiago de Cuba is covered by artificial surfaces (56%) and trees (31%) within 3 km, trees (59%) and water (26%) within 16 km, and trees (47%) and water (32%) within 80 km.

3 km
125 m
16 km
993 m
80 km
1,730 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
January weather nearby: San Luis 19 km · Palma Soriano 28 km · Contramaestre 54 km · Guantánamo 65 km · Cueto 70 km · San Germán 72 km · Jiguaní 74 km · Guisa 79 km

Cuba travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type A / B / C / L
110 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 39% of US
price level, 2011
GDP per capita
$9,605
2020
Happiness
5.4 / 10
World Happiness, 2011
Homicide rate
4.5
per 100k, 2019
Road deaths
8.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 515
Religion
Christian 59%none 23%folk religion 18%

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 Santiago de Cuba (20.0229°, -75.8217°, elevation 33 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).