Basankusu weather in January

In January, Basankusu sees average daytime highs of 31°C and overnight lows near 22°C, with 66 mm of rain across 11.2 wet days and about 11.9 hours of daylight. It is the 3rd-warmest and 12th-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 16% of the time in January, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 54 min at the start of January to 11 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Basankusu's 1st-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Basankusu's year-round climate.

Daytime high
31°
3rd warmest
Overnight low
22°
4th coldest
Rainfall
66 mm
11.2 wet days
Daylight
11 h 54 min
5:52 AM – 5:48 PM
Cloud cover
68%
1st clearest
Wind
6 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
5.65 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.3
out of 10

Basankusu is city.

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 Basankusu reaches about 31°C in the afternoon and slips back to 22°C overnight — a 9°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 29°C and 33°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs about 1°C warmer than December and on par with February.

20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13022
23122
33122
43122
53122
63122
73122
83122
93122
103122
113122
123122
133122
143122
153122
163122
173122
183122
193122
203122
213122
223122
233122
243122
253122
263122
273122
283122
293122
303122
313122

How January really feels in Basankusu

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.

Basankusu weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 3rd-warmest and 12th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan31° / 22°6611.211.94.3
Feb32° / 23°10013.8123.6
Mar31° / 23°15720.2123.2
Apr31° / 23°15321.6123.3
May30° / 23°12321.312.13.5
Jun30° / 22°10519.412.14.0
Jul29° / 22°13120.812.14.0
Aug29° / 22°18525.1123.5
Sep29° / 22°19025.2123.3
Oct29° / 22°19726.5123.2
Nov29° / 22°16723.411.93.5
Dec30° / 22°8615.211.94.2

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 16% of the time in January, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 65%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13664
23763
33664
43664
53862
63862
73862
83763
93763
103763
113664
123664
133565
143664
153664
163565
173466
183466
193466
203367
213367
223367
233268
243169
253169
263169
273169
283169
293268
303268
313268

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Basankusu gets around 66 mm of rain over 11.2 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 37% and peaks near 42% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
136
236
335
435
534
634
733
833
933
1033
1133
1233
1333
1434
1534
1635
1735
1836
1936
2037
2138
2239
2339
2440
2541
2641
2741
2841
2941
3041
3142

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 75% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 93% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
11312822
21413802
31413802
41514782
51514782
62515762
72616742
82616742
92617732
102617732
113617722
123617722
133717712
143717712
153717712
162617732
172617732
182617732
192617732
202616733
212616733
222616733
232516743
242516743
251516744
261416754
271416754
281416754
291316764
301315774
311315774

Wind in January

Winds average 6 km/h in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 5 km/h on the calmest days to 6 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
15calm
25calm
35calm
46calm
56calm
66calm
76calm
86calm
96calm
106calm
116calm
126calm
136calm
146calm
156calm
166calm
176calm
186calm
196calm
206calm
216calm
226calm
236calm
246calm
256calm
266calm
276calm
286calm
296calm
306calm
316calm

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 54 min at the start of January to 11 h 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 0 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 5:46 AM to 5:56 AM, and sunset from 5:42 PM to 5:53 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.95:465:42
211.95:465:42
311.95:475:43
411.95:475:43
511.95:485:44
611.95:485:44
711.95:495:45
811.95:495:45
911.95:495:45
1011.95:505:46
1111.95:505:46
1211.95:515:47
1311.95:515:47
1411.95:515:47
1511.95:525:48
1611.95:525:48
1711.95:525:49
1811.95:535:49
1911.95:535:49
2011.95:535:50
2111.95:545:50
2211.95:545:50
2311.95:545:51
2411.95:545:51
2511.95:555:51
2611.95:555:51
2711.95:555:52
2811.95:555:52
2911.95:555:52
3011.95:565:52
3111.95:565:53

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 5.65 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.79 kWh/m² to a high of 5.72 kWh/m² in March across the year — January's 5.65 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.5Bright
25.5Bright
35.5Bright
45.5Bright
55.5Bright
65.5Bright
75.6Bright
85.6Bright
95.6Bright
105.6Bright
115.6Bright
125.6Bright
135.6Bright
145.7Bright
155.7Bright
165.7Bright
175.7Bright
185.7Bright
195.7Bright
205.7Bright
215.7Bright
225.7Bright
235.7Bright
245.7Bright
255.7Bright
265.7Bright
275.7Bright
285.7Bright
295.7Bright
305.7Bright
315.7Bright
Planning a trip in January

Is January a good time to visit Basankusu?

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

4.3
Sightseeing
1st-best month of the year
6.3
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Basankusu in January

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

In January, Basankusu sees daytime highs around 31°C and nights near 22°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 11 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

UV index in Basankusu in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Basankusu peaks around April 11 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 23 at about 8 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highExtremeVery highApr 11UV 13Jun 23UV 8
UV index (midday)Level
Jan11Extreme
Feb12Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May10Extreme
Jun8Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug12Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov9Very high
Dec9Very high

Air quality in Basankusu 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 Basankusu is worst in February — around 44 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 4.2× the cleanest month (October, 11 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecPoorModerateGoodModerateFeb 1543 µg/m³Oct 1011 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan33Moderate
Feb44Poor
Mar32Moderate
Apr20Moderate
May15Moderate
Jun22Moderate
Jul25Moderate
Aug19Moderate
Sep11Good
Oct11Good
Nov16Moderate
Dec26Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Basankusu?

Basankusu sits at 1.2°N, 19.8°E, 336 m above sea level, in Democratic Republic of the Congo. The nearest listed city is Binga, 150 km away.

BingaImpfondoBoendeMbandakaLisalaBolengeGemenaBétou

Topography around Basankusu

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Basankusu has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 43 m around an average of 334 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 85 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 146 m.

The land around Basankusu is covered by trees (73%) within 3 km, trees (95%) within 16 km, and trees (97%) within 80 km.

3 km
43 m
16 km
85 m
80 km
146 m
treesshrubsgrasslandartificial surfaceswater
January weather nearby: Binga 150 km · Impfondo 199 km · Boende 206 km · Mbandaka 215 km · Lisala 217 km · Bolenge 222 km · Gemena 226 km · Bétou 249 km

Democratic Republic of the Congo travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 4
Do Not Travel
Power plugs
Type C / E
220 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 42% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$807
2025
Happiness
3.8 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
12%
of population, 2024
Road deaths
34.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Low
World Bank
English
Very low
EF EPI 400

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 Basankusu (1.2209°, 19.8021°, elevation 336 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. 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).