Punta Cana weather in January

In January, Punta Cana sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 39 mm of rain across 12 wet days and about 11 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 70% of the time in January, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 54 min at the start of January to 11 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Punta Cana's 2nd-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Punta Cana's year-round climate.

Daytime high
26°
12th warmest
Overnight low
23°
3rd coldest
Rainfall
39 mm
12 wet days
Daylight
11 hours
7:13 AM – 6:13 PM
Cloud cover
34%
2nd clearest
Wind
17 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
4.64 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.8
out of 10

Punta Cana is resort town in La Altagracia Province, Dominican Republic.

Density
210/km²
people per km²
Founded
2006

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 26°C through the month.

A typical January day in Punta Cana reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 23°C overnight — a 3°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 25°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)
12724
22724
32724
42723
52723
62723
72723
82723
92723
102723
112623
122623
132623
142623
152623
162623
172623
182623
192623
202623
212623
222623
232623
242623
252623
262623
272623
282623
292623
302623
312623

How January really feels in Punta Cana

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.

Punta Cana weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 12th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 23°3912116.8
Feb27° / 23°319.811.47.0
Mar27° / 23°369.811.97.1
Apr27° / 24°5111.412.46.5
May28° / 25°10016.612.95.2
Jun29° / 26°7115.213.14.8
Jul29° / 26°9018.2134.6
Aug29° / 26°10518.612.64.4
Sep29° / 26°12118.912.14.2
Oct29° / 25°11720.911.64.3
Nov28° / 25°10317.611.15.3
Dec27° / 24°5313.110.96.4

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 70% of the time in January.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 12%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18614
28614
38614
48713
58713
68713
78614
88713
98713
108713
118713
128713
138812
148812
158812
168812
178911
188911
198911
208911
218911
228911
239010
249010
259010
269010
279010
289010
299010
309010
319010

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Punta Cana gets around 39 mm of rain over 12 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 39% and peaks near 42% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
140
240
341
441
541
641
742
842
942
1042
1141
1241
1341
1440
1540
1639
1739
1838
1938
2038
2137
2237
2336
2436
2536
2635
2736
2836
2936
3036
3136

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 51% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 94% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1043066
2043165
3043264
4043363
5043462
6033562
7033661
8033760
9033859
10033958
11034057
12134155
13134254
14144352
15144451
16144550
17154649
18154748
19154846
20154845
21164945
22165044
23165043
24175042
25175141
26175240
27175339
28175339
29185338
30185338
31185338

Wind in January

Winds average 17 km/h in January, the windiest month of the year.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 17 km/h on the calmest days to 17 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
117light breeze
217light breeze
317light breeze
417light breeze
517light breeze
617light breeze
717light breeze
817light breeze
917light breeze
1017light breeze
1117light breeze
1217light breeze
1317light breeze
1417light breeze
1517light breeze
1617light breeze
1717light breeze
1817light breeze
1917light breeze
2017light breeze
2117light breeze
2217light breeze
2317light breeze
2417light breeze
2517light breeze
2617light breeze
2717light breeze
2817light breeze
2917light breeze
3017light breeze
3117light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 54 min at the start of January to 11 h 12 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 7:10 AM to 7:12 AM, and sunset from 6:04 PM to 6:22 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.97:106:04
210.97:106:04
310.97:106:05
410.97:116:06
510.97:116:06
610.97:116:07
710.97:126:07
810.97:126:08
910.97:126:08
1010.97:126:09
1111.07:126:10
1211.07:136:10
1311.07:136:11
1411.07:136:12
1511.07:136:12
1611.07:136:13
1711.07:136:13
1811.07:136:14
1911.07:136:15
2011.07:136:15
2111.07:136:16
2211.17:136:16
2311.17:136:17
2411.17:136:18
2511.17:136:18
2611.17:136:19
2711.17:136:19
2811.17:136:20
2911.17:136:21
3011.17:126:21
3111.27:126:22

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 4.64 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.39 kWh/m² to a high of 6.59 kWh/m² in June across the year — January's 4.64 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

024151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.4Bright
24.4Bright
34.5Bright
44.5Bright
54.5Bright
64.5Bright
74.5Bright
84.5Bright
94.5Bright
104.5Bright
114.5Bright
124.6Bright
134.6Bright
144.6Bright
154.6Bright
164.6Bright
174.7Bright
184.7Bright
194.7Bright
204.7Bright
214.7Bright
224.8Bright
234.8Bright
244.8Bright
254.8Bright
264.8Bright
274.8Bright
284.9Bright
294.9Bright
304.9Bright
314.9Bright
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Punta Cana

In seasonPeak

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

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

Punta Cana sees seasonal dust haze (July), heaviest in July.

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

Is January a good time to visit Punta Cana?

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

6.8
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
6.7
Beach & pool
4th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Punta Cana in January

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

In January, Punta Cana sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 23°C. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 12 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Punta Cana 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 offshore is warmest in September at about 29°C and coldest in February near 26°C.

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

24°26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb26Warm
Mar26Warm
Apr27Warm
May27Warm
Jun28Warm
Jul28Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov28Tropical
Dec27Warm

UV index in Punta Cana in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 8 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Punta Cana peaks around April 11 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 15 at about 7 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highApr 11UV 12Dec 15UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan8Very high
Feb10Extreme
Mar12Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct10Very high
Nov8Very high
Dec7High

Air quality in Punta Cana 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 Punta Cana is worst in July — around 25 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.8× the cleanest month (December, 5 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1125 µg/m³Dec 235 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan5Good
Feb7Good
Mar7Good
Apr8Good
May15Moderate
Jun25Moderate
Jul25Moderate
Aug21Moderate
Sep16Moderate
Oct15Moderate
Nov7Good
Dec5Good
Location & terrain

Where is Punta Cana?

Punta Cana sits at 18.6°N, 68.4°W, 28 m above sea level, in Dominican Republic. The nearest listed city is Salvaleón de Higüey, 32 km away.

Salvaleón de HigüeyLa RomanaSanta Cruz de El SeiboMichesHato Mayor del ReySan Pedro de MacorisQuisqueyaSanta Barbara De Samana

Topography around Punta Cana

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Punta Cana has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 40 m around an average of 27 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 114 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 683 m.

The land around Punta Cana is covered by trees (40%), grassland (39%) and artificial surfaces (20%) within 3 km, water (39%), trees (30%) and grassland (26%) within 16 km, and water (67%) within 80 km.

3 km
40 m
16 km
114 m
80 km
683 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
January weather nearby: Salvaleón de Higüey 32 km · La Romana 62 km · Santa Cruz de El Seibo 70 km · Miches 81 km · Hato Mayor del Rey 92 km · San Pedro de Macoris 96 km · Quisqueya 106 km · Santa Barbara De Samana 120 km

Dominican Republic travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type A / B / C
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 39% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$11,059
2025
Happiness
6.1 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
45%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
10.9
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
64.6
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 503

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 Punta Cana (18.5818°, -68.4043°, elevation 28 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).