Malindi weather in January

In January, Malindi sees average daytime highs of 31°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 14 mm of rain across 2.6 wet days and about 12.2 hours of daylight. It is the 3rd-warmest and 11th-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 50% of the time in January, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 12 min at the start of January to 12 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Malindi's 6th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Malindi's year-round climate.

Daytime high
31°
3rd warmest
Overnight low
25°
9th coldest
Rainfall
14 mm
2.6 wet days
Daylight
12 h 12 min
6:24 AM – 6:34 PM
Cloud cover
46%
6th clearest
Wind
14 km/h
8th windiest
Solar energy
6.28 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.5
out of 10

Malindi is city in Kenya.

Founded
1350

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 Malindi reaches about 31°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 6°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 30°C and 32°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)
13125
23125
33125
43125
53125
63125
73125
83125
93125
103125
113125
123125
133125
143125
153125
163125
173125
183125
193125
203125
213125
223125
233125
243125
253125
263125
273125
283125
293125
303125
313125

How January really feels in Malindi

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.

Malindi weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 3rd-warmest and 11th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan31° / 25°142.612.25.5
Feb31° / 25°71.512.15.4
Mar32° / 25°359.9124.3
Apr31° / 26°962211.93.4
May29° / 25°15221.211.94.3
Jun28° / 24°6114.811.85.6
Jul27° / 23°4412.511.86.1
Aug27° / 23°3412.211.96.4
Sep28° / 23°3010.9126.4
Oct29° / 24°6512.612.15.5
Nov30° / 25°6014.912.14.6
Dec31° / 25°4411.412.24.7

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 50% 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 29%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17426
27327
37228
47228
57228
67129
77129
87129
97030
107030
117030
127030
137030
147129
157129
167129
177129
187129
197129
207129
217129
227129
237129
247129
257129
267129
277129
287129
297129
307129
317129

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Malindi gets around 14 mm of rain over 2.6 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 9% and peaks near 14% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
114
213
313
412
512
612
711
811
911
1010
1110
1210
139
149
159
168
178
187
197
207
217
227
236
246
256
266
276
286
296
306
316

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 91% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
108614
208713
308713
408812
518811
618811
718910
818910
91909
101909
111918
121918
131927
141927
151927
160937
170946
180946
190946
200946
210946
220946
230946
240946
250946
260946
270937
280937
290937
300937
310937

Wind in January

Winds average 14 km/h in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 14 km/h on the calmest days to 15 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
114light breeze
214light breeze
314light breeze
414light breeze
514light breeze
614light breeze
714light breeze
814light breeze
914light breeze
1014light breeze
1114light breeze
1214light breeze
1314light breeze
1414light breeze
1514light breeze
1614light breeze
1714light breeze
1814light breeze
1914light breeze
2014light breeze
2114light breeze
2214light breeze
2314light breeze
2414light breeze
2515light breeze
2615light breeze
2715light breeze
2815light breeze
2915light breeze
3015light breeze
3115light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 12 min at the start of January to 12 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 6 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 6:17 AM to 6:29 AM, and sunset from 6:28 PM to 6:37 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.26:176:28
212.26:186:29
312.26:186:29
412.26:196:29
512.26:196:30
612.26:206:30
712.26:206:31
812.26:206:31
912.26:216:31
1012.26:216:32
1112.26:226:32
1212.26:226:33
1312.26:236:33
1412.26:236:33
1512.26:236:34
1612.26:246:34
1712.26:246:34
1812.26:256:34
1912.26:256:35
2012.26:256:35
2112.26:266:35
2212.26:266:35
2312.26:266:36
2412.26:276:36
2512.26:276:36
2612.26:276:36
2712.16:286:36
2812.16:286:37
2912.16:286:37
3012.16:286:37
3112.16:296:37

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 6.28 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.88 kWh/m² to a high of 6.58 kWh/m² in February across the year — January's 6.28 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.2Intense
26.2Intense
36.2Intense
46.2Intense
56.2Intense
66.2Intense
76.2Intense
86.2Intense
96.2Intense
106.2Intense
116.2Intense
126.2Intense
136.2Intense
146.3Intense
156.3Intense
166.3Intense
176.3Intense
186.3Intense
196.3Intense
206.3Intense
216.3Intense
226.3Intense
236.4Intense
246.4Intense
256.4Intense
266.4Intense
276.4Intense
286.4Intense
296.4Intense
306.4Intense
316.4Intense
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Malindi

In seasonPeak

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

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

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

Is January a good time to visit Malindi?

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

5.5
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
8.0
Beach & pool
2nd-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Malindi in January

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

In January, Malindi sees daytime highs around 31°C and nights near 25°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection.

light clothessun protection

Sea temperature near Malindi 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 April at about 29°C and coldest in August near 25°C.

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

24°26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb27Warm
Mar29Tropical
Apr29Tropical
May28Warm
Jun27Warm
Jul26Warm
Aug25Warm
Sep26Warm
Oct27Warm
Nov28Warm
Dec28Tropical

UV index in Malindi 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 Malindi peaks around March 19 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 18 at about 10 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highExtremeMar 19UV 15Jun 18UV 10
UV index (midday)Level
Jan14Extreme
Feb14Extreme
Mar15Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun9Very high
Jul10Extreme
Aug11Extreme
Sep13Extreme
Oct13Extreme
Nov13Extreme
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Malindi 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 Malindi is worst in January — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.8× the cleanest month (October, 9 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateGoodModerateJan 1716 µg/m³Oct 209 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan16Moderate
Feb15Moderate
Mar13Moderate
Apr10Good
May11Good
Jun13Moderate
Jul14Moderate
Aug11Good
Sep10Good
Oct9Good
Nov9Good
Dec14Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Malindi?

Malindi sits at 3.2°S, 40.1°E, 7 m above sea level, in Kenya. The nearest listed city is Watamu, 18 km away.

MtwapaMariakaniJomvuMazerasMombasaMatuga

Topography around Malindi

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Malindi has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 33 m around an average of 12 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 152 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 518 m.

The land around Malindi is covered by water (29%), artificial surfaces (26%) and trees (22%) within 3 km, water (46%) and grassland (22%) within 16 km, and water (39%), shrubs (29%) and trees (22%) within 80 km.

3 km
33 m
16 km
152 m
80 km
518 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetlandmangroves
January weather nearby: Watamu 18 km · Kilifi 55 km · Mtwapa 90 km · Mariakani 101 km · Jomvu 102 km · Mazeras 104 km · Mombasa 106 km · Matuga 122 km

Kenya travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type G
240 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 34% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$2,363
2025
Happiness
4.7 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
4.9
per 100k, 2022
Road deaths
28.3
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Lower middle
World Bank
English
High
EF EPI 593
Religion
Christian 86%Muslim 11%other 2%none 2%

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 Malindi (-3.218°, 40.1169°, elevation 7 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. 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).