Ambodifotatra weather in January

In January, Ambodifotatra sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 26°C, with 294 mm of rain across 26.1 wet days and about 12.9 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 3rd-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 18% of the time in January, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 13 hours at the start of January to 12 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Ambodifotatra's 12th-clearest and 10th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Ambodifotatra's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
26°
11th coldest
Rainfall
294 mm
26.1 wet days
Daylight
12 h 54 min
5:23 AM – 6:17 PM
Cloud cover
72%
12th clearest
Wind
14 km/h
10th windiest
Solar energy
5.92 kWh/m²
Travel score
4.0
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 Ambodifotatra reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 26°C overnight — a 2°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.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12725
22725
32726
42726
52726
62726
72726
82726
92726
102826
112826
122826
132826
142826
152826
162826
172826
182826
192826
202826
212826
222826
232826
242826
252826
262826
272826
282826
292826
302826
312826

Ambodifotatra weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 2nd-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan28° / 26°29426.112.94.0
Feb28° / 26°35023.412.64.0
Mar27° / 25°36026.812.14.0
Apr27° / 25°23125.811.64.3
May26° / 24°19324.611.24.8
Jun24° / 22°17625.1114.7
Jul23° / 21°19026.211.14.6
Aug23° / 21°12123.611.45.0
Sep24° / 22°8720.811.95.5
Oct25° / 23°831912.45.9
Nov26° / 24°9017.712.85.7
Dec27° / 25°16823.3134.7

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 18% of the time in January, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 15% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 67%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13367
23367
33169
43169
53070
63070
73070
83070
93169
103169
113268
123268
133268
143367
153367
163367
173367
183367
193367
203466
213466
223466
233466
243565
253565
263565
273565
283565
293664
303565
313565

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Ambodifotatra gets around 294 mm of rain over 26.1 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 85% and peaks near 86% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
185
285
385
485
585
685
785
885
985
1085
1185
1285
1386
1486
1586
1686
1786
1886
1986
2085
2185
2285
2384
2484
2583
2683
2783
2882
2982
3082
3182

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 73% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
117821
217722
317722
417722
517623
607723
707723
807723
907723
1007723
1107723
1217623
1317623
1417524
1517524
1617524
1717425
1817425
1917326
2017227
2117227
2217128
2317029
2416930
2516930
2616930
2716831
2816831
2916831
3016930
3116930

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
115light breeze
215light breeze
315light breeze
415light breeze
515light breeze
615light breeze
715light breeze
815light 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
2514light breeze
2615light breeze
2715light breeze
2815light breeze
2915light breeze
3015light breeze
3115light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 hours at the start of January to 12 h 48 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 12 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 5:14 AM to 5:31 AM, and sunset from 6:14 PM to 6:17 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.05:146:14
213.05:146:14
313.05:156:14
413.05:166:15
513.05:166:15
613.05:176:15
713.05:176:16
813.05:186:16
913.05:186:16
1013.05:196:16
1112.95:206:16
1212.95:206:17
1312.95:216:17
1412.95:216:17
1512.95:226:17
1612.95:236:17
1712.95:236:17
1812.95:246:17
1912.95:246:17
2012.95:256:18
2112.95:256:18
2212.95:266:18
2312.85:276:18
2412.85:276:18
2512.85:286:18
2612.85:286:17
2712.85:296:17
2812.85:296:17
2912.85:306:17
3012.85:306:17
3112.85:316:17

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 5.92 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.54 kWh/m² to a high of 6.48 kWh/m² in November across the year — January's 5.92 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.0Bright
25.9Bright
35.9Bright
45.9Bright
55.9Bright
65.9Bright
75.9Bright
85.9Bright
95.9Bright
105.9Bright
115.9Bright
125.9Bright
135.9Bright
145.9Bright
155.9Bright
165.9Bright
176.0Bright
186.0Bright
196.0Bright
206.0Bright
216.0Bright
226.0Bright
236.0Bright
246.0Bright
256.0Bright
265.9Bright
275.9Bright
285.9Bright
295.9Bright
305.9Bright
315.8Bright
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Ambodifotatra

In seasonPeak

In January, Ambodifotatra sits inside its cyclone and rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Ambodifotatra sits in the South Indian Ocean cyclone belt; the season peaks January–March.

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

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

Is January a good time to visit Ambodifotatra?

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

4.0
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
4.2
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

January is a reasonable time to visit Ambodifotatra for sightseeing.

What to pack for Ambodifotatra in January

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

In January, Ambodifotatra sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 26°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 26 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Ambodifotatra in January

The nearest coast averages about 28°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 February at about 29°C and coldest in August near 24°C.

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

22°24°26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan28Tropical
Feb29Tropical
Mar29Tropical
Apr28Warm
May27Warm
Jun26Warm
Jul24Warm
Aug24Warm
Sep24Warm
Oct25Warm
Nov27Warm
Dec28Warm

UV index in Ambodifotatra in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 15 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Ambodifotatra peaks around February 10 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 20 at about 7 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highExtremeFeb 10UV 15Jun 20UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan15Extreme
Feb15Extreme
Mar14Extreme
Apr11Extreme
May9Very high
Jun7High
Jul8Very high
Aug10Very high
Sep11Extreme
Oct13Extreme
Nov13Extreme
Dec14Extreme

Air quality in Ambodifotatra 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 Ambodifotatra is worst in November — around 27 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.5× the cleanest month (February, 6 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateNov 1625 µg/m³Feb 146 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb6Good
Mar6Good
Apr6Good
May7Good
Jun7Good
Jul7Good
Aug6Good
Sep6Good
Oct11Good
Nov27Moderate
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Ambodifotatra?

Ambodifotatra sits at 17.0°S, 49.9°E, in Madagascar. The nearest listed city is Soanierana Ivongo, 29 km away.

VavateninaMananaraVohibinanyAndilamenaToamasina

Topography around Ambodifotatra

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Ambodifotatra has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 58 m around an average of 7 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 111 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,145 m.

The land around Ambodifotatra is covered by water (64%) and trees (32%) within 3 km, water (86%) within 16 km, and water (55%) and trees (31%) within 80 km.

3 km
58 m
16 km
111 m
80 km
1,145 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
January weather nearby: Soanierana Ivongo 29 km · Fenoarivo Atsinanana 64 km · Ambodimanga II 79 km · Vavatenina 87 km · Mananara 91 km · Vohibinany 96 km · Andilamena 136 km · Toamasina 138 km

Madagascar travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type C / E
220 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 31% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$599
2025
Happiness
4.2 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
22%
of population, 2024
Road deaths
29.2
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Low
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 457
Religion
Church of Jesus Christ in Madagascar/Malagasy Lutheran Church/Anglican Church 34%Roman Catholic 32%none 22%other Christian 8%

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 Ambodifotatra (-16.9833°, 49.85°), 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).