Matola weather in January

In January, Matola sees average daytime highs of 29°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 115 mm of rain across 11.9 wet days and about 13.4 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 29°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 39% of the time in January, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 36 min at the start of January to 13 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Matola's 9th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Matola's year-round climate.

Daytime high
29°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
23°
11th coldest
Rainfall
115 mm
11.9 wet days
Daylight
13 h 30 min
5:16 AM – 6:43 PM
Cloud cover
53%
9th clearest
Wind
15 km/h
6th windiest
Solar energy
6.07 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.2
out of 10

Temperature in January

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 29°C through the month.

A typical January day in Matola reaches about 29°C in the afternoon and slips back to 23°C overnight — a 6°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 26°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)
12923
22923
32923
42923
52923
62923
72923
82923
92923
102923
112923
122923
132923
142923
152923
162923
172923
182923
192923
202924
212924
222924
232924
242924
252924
262924
272924
282924
293024
303024
313024

How January really feels in Matola

Once humidity and wind are folded in, January averages 11 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
11
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.

Matola weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 2nd-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 23°11511.913.45.2
Feb30° / 24°9510.612.95.2
Mar29° / 23°7310.212.25.7
Apr28° / 21°426.511.47.2
May26° / 19°233.310.78.3
Jun25° / 16°122.510.48.9
Jul24° / 16°112.610.59.0
Aug25° / 17°132.511.18.6
Sep26° / 19°313.811.88.0
Oct27° / 20°516.812.67.1
Nov28° / 21°911013.36.3
Dec29° / 23°10310.313.65.6

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 39% 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 43%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15743
25743
35842
45842
55842
65941
75941
85842
95842
105842
115743
125743
135644
145644
155545
165545
175545
185545
195545
205545
215545
225545
235545
245644
255644
265743
275941
285941
296040
306040
316139

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Matola gets around 115 mm of rain over 11.9 wet days in January, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 38% and peaks near 42% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
133
233
333
434
534
635
735
836
937
1038
1139
1239
1340
1440
1541
1641
1741
1841
1942
2041
2141
2241
2340
2439
2538
2638
2737
2837
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 55% 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 (%)
11734544
21734544
31734544
41733554
51733554
61733554
71733545
81732555
91732555
101732555
111732546
121732546
131732546
141732537
151733527
160733537
170633547
180633547
190633547
200633547
210633547
220633547
230633547
240633547
250533557
260533557
270532567
280532567
290532576
300531586
310531586

Wind in January

Winds average 15 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
915light breeze
1015light breeze
1115light breeze
1215light breeze
1315light breeze
1415light breeze
1515light breeze
1615light breeze
1715light breeze
1815light breeze
1915light breeze
2015light breeze
2115light breeze
2215light breeze
2315light breeze
2415light breeze
2515light breeze
2614light breeze
2714light breeze
2814light breeze
2914light breeze
3014light breeze
3114light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 36 min at the start of January to 13 h 12 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 24 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 5:05 AM to 5:27 AM, and sunset from 6:41 PM to 6:40 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.65:056:41
213.65:066:42
313.65:076:42
413.65:076:42
513.65:086:42
613.65:096:42
713.65:096:43
813.55:106:43
913.55:116:43
1013.55:116:43
1113.55:126:43
1213.55:136:43
1313.55:136:43
1413.55:146:43
1513.55:156:43
1613.55:166:43
1713.45:166:43
1813.45:176:43
1913.45:186:43
2013.45:196:43
2113.45:196:43
2213.45:206:43
2313.45:216:42
2413.35:226:42
2513.35:226:42
2613.35:236:42
2713.35:246:41
2813.35:256:41
2913.35:256:41
3013.25:266:40
3113.25:276:40

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 6.07 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.47 kWh/m² to a high of 6.07 kWh/m² in January across the year — January's 6.07 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
96.1Intense
106.1Intense
116.1Intense
126.1Intense
136.1Intense
146.0Intense
156.0Intense
166.0Intense
176.0Intense
186.0Bright
196.0Bright
206.0Bright
216.0Bright
226.0Bright
236.0Bright
246.0Bright
256.0Intense
266.0Intense
276.0Intense
286.0Intense
296.0Intense
306.0Intense
316.0Intense
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Matola

In seasonPeak

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

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

Matola's rainy season runs November–March, 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 Matola?

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

5.2
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
6.8
Beach & pool
11th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Matola in January

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

In January, Matola sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 12 days see rain.

light clothessun protectionrain gear

Sea temperature near Matola 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 43 km away) is warmest in February at about 28°C and coldest in August near 22°C.

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

20°22°24°26°28°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb28Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr26Warm
May24Warm
Jun23Refreshing
Jul22Refreshing
Aug22Refreshing
Sep22Refreshing
Oct23Refreshing
Nov24Warm
Dec26Warm

UV index in Matola in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 13 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Matola peaks around January 18 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 23 at about 5 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeHighModerateHighVery highExtremeJan 18UV 13Jun 23UV 5
UV index (midday)Level
Jan13Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar11Extreme
Apr7High
May6High
Jun5Moderate
Jul5Moderate
Aug6High
Sep8Very high
Oct9Very high
Nov12Extreme
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Matola 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 Matola is worst in July — around 42 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 5.2× the cleanest month (January, 8 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModeratePoorModerateGoodJul 1142 µg/m³Jan 178 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb10Good
Mar15Moderate
Apr23Moderate
May35Moderate
Jun41Poor
Jul42Poor
Aug37Poor
Sep30Moderate
Oct19Moderate
Nov13Moderate
Dec11Good
Location & terrain

Where is Matola?

Matola sits at 26.0°S, 32.5°E, 42 m above sea level, in Mozambique. The nearest listed city is Maputo, 12 km away.

Schoemansdal

Topography around Matola

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Matola has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 50 m around an average of 14 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 121 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 794 m.

The land around Matola is covered by artificial surfaces (43%) and water (20%) within 3 km, grassland (35%) and artificial surfaces (32%) within 16 km, and grassland (33%), trees (30%) and water (24%) within 80 km.

3 km
50 m
16 km
121 m
80 km
794 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetlandmangroves
January weather nearby: Maputo 12 km · Boane 16 km · Kamaqhekeza 68 km · Manhiça 71 km · Ressano Garcia 74 km · Komatipoort 78 km · Driekoppies 94 km · Schoemansdal 99 km

Mozambique travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type C / F / M
220 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 37% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$627
2025
Happiness
5.3 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
28%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
3.6
per 100k, 2011
Road deaths
30
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Low
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 465
Religion
Catholic 27%Islam 19%Pentecostal 17%Saio/Zione 16%

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 Matola (-25.9622°, 32.4589°, elevation 42 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).