Pongch’ŏn-ŭp weather in January

In January, Pongch’ŏn-ŭp sees average daytime highs of 1°C and overnight lows near -6°C, with 16 mm of precipitation across 3.4 wet days and about 9.7 hours of daylight. It is the 12th-warmest and 12th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 1°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 48% of the time in January, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 9 h 24 min at the start of January to 10 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Pongch’ŏn-ŭp's 5th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Pongch’ŏn-ŭp's year-round climate.

Daytime high
12th warmest
Overnight low
-6°
1st coldest
Precipitation
16 mm
3.4 wet days
Daylight
9 h 36 min
7:56 AM – 5:33 PM
Cloud cover
46%
5th clearest
Wind
12 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
2.7 kWh/m²
Travel score
0.0
out of 10

Temperature in January

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 1°C through the month.

A typical January day in Pongch’ŏn-ŭp reaches about 1°C in the afternoon and slips back to -6°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between -4°C and 6°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs about 2°C cooler than December and about 3°C cooler than February.

-15°-10°-5°10°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12-6
22-6
31-6
41-6
51-6
61-6
71-6
81-6
91-6
101-6
111-6
121-6
131-6
141-6
151-6
161-6
171-6
181-6
191-6
201-6
211-6
221-6
231-6
241-6
251-6
261-6
271-6
282-6
292-6
302-6
312-6

How January really feels in Pongch’ŏn-ŭp

Once humidity and wind are folded in, January averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 31 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
31
31 feel bitter (≤ -10°C)

The story in January is cold — wind chill drags the overnight "feels like" below the raw low.

Pongch’ŏn-ŭp weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysSnow daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan / -6°163.42.19.70.0
Feb / -4°223.61.710.50.1
Mar / 324.90.911.72.1
Apr15° / 606.90.1135.1
May21° / 12°997.90146.8
Jun25° / 18°1199.1014.66.9
Jul27° / 22°29415.9014.45.4
Aug28° / 22°26614013.55.4
Sep25° / 17°1116.5012.37.4
Oct19° / 10°494.80116.9
Nov11° / 456.80.59.92.9
Dec / -4°214.51.49.40.0

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 48% of the time in January.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 15% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 38%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16337
26337
36238
46238
56238
66139
76139
86139
96040
106040
116040
125941
135941
145941
155941
166040
176040
186040
196139
206139
216238
226337
236436
246436
256535
266634
276634
286733
296733
306733
316634

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitationSnow

Pongch’ŏn-ŭp gets around 16 mm of rain and snow over 3.4 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 precipitation averages around 11% and peaks near 12% on the wettest days, and about 2 days bring snow.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)Snow chance (%)
1126
2127
3127
4127
5126
6126
7126
8126
9116
10116
11116
12116
13116
14117
15117
16117
17117
18117
19117
20117
21117
22117
23117
24107
25107
26107
27107
2897
2996
3096
3196

Humidity in January

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of January feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, January lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100
29100
30100
31100

Wind in January

Winds average 12 km/h in January, the windiest month of the year.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 12 km/h on the calmest days to 13 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
112light breeze
212light breeze
312light breeze
412light breeze
512light breeze
612light breeze
712light breeze
812light breeze
912light breeze
1012light breeze
1112light breeze
1212light breeze
1312light breeze
1412light breeze
1512light breeze
1612light breeze
1712light breeze
1812light breeze
1912light breeze
2012light breeze
2112light breeze
2212light breeze
2313light breeze
2413light breeze
2513light breeze
2613light breeze
2713light breeze
2813light breeze
2913light breeze
3013light breeze
3113light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 9 h 24 min at the start of January to 10 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 36 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 7:57 AM to 7:48 AM, and sunset from 5:20 PM to 5:49 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
19.47:575:20
29.47:575:21
39.47:575:22
49.47:575:22
59.47:575:23
69.47:575:24
79.57:575:25
89.57:575:26
99.57:575:27
109.57:575:28
119.57:575:28
129.57:575:29
139.67:565:30
149.67:565:31
159.67:565:32
169.67:565:33
179.67:555:34
189.77:555:35
199.77:555:36
209.77:545:37
219.77:545:38
229.87:535:39
239.87:535:40
249.87:525:41
259.87:525:43
269.97:515:44
279.97:515:45
289.97:505:46
2910.07:495:47
3010.07:495:48
3110.07:485:49

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 2.7 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.29 kWh/m² to a high of 5.84 kWh/m² in May across the year — January's 2.7 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
12.4Moderate
22.4Moderate
32.4Moderate
42.4Moderate
52.5Moderate
62.5Moderate
72.5Moderate
82.5Moderate
92.5Moderate
102.5Moderate
112.6Moderate
122.6Moderate
132.6Moderate
142.6Moderate
152.6Moderate
162.7Moderate
172.7Moderate
182.7Moderate
192.8Moderate
202.8Moderate
212.8Moderate
222.8Moderate
232.9Moderate
242.9Moderate
252.9Moderate
263.0Moderate
273.0Moderate
283.0Moderate
293.1Moderate
303.1Moderate
313.1Moderate
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Pongch’ŏn-ŭp

In seasonPeak

In January, Pongch’ŏn-ŭp sits inside its pacific typhoon season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Pongch’ŏn-ŭp sits in the Pacific typhoon belt; the season peaks July–October.

Pongch’ŏn-ŭp's rainy season runs July–August, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is January a good time to visit Pongch’ŏn-ŭp?

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

0.0
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
0.0
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

January is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Pongch’ŏn-ŭp.

What to pack for Pongch’ŏn-ŭp in January

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

In January, Pongch’ŏn-ŭp sees daytime highs around 1°C and nights near -6°C. Pack a warm layer and a heavy coat. About 3 days see rain.

a warm layera heavy coat

Sea temperature near Pongch’ŏn-ŭp in January

The nearest coast averages about 4°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 40 km away) is warmest in August at about 25°C and coldest in February near 2°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Jul 3 to Oct 5 — about 3.1 months when the water holds above 20°C.

0°10°20°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan4Bracing
Feb2Bracing
Mar5Bracing
Apr9Bracing
May13Bracing
Jun18Cool
Jul22Refreshing
Aug25Warm
Sep23Refreshing
Oct18Cool
Nov13Bracing
Dec8Bracing

UV index in Pongch’ŏn-ŭp in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 2. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Pongch’ŏn-ŭp peaks around August 15 at about 8 (very high) — sunscreen and a hat are worth it in the middle of the day. It bottoms out near December 21 at about 2 (low).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 8 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateHighVery highHighModerateLowAug 15UV 8Dec 21UV 2
UV index (midday)Level
Jan2Low
Feb3Moderate
Mar4Moderate
Apr6High
May7High
Jun7High
Jul7Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep7Very high
Oct5Moderate
Nov3Moderate
Dec2Low

Air quality in Pongch’ŏn-ŭp 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 Pongch’ŏn-ŭp is worst in November — around 130 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 2.3× the cleanest month (July, 58 µg/m³).

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

0306090120150JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecUnhealthyNov 18129 µg/m³Jul 2058 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan122Unhealthy
Feb117Unhealthy
Mar121Unhealthy
Apr95Unhealthy
May79Unhealthy
Jun69Unhealthy
Jul58Unhealthy
Aug62Unhealthy
Sep90Unhealthy
Oct115Unhealthy
Nov130Unhealthy
Dec122Unhealthy
Location & terrain

Where is Pongch’ŏn-ŭp?

Pongch’ŏn-ŭp sits at 38.1°N, 126.2°E, 57 m above sea level, in North Korea. The nearest listed city is Paech’ŏn-ŭp, 17 km away.

KaesŏngAyang-niSinwŏn-ŭpHaeju

Topography around Pongch’ŏn-ŭp

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Pongch’ŏn-ŭp.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Pongch’ŏn-ŭp has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 316 m around an average of 86 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 690 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,006 m.

The land around Pongch’ŏn-ŭp is covered by cropland (69%) within 3 km, cropland (48%) and trees (36%) within 16 km, and cropland (35%) and trees (33%) within 80 km.

3 km
316 m
16 km
690 m
80 km
1,006 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
January weather nearby: Paech’ŏn-ŭp 17 km · Yŏnan-ŭp 24 km · Ch’ŏngdan-ŭp 29 km · Sinmak 33 km · Kaesŏng 35 km · Ayang-ni 38 km · Sinwŏn-ŭp 41 km · Haeju 44 km

North Korea travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 4
Do Not Travel
Power plugs
Type C / F
220 V · 50 Hz
Safe drinking water
67%
of population, 2023
Road deaths
24.2
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Low
World Bank

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 Pongch’ŏn-ŭp (38.1239°, 126.2047°, elevation 57 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).