Durban weather in January

In January, Durban sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 21°C, with 91 mm of rain across 13 wet days and about 13.7 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 27°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 24% of the time in January, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 54 min at the start of January to 13 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Durban's 9th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Durban's year-round climate.

Daytime high
27°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
21°
11th coldest
Rainfall
91 mm
13 wet days
Daylight
13 h 42 min
5:13 AM – 6:57 PM
Cloud cover
63%
9th clearest
Wind
14 km/h
4th windiest
Solar energy
5.78 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.0
out of 10

Durban is city in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Density
14,776/km²
people per km²
Founded
1835

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 27°C through the month.

A typical January day in Durban reaches about 27°C in the afternoon and slips back to 21°C overnight — a 6°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 23°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs about 1°C warmer than December and on par with February.

15°20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12721
22721
32721
42721
52721
62721
72721
82721
92721
102721
112721
122721
132721
142721
152721
162721
172721
182721
192721
202721
212722
222722
232722
242722
252722
262722
272722
282722
292722
302722
312722

Durban 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
Jan27° / 21°911313.76.0
Feb27° / 22°8411.313.16.1
Mar27° / 21°9011.412.26.5
Apr25° / 19°748.611.37.3
May24° / 16°435.410.58.2
Jun23° / 14°284.610.18.4
Jul22° / 13°424.710.38.2
Aug23° / 14°345.910.97.9
Sep23° / 16°608.611.87.2
Oct23° / 17°9012.512.76.4
Nov24° / 19°9613.413.56.2
Dec26° / 20°9413.113.96.1

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 24% 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 58%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14060
24159
34159
44159
54159
64159
74258
84159
94159
104159
114159
124159
134159
144159
154060
164060
174159
184060
194159
204159
214159
224159
234258
244258
254258
264357
274357
284456
294456
304555
314654

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Durban gets around 91 mm of rain over 13 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 41% and peaks near 43% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
143
243
343
443
543
643
743
842
942
1042
1142
1242
1341
1441
1541
1641
1741
1841
1941
2041
2141
2241
2340
2440
2540
2640
2740
2840
2940
3040
3140

Humidity in January

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, January lands in the muggy band about 48% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 82% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
141747320
241647330
341647330
441647330
541647330
641547330
741547330
841547330
941547340
1041547340
1141547330
1241547330
1341547330
1431548330
1531548331
1631548331
1731548331
1831548331
1921549340
2021549340
2121549340
2221449341
2321450341
2421450331
2521450331
2621350341
2711351341
2811351341
2911350351
3011349361
3111349361

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 14 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
2514light breeze
2614light breeze
2714light breeze
2814light breeze
2914light breeze
3014light breeze
3114light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 54 min at the start of January to 13 h 24 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 30 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 5:02 AM to 5:26 AM, and sunset from 6:56 PM to 6:52 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.95:026:56
213.95:036:56
313.95:046:56
413.95:046:56
513.95:056:57
613.85:066:57
713.85:066:57
813.85:076:57
913.85:086:57
1013.85:096:57
1113.85:096:57
1213.85:106:57
1313.85:116:57
1413.85:126:57
1513.75:136:57
1613.75:136:57
1713.75:146:57
1813.75:156:57
1913.75:166:56
2013.75:176:56
2113.65:186:56
2213.65:186:56
2313.65:196:56
2413.65:206:55
2513.65:216:55
2613.55:226:55
2713.55:236:54
2813.55:236:54
2913.55:246:53
3013.55:256:53
3113.45:266:52

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 5.78 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.16 kWh/m² to a high of 5.78 kWh/m² in January across the year — January's 5.78 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.9Bright
25.9Bright
35.9Bright
45.9Bright
55.9Bright
65.9Bright
75.9Bright
85.9Bright
95.9Bright
105.8Bright
115.8Bright
125.8Bright
135.8Bright
145.8Bright
155.8Bright
165.8Bright
175.8Bright
185.8Bright
195.8Bright
205.8Bright
215.8Bright
225.7Bright
235.7Bright
245.7Bright
255.7Bright
265.7Bright
275.7Bright
285.7Bright
295.7Bright
305.7Bright
315.7Bright
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Durban

In seasonPeak

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

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

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

Is January a good time to visit Durban?

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

6.0
Sightseeing
12th-best month of the year
6.1
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Durban in January

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

In January, Durban sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 21°C. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 13 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Durban in January

The nearest coast averages about 25°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 26°C and coldest in August near 21°C.

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

20°22°24°26°28°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan25Warm
Feb26Warm
Mar26Warm
Apr25Warm
May24Refreshing
Jun22Refreshing
Jul22Refreshing
Aug21Refreshing
Sep21Refreshing
Oct22Refreshing
Nov23Refreshing
Dec24Warm

UV index in Durban 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 Durban peaks around January 16 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 22 at about 4 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeHighModerateHighExtremeExtremeJan 16UV 13Jun 22UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan13Extreme
Feb12Extreme
Mar10Extreme
Apr6High
May5Moderate
Jun4Moderate
Jul4Moderate
Aug5High
Sep6High
Oct10Extreme
Nov10Very high
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Durban 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 Durban is worst in July — around 148 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 6.1× the cleanest month (January, 24 µg/m³).

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

0306090120150JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorUnhealthyPoorModerateJul 11147 µg/m³Jan 1625 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan24Moderate
Feb31Moderate
Mar50Poor
Apr77Unhealthy
May126Unhealthy
Jun144Unhealthy
Jul148Unhealthy
Aug116Unhealthy
Sep88Unhealthy
Oct57Unhealthy
Nov41Poor
Dec30Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Durban?

Durban sits at 29.9°S, 31.0°E, 21 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Pinetown, 14 km away.

Topography around Durban

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Durban has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 110 m around an average of 9 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 442 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,547 m.

The land around Durban is covered by water (42%) and artificial surfaces (39%) within 3 km, water (49%), trees (24%) and artificial surfaces (23%) within 16 km, and trees (34%), water (32%) and grassland (20%) within 80 km.

3 km
110 m
16 km
442 m
80 km
1,547 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
January weather nearby: Pinetown 14 km · Ntuzuma 15 km · Folweni 26 km · Tongaat 33 km · Mpumalanga 38 km · Ballitoville 40 km · eMkhomazi 45 km · Shakaskraal 49 km

South Africa travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type C / M / N
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 41% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$6,598
2025
Happiness
5.0 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
68%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
43.7
per 100k, 2022
Road deaths
22.2
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Very high
EF EPI 602
Religion
Christian 86%or other traditional African religions 5%nothing in particular 5%Muslim 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 Durban (-29.8579°, 31.0292°, elevation 21 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).