Mtubatuba weather in January

In January, Mtubatuba sees average daytime highs of 29°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 103 mm of rain across 12.9 wet days and about 13.6 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 30% of the time in January, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 48 min at the start of January to 13 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Mtubatuba's 9th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Mtubatuba's year-round climate.

Daytime high
29°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
23°
11th coldest
Rainfall
103 mm
12.9 wet days
Daylight
13 h 36 min
5:12 AM – 6:49 PM
Cloud cover
58%
9th clearest
Wind
16 km/h
6th windiest
Solar energy
6.06 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.2
out of 10

Mtubatuba is small town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Founded
1903

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 29°C through the month.

A typical January day in Mtubatuba 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 25°C and 32°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs about 1°C warmer than December and on par with February.

20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12922
22922
32923
42923
52923
62923
72923
82923
92923
102923
112923
122923
132923
142923
152923
162923
172923
182923
192923
202923
212923
222923
232923
242923
252923
262923
272923
282923
292923
302923
312923

Mtubatuba 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°10312.913.65.2
Feb29° / 23°9811.5135.2
Mar29° / 22°10212.512.25.7
Apr27° / 20°7410.211.36.8
May25° / 18°506.810.67.8
Jun24° / 16°36610.28.3
Jul23° / 16°406.210.48.2
Aug24° / 17°345.9118.2
Sep25° / 18°487.711.87.5
Oct25° / 19°7110.712.76.7
Nov26° / 20°8711.713.46.1
Dec28° / 22°8511.213.85.8

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 30% of the time in January.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 19% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 51%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14951
25050
34951
45050
55050
65149
75149
85149
95149
105149
115050
124951
135050
144951
154852
164852
174852
184852
194852
204852
214852
224852
234852
244852
254951
264951
275050
285050
295149
305248
315248

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Mtubatuba gets around 103 mm of rain over 12.9 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 41% and peaks near 44% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
138
238
339
439
539
639
740
840
940
1040
1140
1240
1340
1439
1540
1640
1740
1841
1941
2041
2142
2242
2342
2442
2542
2643
2743
2843
2943
3044
3144

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 43% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 87% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
121345381
221345391
321345391
421345391
521345401
621344401
721344411
821343410
921343420
1021343420
1121342420
1221342420
1321342430
1421342430
1521342430
1621342430
1721241441
1821241441
1921241441
2021241451
2121141451
2221141451
2321142451
2421142451
2521042451
2611042451
271943461
281943461
291843462
301843472
311843472

Wind in January

Winds average 16 km/h in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 16 km/h on the calmest days to 17 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
117light breeze
217light breeze
317light breeze
417light breeze
517light breeze
617light breeze
717light breeze
817light breeze
917light breeze
1017light breeze
1117light breeze
1217light breeze
1317light breeze
1417light breeze
1517light breeze
1616light breeze
1716light breeze
1816light breeze
1916light breeze
2016light breeze
2116light breeze
2216light breeze
2316light breeze
2416light breeze
2516light breeze
2616light breeze
2716light breeze
2816light breeze
2916light breeze
3016light breeze
3116light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 48 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 24 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 5:01 AM to 5:24 AM, and sunset from 6:48 PM to 6:45 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.85:016:48
213.85:026:48
313.85:026:48
413.85:036:48
513.75:046:49
613.75:046:49
713.75:056:49
813.75:066:49
913.75:076:49
1013.75:076:49
1113.75:086:49
1213.75:096:49
1313.75:106:49
1413.75:106:49
1513.65:116:49
1613.65:126:49
1713.65:136:49
1813.65:136:49
1913.65:146:49
2013.65:156:49
2113.55:166:49
2213.55:176:48
2313.55:176:48
2413.55:186:48
2513.55:196:48
2613.55:206:47
2713.45:216:47
2813.45:216:47
2913.45:226:46
3013.45:236:46
3113.45:246:45

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 6.06 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.17 kWh/m² to a high of 6.06 kWh/m² in January across the year — January's 6.06 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
116.1Intense
126.1Intense
136.1Intense
146.1Intense
156.1Intense
166.1Intense
176.0Intense
186.0Intense
196.0Intense
206.0Bright
216.0Bright
226.0Bright
235.9Bright
245.9Bright
255.9Bright
265.9Bright
275.9Bright
285.9Bright
295.9Bright
305.9Bright
315.9Bright
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Mtubatuba

In seasonPeak

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

Mtubatuba 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 Mtubatuba?

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
6.6
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Mtubatuba in January

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

In January, Mtubatuba sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 13 days see rain.

light clothessun protectionrain gear

Sea temperature near Mtubatuba 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 30 km away) is warmest in February at about 27°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
Feb27Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr26Warm
May25Warm
Jun24Refreshing
Jul23Refreshing
Aug22Refreshing
Sep22Refreshing
Oct23Refreshing
Nov24Warm
Dec25Warm

UV index in Mtubatuba in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 12 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Mtubatuba peaks around February 10 at about 12 (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.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeHighModerateHighVery highExtremeFeb 10UV 12Jun 22UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan12Extreme
Feb12Extreme
Mar11Extreme
Apr6High
May5High
Jun4Moderate
Jul4Moderate
Aug6High
Sep7High
Oct10Extreme
Nov10Very high
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Mtubatuba 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 Mtubatuba is worst in July — around 25 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.4× the cleanest month (January, 7 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1424 µg/m³Jan 187 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb8Good
Mar11Good
Apr18Moderate
May20Moderate
Jun23Moderate
Jul25Moderate
Aug22Moderate
Sep20Moderate
Oct14Moderate
Nov11Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Mtubatuba?

Mtubatuba sits at 28.4°S, 32.2°E, 66 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Richards Bay, 43 km away.

Topography around Mtubatuba

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Mtubatuba has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 120 m around an average of 69 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 209 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,046 m.

The land around Mtubatuba is covered by trees (56%) and grassland (31%) within 3 km, trees (48%) and grassland (33%) within 16 km, and water (31%), trees (29%) and grassland (26%) within 80 km.

3 km
120 m
16 km
209 m
80 km
1,046 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
January weather nearby: Richards Bay 43 km · Empangeni 48 km · eSikhaleni 58 km · Ulundi 76 km · Eshowe 87 km · Mandeni 111 km · KwaDukuza 134 km · Ncotshane 134 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 Mtubatuba (-28.4179°, 32.1848°, elevation 66 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).