Potchefstroom weather in January

In January, Potchefstroom sees average daytime highs of 29°C and overnight lows near 18°C, with 109 mm of rain across 14.9 wet days and about 13.5 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 2nd-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 42% of the time in January, and the air most often feels comfortable.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 42 min at the start of January to 13 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Potchefstroom's 11th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Potchefstroom's year-round climate.

Daytime high
29°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
18°
12th coldest
Rainfall
109 mm
14.9 wet days
Daylight
13 h 30 min
5:36 AM – 7:06 PM
Cloud cover
49%
11th clearest
Wind
10 km/h
6th windiest
Solar energy
6.91 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.1
out of 10

Potchefstroom is city in the North West Province of South Africa.

Density
968/km²
people per km²
Founded
1838

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 Potchefstroom reaches about 29°C in the afternoon and slips back to 18°C overnight — a 11°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 24°C and 33°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs on par with December and on par with February.

15°20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12917
22918
32918
42918
52918
62918
72918
82918
92918
102918
112918
122918
132918
142918
152918
162918
172918
182918
192918
202918
212918
222918
232918
242918
252918
262918
272918
282918
292917
302917
312917

How January really feels in Potchefstroom

Once humidity and wind are folded in, January averages 0 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
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

January sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Potchefstroom weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 18°10914.913.55.1
Feb28° / 17°9212.312.95.8
Mar27° / 15°7610.812.26.7
Apr25° / 12°396.811.47.8
May22° / 192.910.78.6
Jun20° / 91.510.48.3
Jul20° / 40.710.58.5
Aug23° / 111.811.18.9
Sep26° / 11°163.111.88.3
Oct28° / 14°659.712.66.6
Nov28° / 15°8212.213.35.6
Dec29° / 17°11216.113.65.0

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 42% of the time in January.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 25% of January, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 33%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16634
26634
36634
46634
56733
66733
76733
86832
96832
106832
116832
126832
136733
146733
156733
166832
176733
186733
196733
206634
216634
226634
236634
246634
256634
266733
276733
286733
296832
306832
316931

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Potchefstroom gets around 109 mm of rain over 14.9 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 48% and peaks near 51% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
150
250
349
448
548
647
747
846
946
1046
1146
1246
1346
1447
1547
1648
1749
1849
1950
2050
2150
2251
2351
2451
2551
2650
2750
2849
2949
3048
3147

Humidity in January

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, January lands in the comfortable band about 39% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
13040282
23040282
32940282
42941282
52941281
62941281
72942281
82942281
92842291
102841291
112841301
122741311
132740321
142640331
152539351
162539361
172438371
182338381
192337391
202237401
212137411
222137411
232137411
242037421
252037421
262037421
272037411
282037411
292038401
302138401
312139391

Wind in January

Winds average 10 km/h in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 10 km/h on the calmest days to 11 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
111calm
211calm
311calm
411calm
511calm
611calm
711calm
811calm
911calm
1011calm
1111calm
1211calm
1311calm
1410calm
1510calm
1610calm
1710calm
1810calm
1910calm
2010calm
2110calm
2210calm
2310calm
2410calm
2510calm
2610calm
2710calm
2810calm
2910calm
3010calm
3110calm

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 42 min at the start of January to 13 h 18 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 5:25 AM to 5:47 AM, and sunset from 7:04 PM to 7:03 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.75:257:04
213.65:267:05
313.65:267:05
413.65:277:05
513.65:287:05
613.65:287:05
713.65:297:06
813.65:307:06
913.65:317:06
1013.65:317:06
1113.65:327:06
1213.65:337:06
1313.55:337:06
1413.55:347:06
1513.55:357:06
1613.55:367:06
1713.55:367:06
1813.55:377:06
1913.55:387:06
2013.55:397:06
2113.45:397:06
2213.45:407:05
2313.45:417:05
2413.45:427:05
2513.45:427:05
2613.45:437:05
2713.35:447:04
2813.35:457:04
2913.35:467:04
3013.35:467:03
3113.35:477:03

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 6.91 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.86 kWh/m² to a high of 7.12 kWh/m² in December across the year — January's 6.91 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

02468151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
17.1Intense
27.1Intense
37.1Intense
47.1Intense
57.1Intense
67.1Intense
77.0Intense
87.0Intense
97.0Intense
107.0Intense
117.0Intense
127.0Intense
137.0Intense
146.9Intense
156.9Intense
166.9Intense
176.9Intense
186.8Intense
196.8Intense
206.8Intense
216.8Intense
226.8Intense
236.8Intense
246.8Intense
256.7Intense
266.7Intense
276.7Intense
286.7Intense
296.7Intense
306.7Intense
316.7Intense
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Potchefstroom

In seasonPeak

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

Potchefstroom's rainy season runs October–March, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is January a good time to visit Potchefstroom?

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

5.1
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
6.4
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Potchefstroom in January

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

In January, Potchefstroom sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 18°C. Pack light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 15 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

UV index in Potchefstroom 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 Potchefstroom peaks around January 13 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 20 at about 5 (high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highHighVery highExtremeJan 13UV 15Jun 20UV 5
UV index (midday)Level
Jan15Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar12Extreme
Apr9Very high
May6High
Jun5Moderate
Jul5High
Aug7Very high
Sep9Very high
Oct10Very high
Nov12Extreme
Dec14Extreme

Air quality in Potchefstroom 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 Potchefstroom is worst in June — around 57 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 4.6× the cleanest month (December, 12 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorUnhealthyPoorModerateJun 2257 µg/m³Dec 1913 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan14Moderate
Feb19Moderate
Mar26Moderate
Apr34Moderate
May48Poor
Jun57Unhealthy
Jul56Unhealthy
Aug45Poor
Sep38Poor
Oct26Moderate
Nov15Moderate
Dec12Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Potchefstroom?

Potchefstroom sits at 26.7°S, 27.1°E, 1,335 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Stilfontein, 36 km away.

Topography around Potchefstroom

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Potchefstroom has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 39 m around an average of 1,338 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 231 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 528 m.

The land around Potchefstroom is covered by artificial surfaces (47%) and grassland (32%) within 3 km, grassland (71%) within 16 km, and grassland (61%) and cropland (32%) within 80 km.

3 km
39 m
16 km
231 m
80 km
528 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaces
January weather nearby: Stilfontein 36 km · Parys 41 km · Vredefort 42 km · Klerksdorp 46 km · Fochville 47 km · Carletonville 49 km · Orkney 52 km · Ventersdorp 53 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 Potchefstroom (-26.7167°, 27.1°, elevation 1,335 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. 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).