Richmond weather in January

In January, Richmond sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 16°C, with 147 mm of rain across 19.6 wet days and about 13.7 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 17% of the time in January, and the air most often feels humid.

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 Richmond's 10th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Richmond's year-round climate.

Daytime high
26°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
16°
11th coldest
Rainfall
147 mm
19.6 wet days
Daylight
13 h 42 min
5:16 AM – 7:00 PM
Cloud cover
71%
10th clearest
Wind
8 km/h
8th windiest
Solar energy
5.51 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 26°C through the month.

A typical January day in Richmond reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 16°C overnight — a 9°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 19°C and 31°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs about 1°C warmer than December and on par with February.

10°15°20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12616
22616
32616
42616
52616
62616
72616
82616
92616
102616
112616
122616
132616
142616
152616
162616
172616
182616
192616
202516
212516
222516
232516
242516
252616
262616
272616
282616
292616
302616
312616

Richmond 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
Jan26° / 16°14719.613.75.2
Feb26° / 16°12216.613.15.4
Mar25° / 15°11015.312.26.0
Apr23° / 13°6610.411.36.9
May22° / 315.610.57.8
Jun20° / 24410.17.9
Jul21° / 314.310.37.9
Aug22° / 386.610.97.6
Sep23° / 11°581011.87.0
Oct23° / 12°10316.812.75.7
Nov24° / 14°12318.613.55.3
Dec25° / 15°14320.713.95.1

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 17% 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 68%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13268
23268
33268
43268
53367
63466
73466
83466
93565
103565
113565
123466
133367
143367
153367
163268
173268
183169
193169
203169
213070
222971
232971
243070
253070
263169
273268
283268
293268
303367
313367

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Richmond gets around 147 mm of rain over 19.6 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 63% and peaks near 65% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
162
262
362
461
561
661
761
861
961
1061
1161
1262
1362
1463
1563
1663
1764
1864
1964
2064
2165
2265
2365
2465
2565
2665
2765
2865
2965
3064
3164

Humidity in January

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, January lands in the humid band about 54% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 24% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
15205223
25205223
35195224
45195224
55195224
65195224
75185423
85185423
95185423
105185423
115185423
125185423
135185423
144195423
154195423
164195423
174195423
183195523
193185524
203185524
213185425
223185425
232185525
242185426
252175526
262175427
272165527
282165527
292165428
302165428
312165428

Wind in January

Winds average 8 km/h in January.

Across January, daily wind ranges from about 7 km/h on the calmest days to 8 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
18calm
28calm
38calm
48calm
58calm
68calm
78calm
88calm
98calm
108calm
118calm
128calm
138calm
148calm
158calm
168calm
178calm
188calm
198calm
208calm
218calm
228calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

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 5:05 AM to 5:29 AM, and sunset from 6:59 PM to 6:56 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.95:056:59
213.95:066:59
313.95:076:59
413.95:076:59
513.95:087:00
613.95:097:00
713.85:097:00
813.85:107:00
913.85:117:00
1013.85:127:00
1113.85:127:00
1213.85:137:00
1313.85:147:00
1413.85:157:00
1513.75:167:00
1613.75:167:00
1713.75:177:00
1813.75:187:00
1913.75:197:00
2013.75:206:59
2113.65:216:59
2213.65:216:59
2313.65:226:59
2413.65:236:58
2513.65:246:58
2613.55:256:58
2713.55:266:57
2813.55:266:57
2913.55:276:56
3013.55:286:56
3113.45:296:56

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 5.51 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.31 kWh/m² to a high of 5.51 kWh/m² in January across the year — January's 5.51 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.6Bright
25.6Bright
35.6Bright
45.6Bright
55.6Bright
65.6Bright
75.6Bright
85.6Bright
95.6Bright
105.6Bright
115.6Bright
125.6Bright
135.6Bright
145.6Bright
155.6Bright
165.5Bright
175.5Bright
185.5Bright
195.5Bright
205.5Bright
215.5Bright
225.5Bright
235.4Bright
245.4Bright
255.4Bright
265.4Bright
275.4Bright
285.4Bright
295.4Bright
305.4Bright
315.4Bright
Planning a trip in January

Hazard calendar for Richmond

In seasonPeak

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

Richmond'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 Richmond?

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
4.8
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

January is a reasonable time to visit Richmond for sightseeing.

What to pack for Richmond in January

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

In January, Richmond sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 16°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes and sun protection. About 20 days see rain.

rain gearlight clothessun protection

Sea temperature near Richmond 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 at the nearest coast (about 64 km away) 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
Jun23Refreshing
Jul22Refreshing
Aug21Refreshing
Sep21Refreshing
Oct22Refreshing
Nov23Refreshing
Dec24Warm

UV index in Richmond in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 14 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Richmond peaks around January 16 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 23 at about 4 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeHighModerateHighExtremeJan 16UV 14Jun 23UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan14Extreme
Feb12Extreme
Mar10Extreme
Apr6High
May5High
Jun4Moderate
Jul4Moderate
Aug6High
Sep6High
Oct11Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Richmond 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 Richmond is worst in July — around 92 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 3.9× the cleanest month (December, 23 µg/m³).

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

0306090120JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorUnhealthyPoorModerateJul 1690 µg/m³Dec 2324 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan24Moderate
Feb31Moderate
Mar37Poor
Apr52Poor
May74Unhealthy
Jun77Unhealthy
Jul92Unhealthy
Aug75Unhealthy
Sep57Unhealthy
Oct39Poor
Nov37Poor
Dec23Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Richmond?

Richmond sits at 29.9°S, 30.3°E, 883 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Pietermaritzburg, 31 km away.

Topography around Richmond

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Richmond has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 289 m around an average of 891 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,258 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,315 m.

The land around Richmond is covered by trees (43%), grassland (26%) and cropland (23%) within 3 km, trees (57%) and grassland (24%) within 16 km, and grassland (44%) and trees (37%) within 80 km.

3 km
289 m
16 km
1,258 m
80 km
2,315 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
January weather nearby: Pietermaritzburg 31 km · Mpophomeni 35 km · Mpumalanga 36 km · Howick 44 km · Folweni 53 km · Clydesdale 57 km · Pinetown 60 km · eMuziwezinto 62 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 Richmond (-29.872°, 30.2723°, elevation 883 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. 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).