Wau in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Wau sees average daytime highs around 36°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 4 mm of rain over about 1 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 35°C in early December to 38°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 54% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Wau's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Wau's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 36°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 23°C
- Rainfall
- 4 mm
- 1 wet days
- Avg wind
- 10 km/h
- Travel score
- 2.7
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Wau in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 35°C in early December to 38°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Wau reaches about 36°C and drops to 23°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
How winter really feels in Wau
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 90 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in winter is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Wau weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 35° / 23° | 0 | 0.2 | 11.6 | 3.0 |
| Feb | 37° / 24° | 3 | 0.7 | 11.7 | 1.8 |
| Mar | 38° / 26° | 20 | 4.2 | 11.9 | 1.3 |
| Apr | 36° / 26° | 58 | 12.7 | 12.2 | 1.7 |
| May | 34° / 25° | 118 | 19.5 | 12.3 | 2.4 |
| Jun | 32° / 23° | 127 | 20.5 | 12.4 | 3.0 |
| Jul | 30° / 23° | 166 | 23.5 | 12.4 | 3.3 |
| Aug | 30° / 22° | 192 | 24.8 | 12.3 | 3.3 |
| Sep | 31° / 22° | 155 | 23.2 | 12 | 3.1 |
| Oct | 32° / 23° | 125 | 20.2 | 11.8 | 3.1 |
| Nov | 34° / 23° | 17 | 3.9 | 11.6 | 3.6 |
| Dec | 35° / 23° | 1 | 0.2 | 11.6 | 3.3 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 54% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Wau gets around 4 mm of rain over 1 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 10 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 36 min in early December to 11 h 48 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 6.2 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Wau
None of Wau's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Wau's monsoon runs May–October, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Wau?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Wau. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Wau in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Wau sees daytime highs around 36°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection.
UV index in Wau in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Wau peaks around March 19 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 11 at about 9 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 11 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 9 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Extreme |
| Feb | 11 | Extreme |
| Mar | 14 | Extreme |
| Apr | 13 | Extreme |
| May | 11 | Extreme |
| Jun | 11 | Extreme |
| Jul | 11 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 12 | Extreme |
| Nov | 9 | Very high |
| Dec | 9 | Very high |
Air quality in Wau in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Wau is worst in November — around 59 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 5.9× the cleanest month (August, 10 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 23 | 30 | 37 | 22 | 11 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 10 | 15 | 59 | 52 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Moderate | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Moderate | Unhealthy | Poor |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23 | Moderate |
| Feb | 30 | Moderate |
| Mar | 37 | Poor |
| Apr | 22 | Moderate |
| May | 11 | Good |
| Jun | 14 | Moderate |
| Jul | 14 | Moderate |
| Aug | 10 | Good |
| Sep | 10 | Good |
| Oct | 15 | Moderate |
| Nov | 59 | Unhealthy |
| Dec | 52 | Poor |
Where is Wau?
Wau sits at 7.7°N, 28.0°E, 440 m above sea level, in South Sudan. The nearest listed city is Kuacjok, 67 km away.
Topography around Wau
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Wau.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Wau has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 58 m around an average of 447 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 112 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 198 m.
The land around Wau is covered by artificial surfaces (50%) and grassland (34%) within 3 km, grassland (70%) within 16 km, and grassland (46%) and shrubs (38%) within 80 km.
South Sudan travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 4
- Do Not Travel
- Prices
- ≈ 6% of US
- price level, 2021
- GDP per capita
- $1,080
- 2015
- Happiness
- 2.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2019
- Homicide rate
- 14
- per 100k, 2012
- Road deaths
- 36.7
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Low
- World Bank
- Religion
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 Wau (7.7011°, 27.9897°, elevation 440 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.