Hwange weather in January

In January, Hwange sees average daytime highs of 31°C and overnight lows near 22°C, with 153 mm of rain across 18.4 wet days and about 13 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 31°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 21% of the time in January, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 06 min at the start of January to 12 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, January is Hwange's 11th-clearest and 11th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Hwange's year-round climate.

Daytime high
31°
6th warmest
Overnight low
22°
9th coldest
Rainfall
153 mm
18.4 wet days
Daylight
13 hours
5:54 AM – 6:53 PM
Cloud cover
69%
11th clearest
Wind
8 km/h
11th windiest
Solar energy
5.96 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.5
out of 10

Hwange is city in Zimbabwe.

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 31°C through the month.

A typical January day in Hwange reaches about 31°C in the afternoon and slips back to 22°C overnight — a 10°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 27°C and 36°C. Set against its neighbours, January runs on par with December and on par with February.

20°25°30°35°40°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13222
23222
33222
43222
53222
63222
73222
83222
93222
103222
113122
123122
133122
143122
153122
163122
173122
183122
193122
203122
213122
223122
233122
243122
253122
263122
273122
283122
293122
303122
313122

How January really feels in Hwange

Once humidity and wind are folded in, January averages 31 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
31
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in January is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Hwange weather by month

How January compares with the rest of the year at a glance. January is the 6th-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan31° / 22°15318.4133.5
Feb31° / 21°11114.112.63.9
Mar31° / 21°551012.14.4
Apr31° / 18°13311.65.4
May29° / 15°20.411.17.2
Jun27° / 12°10.210.98.9
Jul26° / 12°00.1119.0
Aug30° / 14°0011.47.2
Sep33° / 18°20.311.94.6
Oct35° / 22°71.812.42.9
Nov34° / 23°549.712.92.8
Dec32° / 22°13217.213.13.3

Cloud cover in January

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 21% 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 64%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13664
23664
33664
43763
53763
63763
73763
83763
93664
103664
113664
123763
133664
143565
153565
163565
173565
183565
193565
203466
213466
223565
233565
243565
253565
263565
273664
283763
293763
303862
313961

Chance of precipitation in January

Any precipitation

Hwange gets around 153 mm of rain over 18.4 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 59% and peaks near 63% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
155
255
355
455
555
655
755
856
956
1057
1158
1258
1359
1460
1561
1661
1762
1862
1963
2063
2163
2263
2362
2462
2562
2661
2760
2860
2959
3059
3158

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 59% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 78% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
117195716
217195716
318195616
418195517
518195517
619195417
719195417
819195417
919195318
1018185518
1118185518
1208175718
1307175719
1407165819
1506165919
1606156019
1705156020
1805146120
1905146120
2004146121
2104136221
2204136221
2304136122
2404136122
2503136222
2603136222
2703136222
2803136222
2903136222
3003136222
3103136222

Wind in January

Winds average 8 km/h in January.

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

051015151015202531
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
238calm
248calm
258calm
268calm
278calm
288calm
298calm
308calm
318calm

Sunrise & sunset in January

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 06 min at the start of January to 12 h 48 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 18 minutes over January. Sunrise moves from 5:45 AM to 6:02 AM, and sunset from 6:50 PM to 6:52 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.15:456:50
213.15:456:50
313.15:466:50
413.15:466:51
513.15:476:51
613.15:476:51
713.15:486:51
813.15:496:52
913.05:496:52
1013.05:506:52
1113.05:506:52
1213.05:516:53
1313.05:526:53
1413.05:526:53
1513.05:536:53
1613.05:546:53
1713.05:546:53
1813.05:556:53
1913.05:556:53
2013.05:566:53
2112.95:576:53
2212.95:576:53
2312.95:586:53
2412.95:586:53
2512.95:596:53
2612.96:006:53
2712.96:006:53
2812.96:016:53
2912.96:016:53
3012.86:026:52
3112.86:026:52

Solar energy in January

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in January, about 5.96 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.62 kWh/m² to a high of 7.17 kWh/m² in October across the year — January's 5.96 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.0Intense
26.1Intense
36.1Intense
46.1Intense
56.1Intense
66.1Intense
76.0Intense
86.0Intense
96.0Intense
106.0Intense
116.0Intense
126.0Intense
136.0Bright
146.0Bright
156.0Bright
166.0Bright
176.0Bright
185.9Bright
195.9Bright
205.9Bright
215.9Bright
225.9Bright
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 Hwange

In seasonPeak

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

Hwange's rainy season runs December–February, 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 Hwange?

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

3.5
Sightseeing
9th-best month of the year
5.3
Beach & pool
12th-best month of the year

January is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in Hwange.

What to pack for Hwange in January

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

In January, Hwange sees daytime highs around 31°C and nights near 22°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 18 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

UV index in Hwange in January

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in January peaks around 16 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Hwange peaks around January 18 at about 16 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 22 at about 7 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highExtremeJan 18UV 16Jun 22UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan16Extreme
Feb14Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr10Extreme
May9Very high
Jun7Very high
Jul8Very high
Aug9Very high
Sep10Very high
Oct10Very high
Nov14Extreme
Dec13Extreme

Air quality in Hwange 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 Hwange is worst in September — around 23 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.9× the cleanest month (December, 6 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodSep 1822 µg/m³Apr 196 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb7Good
Mar7Good
Apr6Good
May6Good
Jun8Good
Jul9Good
Aug16Moderate
Sep23Moderate
Oct19Moderate
Nov9Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Hwange?

Hwange sits at 18.4°S, 26.5°E, 767 m above sea level, in Zimbabwe. The nearest listed city is Victoria Falls, 85 km away.

Victoria FallsLivingstoneMaambaKalomoKasaneSinazongweChomaNata

Topography around Hwange

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Hwange has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 186 m around an average of 773 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 479 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 850 m.

The land around Hwange is covered by trees (38%) and shrubs (35%) within 3 km, shrubs (45%) and trees (37%) within 16 km, and shrubs (54%) and trees (30%) within 80 km.

3 km
186 m
16 km
479 m
80 km
850 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrain
January weather nearby: Victoria Falls 85 km · Livingstone 90 km · Maamba 131 km · Kalomo 149 km · Kasane 155 km · Sinazongwe 159 km · Choma 181 km · Nata 209 km

Zimbabwe travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type D / G
220 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 56% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$3,021
2025
Happiness
3.3 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
25%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
6.8
per 100k, 2022
Road deaths
41.2
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Lower middle
World Bank
English
Very high
EF EPI 602
Religion
Apostolic Sect 40%Pentecostal 17%Protestant 14%none 8%

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 Hwange (-18.3645°, 26.4988°, elevation 767 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).