Malawi

Malawi Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Malawi in January.

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Lilongwe Blantyre Senga Chintheche

Considering a trip to Malawi this January and wondering about the expected weather conditions? Find all the crucial information you need right here, addressing your question:

What to Expect in Malawi in January

January in Malawi generally has warm temperatures, with heavy precipitation.

Temperatures

The average maximum temperatures are warm and range from 26°C (79°F) in Dedza to 29°C (84°F) in Zomba. Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 21°C (70°F) in Zomba and 19°C (66°F) in Dedza.

To explore the conditions in Malawi in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From heavy rainfall in Kasungu with an average of 193 mm (7.6 in) to heavy rainfall in Chintheche with 439 mm (17 in). Based on our climate, it is the month with the most precipitation throughout the year in Lilongwe.

Average sunshine

Most areas see decent amounts of sunshine this month. Lilongwe gets around 136 hours of sunlight, providing a pleasant balance of sun and clouds. If you'd prefer more guaranteed sunshine, our weather planner can show you sunnier spots around the world.

Explore Malawi by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Malawi - and find the best time to visit. (based on Lilongwe)

January27°C (81°F) February27°C (81°F) March27°C (81°F) April27°C (81°F) May26°C (79°F) June25°C (77°F) This monthJuly24°C (75°F) August26°C (79°F) September29°C (84°F) October31°C (88°F) November31°C (88°F) December29°C (84°F)
Best Time to Visit Malawi →

Best Places to Visit in Malawi in January

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Malawi.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Malawi

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Malawi?

Temperature range in Malawi (January)

Precipitation variation in Malawi (January)

Lilongwe

In January Lilongwe generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 27°C (81°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 19°C (66°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are mixed that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
27°C (81°F)
27°C (81°F)
Min temperature
19°C (66°F)
19°C (66°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly sun hours
140 hours
136 hours
145 hours
Monthly rainfall
161 mm (6.3 in)
233 mm (9.2 in)
197 mm (7.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
18 days
15 days
Weather conditions
very good
mixed
good
Climate in Lilongwe →

Blantyre

In January Blantyre generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 21°C (70°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
21°C (70°F)
21°C (70°F)
21°C (70°F)
Monthly sun hours
199 hours
200 hours
182 hours
Monthly rainfall
237 mm (9.3 in)
331 mm (13 in)
233 mm (9.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
17 days
15 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
mixed
Climate in Blantyre →

Chintheche

In January Chintheche generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 23°C (73°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
28°C (82°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly sun hours
179 hours
148 hours
136 hours
Monthly rainfall
400 mm (16 in)
439 mm (17 in)
414 mm (16 in)
Monthly rainy days
17 days
19 days
17 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
less favorable
Climate in Chintheche →

Zomba

In January Zomba generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 21°C (70°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are less favorable that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
21°C (70°F)
21°C (70°F)
21°C (70°F)
Monthly sun hours
199 hours
200 hours
182 hours
Monthly rainfall
206 mm (8.1 in)
304 mm (12 in)
219 mm (8.6 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
17 days
16 days
Weather conditions
less favorable
less favorable
mixed
Climate in Zomba →

Kasungu

In January Kasungu generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 19°C (66°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are good that month.

« December
January
February »
December
January
February
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
28°C (82°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
20°C (68°F)
19°C (66°F)
19°C (66°F)
Monthly rainfall
143 mm (5.6 in)
193 mm (7.6 in)
176 mm (6.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
16 days
20 days
16 days
Weather conditions
good
good
very good
Climate in Kasungu →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Malawi.

Popular cities in January

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Malawi in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Lilongwe 27°C (81°F) 19°C (66°F) 233 mm (9.2 in)
Blantyre 29°C (84°F) 21°C (70°F) 331 mm (13 in)
Senga 29°C (84°F) 24°C (75°F) 408 mm (16 in)
Chintheche 28°C (82°F) 23°C (73°F) 439 mm (17 in)
Mangochi 29°C (84°F) 22°C (72°F) 337 mm (13 in)
Mzuzu 26°C (79°F) 19°C (66°F) 312 mm (12 in)

Malawi weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Malawi in January?

In January, Malawi generally has mixed weather conditions. Lilongwe sees daytime temperatures near 27°C (81°F), with nights cooling to roughly 19°C (66°F).

What is the average temperature in Malawi in January?

Average temperatures in Malawi during January range from a nighttime low near 19°C (66°F) to a daytime high around 27°C (81°F) in Lilongwe.

Does Malawi get a lot of rain in January?

Expect plenty of rainfall. Lilongwe records an average of 233 mm (9.2 in) in January, putting it among the wetter months for Malawi.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Malawi?

In our view, January might not be the best time to travel to Malawi with often mixed weather in Lilongwe.

Generally speaking, April, May, June, July, August and September provide excellent weather in Lilongwe. The weather in January, on the other hand, tends to be mixed.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Malawi.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to Malawi? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in Malawi.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

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Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.

Malawi: The warm heart of Africa

Malawi is a beautiful country where you can still be a pioneer as a traveler. It is known as one of the poorest countries in the world, but has a very friendly population with different traditional tribes.

Must visit in Malawi →