Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Papua New Guinea in January.

Planning a trip to Papua New Guinea this January? Here's what you need to know about the weather:

What to Expect in Papua New Guinea in January

January in Papua New Guinea generally has temperatures that range from warm to very warm, with heavy precipitation.

Temperatures

The average maximum daytime temperatures vary from warm in Mount Hagen at 23°C (73°F) to very warm in Port Moresby at 31°C (88°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 24°C (75°F) in Port Moresby and 13°C (55°F) in Mount Hagen. The temperatures mentioned for daytime and nighttime are general averages. However there can be days that surpass these temperatures. So equip yourself with clothing that can handle the potential heat.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Papua New Guinea, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From heavy rainfall in Sideia with an average of 189 mm (7.4 in) to heavy rainfall in Lae with 586 mm (23 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine is moderately available across various locations. In Port Moresby, you can expect around 185 hours of sunlight in January, which gives a pleasant combination of sun and shade. For those who want maximum sunshine, our weather planner can point you toward the sunniest places on Earth.

Explore Papua New Guinea by month

Best Places to Visit in Papua New Guinea in January

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

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 Papua New Guinea

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Papua New Guinea?

Temperature range in Papua New Guinea (January)

Precipitation variation in Papua New Guinea (January)

Port Moresby

In January Port Moresby generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 31°C (88°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
31°C (88°F)
Min temperature
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly sun hours
218 hours
185 hours
157 hours
Monthly rainfall
195 mm (7.7 in)
241 mm (9.5 in)
233 mm (9.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
13 days
19 days
17 days
Weather conditions

Madang

In January Madang generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 30°C (86°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
30°C (86°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
167 hours
155 hours
123 hours
Monthly rainfall
421 mm (17 in)
409 mm (16 in)
413 mm (16 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
23 days
21 days
Weather conditions

Kokopo

In January Kokopo generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 25°C (77°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Monthly sun hours
167 hours
195 hours
157 hours
Monthly rainfall
301 mm (12 in)
300 mm (12 in)
303 mm (12 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
22 days
21 days
Weather conditions

Lae

In January Lae generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 29°C (84°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 24°C (75°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
29°C (84°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly rainfall
687 mm (27 in)
586 mm (23 in)
497 mm (20 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
18 days
18 days
Weather conditions

Mount Hagen

In January Mount Hagen generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 23°C (73°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 13°C (55°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
13°C (55°F)
14°C (57°F)
Monthly rainfall
484 mm (19 in)
560 mm (22 in)
598 mm (24 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
25 days
24 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Papua New Guinea.

In our records: Papua New Guinea January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Papua New Guinea in our climate database (1988 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • In our records, the warmest January day in Papua New Guinea reached 39°C (102°F) in Port Moresby on January 21, 2023.

Popular cities in January

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Papua New Guinea in January.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Port Moresby 31°C (88°F) 24°C (75°F) 241 mm (9.5 in)
Madang 30°C (86°F) 25°C (77°F) 409 mm (16 in)
Kokopo 29°C (84°F) 25°C (77°F) 300 mm (12 in)
Lae 29°C (84°F) 24°C (75°F) 586 mm (23 in)
Mount Hagen 23°C (73°F) 13°C (55°F) 560 mm (22 in)
Erave 27°C (81°F) 18°C (64°F) 386 mm (15 in)

Papua New Guinea weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Papua New Guinea in January?

Papua New Guinea typically experiences poor weather in January, part of the season. Daytime highs in Port Moresby average around 31°C (88°F), and temperatures drop to about 24°C (75°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Papua New Guinea in January?

Average temperatures in Papua New Guinea during January range from a nighttime low near 24°C (75°F) to a daytime high around 31°C (88°F) in Port Moresby.

Does Papua New Guinea get a lot of rain in January?

Expect plenty of rainfall. Port Moresby records an average of 241 mm (9.5 in) in January, putting it among the wetter months for Papua New Guinea.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Papua New Guinea?

Given the typically poor weather conditions in Port Moresby, January may not be the ideal time to visit Papua New Guinea.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in July and August offering mostly perfect weather in Port Moresby. The weather in January, February, March, April and December, on the other hand, tends to be poor.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Papua New Guinea.

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

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.