Sumatra Weather in January

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

Planning a journey to Sumatra, Indonesia this January and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in Sumatra in January

Sumatra, Indonesia is a region in Indonesia. January in Sumatra generally has temperatures that range from warm to very warm, with precipitation levels ranging from high to heavy.

Temperatures

Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is warm in Tuk Tuk at 26°C (79°F) to very warm in Dumai at 32°C (90°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 24°C (75°F) in Dumai and 19°C (66°F) in Tuk Tuk. These night and day temperatures are average and some days may be even warmer. So be prepared and dress for the heat.

To learn more about the conditions in specific areas of Sumatra, Indonesia, check out the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From high rainfall in Banda Aceh with an average of 147 mm (5.8 in) to heavy rainfall in Matur with 323 mm (13 in).

Average sunshine

Sunshine amounts are decent in most places. Medan gets approximately 127 hours of sunlight in January, offering a reasonable amount of both bright and cloudy periods. Curious about sunnier destinations? Our weather planner makes it easy to find places worldwide with pleasant weather.

Explore Sumatra by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Sumatra — and find the best time to visit. (based on Medan)

Best Places to Visit in Sumatra in January

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

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 Sumatra

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Sumatra, Indonesia?

Temperature range in Sumatra (January)

Precipitation variation in Sumatra (January)

Medan

In January Medan generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 32°C (90°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 23°C (73°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
31°C (88°F)
32°C (90°F)
32°C (90°F)
Min temperature
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
23°C (73°F)
Monthly sun hours
98 hours
127 hours
142 hours
Monthly rainfall
334 mm (13 in)
221 mm (8.7 in)
177 mm (7 in)
Monthly rainy days
15 days
11 days
7 days
Weather conditions

Pekanbaru

In January Pekanbaru generally has very high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 32°C (90°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 23°C (73°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
32°C (90°F)
32°C (90°F)
33°C (91°F)
Min temperature
24°C (75°F)
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
Monthly rainfall
281 mm (11 in)
223 mm (8.8 in)
187 mm (7.4 in)
Monthly rainy days
19 days
14 days
12 days
Weather conditions

Tanjungpandan

In January Tanjungpandan generally has 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 rainfall
372 mm (15 in)
283 mm (11 in)
217 mm (8.5 in)
Monthly rainy days
22 days
17 days
11 days
Weather conditions

Bukittinggi

In January Bukittinggi generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 20°C (68°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
28°C (82°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
20°C (68°F)
20°C (68°F)
20°C (68°F)
Monthly rainfall
380 mm (15 in)
310 mm (12 in)
294 mm (12 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
17 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Matur

In January Matur generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 20°C (68°F) and heavy monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are poor that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
28°C (82°F)
28°C (82°F)
29°C (84°F)
Min temperature
20°C (68°F)
20°C (68°F)
20°C (68°F)
Monthly rainfall
396 mm (16 in)
323 mm (13 in)
312 mm (12 in)
Monthly rainy days
21 days
17 days
14 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Sumatra, in Indonesia.

In our records: Indonesia January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in Indonesia in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • From our sources, the wettest January day in Indonesia brought 389 mm (15 in) in Manado on January 27, 2023.

Popular cities in January

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Medan 32°C (90°F) 23°C (73°F) 221 mm (8.7 in)
Pekanbaru 32°C (90°F) 23°C (73°F) 223 mm (8.8 in)
Tanjungpandan 30°C (86°F) 25°C (77°F) 283 mm (11 in)
Bukittinggi 28°C (82°F) 20°C (68°F) 310 mm (12 in)
Matur 28°C (82°F) 20°C (68°F) 323 mm (13 in)
Dumai 32°C (90°F) 24°C (75°F) 214 mm (8.4 in)

Sumatra weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Sumatra, Indonesia in January?

In January, Sumatra, Indonesia generally has poor weather conditions. Medan sees daytime temperatures near 32°C (90°F), with nights cooling to roughly 23°C (73°F).

What is the average temperature in Sumatra, Indonesia in January?

In Medan, the average daytime high in January is 32°C (90°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 23°C (73°F).

Does Sumatra, Indonesia get a lot of rain in January?

Rainfall in Sumatra, Indonesia peaks during January. Medan averages roughly 221 mm (8.7 in), so frequent and sometimes heavy showers are the norm.

Is January a Good Time to Visit Sumatra, Indonesia?

In our opinion, January may not be the ideal time to visit Sumatra, Indonesia due to the typically poor weather in Medan.

Generally speaking, February provides unpleasant weather in Medan.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Sumatra.

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

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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