Knysna

Western Cape Weather in January

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Western Cape, South Africa in January.

Planning a getaway to Western Cape, South Africa this January and curious about the weather you should prepare for? Discover all the vital details you need on this page, solving your puzzle:

What to Expect in Western Cape in January

Western Cape, South Africa is a region in South Africa. Western Cape, South Africa has a wide variety of climate types. During January, you can expect temperatures that range from pleasant to very warm and precipitation levels ranging from low to moderate.

Temperatures

During the day the temperature is pleasant in Paternoster at 21°C (70°F) and very warm in Merweville at 33°C (91°F). As night falls, temperatures generally drop to 18°C (64°F) in Merweville and 17°C (63°F) in Paternoster.

For a closer look at conditions across Western Cape, South Africa, refer to the map below.

Precipitation

In January, precipitation varies across different areas. From low rainfall in Strandfontein with an average of 7.3 mm (0.3 in) to moderate rainfall in Natureʼs Valley with 57 mm (2.2 in).

Average sunshine

Most destinations offer generous amounts of sunshine this January. For example, Cape Town gets approximately 338 hours of sunlight, perfect for anyone wanting bright, sunny days.

Explore Western Cape by month

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

Best Places to Visit in Western Cape in January

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

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 Western Cape

What is the weather like in January for some of the most popular destinations in Western Cape, South Africa?

Temperature range in Western Cape (January)

Precipitation variation in Western Cape (January)

Cape Town

In January Cape Town generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 25°C (77°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 18°C (64°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
24°C (75°F)
25°C (77°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly sun hours
334 hours
338 hours
297 hours
Monthly rainfall
22 mm (0.9 in)
20 mm (0.8 in)
19 mm (0.7 in)
Monthly rainy days
6 days
5 days
4 days
Weather conditions

Knysna

In January Knysna generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C (75°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 18°C (64°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
17°C (63°F)
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly sun hours
345 hours
320 hours
300 hours
Monthly rainfall
51 mm (2 in)
52 mm (2 in)
50 mm (2 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions

Stellenbosch

In January Stellenbosch generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 28°C (82°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 17°C (63°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
26°C (79°F)
28°C (82°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
17°C (63°F)
Monthly sun hours
334 hours
338 hours
297 hours
Monthly rainfall
28 mm (1.1 in)
25 mm (1 in)
23 mm (0.9 in)
Monthly rainy days
6 days
5 days
4 days
Weather conditions

Hermanus

In January Hermanus generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C (75°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 18°C (64°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
17°C (63°F)
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly rainfall
30 mm (1.2 in)
28 mm (1.1 in)
30 mm (1.2 in)
Monthly rainy days
6 days
6 days
6 days
Weather conditions

Plettenberg Bay

In January Plettenberg Bay generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C (75°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 18°C (64°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

December
January
February
Max temperature
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
17°C (63°F)
18°C (64°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly sun hours
345 hours
320 hours
300 hours
Monthly rainfall
51 mm (2 in)
51 mm (2 in)
50 mm (2 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Western Cape, in South Africa.

In our records: South Africa January extremes

Notable January records observed across cities in South Africa 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 South Africa brought 323 mm (13 in) in Hoedspruit on January 18, 2012.

Popular cities in January

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

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Cape Town 25°C (77°F) 18°C (64°F) 20 mm (0.8 in)
Knysna 24°C (75°F) 18°C (64°F) 52 mm (2 in)
Stellenbosch 28°C (82°F) 17°C (63°F) 25 mm (1 in)
Hermanus 24°C (75°F) 18°C (64°F) 28 mm (1.1 in)
Plettenberg Bay 24°C (75°F) 18°C (64°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Bloubergstrand 27°C (81°F) 18°C (64°F) 15 mm (0.6 in)

Western Cape weather in January: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Western Cape, South Africa in January?

Western Cape, South Africa typically experiences perfect weather in January, part of the season. Daytime highs in Cape Town average around 25°C (77°F), and temperatures drop to about 18°C (64°F) at night.

What is the average temperature in Western Cape, South Africa in January?

Daytime temperatures in Cape Town peak at roughly 25°C (77°F) in January, dropping to about 18°C (64°F) overnight.

Does Western Cape, South Africa get a lot of rain in January?

Rain is generally moderate to light in Western Cape, South Africa during January, with Cape Town averaging close to 20 mm (0.8 in).

Is January a Good Time to Visit Western Cape, South Africa?

We believe that January is one of the best times to visit Western Cape, South Africa with overall perfect weather in Cape Town.

On average, the best time to visit Western Cape, South Africa is in January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December with generally perfect weather in Cape Town. On the other hand, the month of July tends to have unpleasant weather conditions.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Western Cape.

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

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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