Port Moresby weather in January
January in Port Moresby: sweltering, soaked, with clean air — a gamble, with 23 rainy days.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#11 of 12 months in Port Moresby · #1127 of 1413 destinations to visit in January · comfort 51/100 (tier D)
- Days
- 32°C
- Nights
- 25°C
- Wet days
- 23
- Sun
- 9.1 h
- Humidity
- 82%
- Daylight
- 13 h

Traveller notes on Port Moresby in January
Other months in Port Moresby
Detailed month-specific trip reports for Port Moresby are limited on the forum, with most Papua New Guinea travel discussion focused on itinerary planning and logistics rather than granular weather detail for February specifically. Given the thin destination-specific coverage, this note leans on the well-established regional pattern for this part of the South Pacific: February sits within the Southern Hemisphere's wet season here, meaning hot, humid conditions with frequent rain and real afternoon thunderstorm activity typical of a tropical monsoon climate. Posters discussing PNG travel generally note that humidity and rain are part of the deal regardless of exact month, with proper rain gear and flexible outdoor plans recommended as standard preparation for a February visit to Port Moresby.
Forum posters flag August trade winds as capable of running quite strong across Papua New Guinea, a real factor for coastal areas and boat travel. Posters note the southeast of the country (Alotau and surrounding islands) gets most of its rain in the July-August stretch specifically, though this is a different region from Port Moresby itself. Posters generally rate October as offering mainly dry weather with just occasional showers, implying August around Port Moresby should already be within the broader dry season but with real wind to plan around. Given how few detailed trip reports exist specifically for Port Moresby's August weather, this general seasonal pattern - dry but breezy - is the most reliable guide available.
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Port Moresby climate normals — January
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Port Moresby in January
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
Quietschool holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Port Moresby's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Toughest weatherPort Moresby's weather peaks June–August.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Port Moresby in January
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Rule
Kokoda trek permit
1 Jan – 31 DecEveryone walking the Kokoda Track needs a permit from the track authority, independent or on a tour, and the fee funds the villages along it. Owers' Corner, the southern trailhead, is an hour and a half out of Moresby. Source ↗
- Season
Wet season
MonsoonRisk23 rainy days and about 258 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.
from the climate normals
Where is Port Moresby?
Port Moresby in January — FAQ
- Is January a good time to visit Port Moresby?
- January in Port Moresby: sweltering, soaked, with clean air — a gamble, with 23 rainy days. It ranks #11 of 12 months for Port Moresby on SeasonMap's comfort score (51/100).
- What is the weather like in Port Moresby in January?
- In January, Port Moresby averages a daily high of 32.4°C and a low of 24.5°C, with about 258.2 mm of rain over roughly 22.7 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Port Moresby in January?
- Port Moresby has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 39 in January.