SeasonMapWhat season is it in January? The world, region by region
In January, 6 of 27 regions are in a dry season, 3 in a wet one and 18 in between; the northern hemisphere is in winter (16 regions), the southern in summer (3) and 8 regions are tropical, with no cool season. The region with most places at their best is Central America, 79% of its 34.
Each row averages the region's own places from monthly climate normals: the afternoon feels-like high, the month's rain and its share of the year, and the hazard and condition seasons on somewhere in it. Wet means the month carries well over its share of the year's rain; dry, well under.
Every region has its own year. “In season” and “off-season” below compare a region against its own twelve months, never against another region's — a hemisphere in its winter isn't “worse” than one in summer, it's just further from its own best months right now.
In season in January (7 regions)
well over a third of the region's places are at one of their own best three months right now.
Central AmericaNorth America
79% of 34 places at their bestJanuary in Central America is tropical and dry: 30 °C afternoons and 65 mm of rain, 3% of the year's total; dry season and wind season are on in parts of the region — 79% of its 34 places are at their best.
- Season
- Tropical
- Rain
- Dry season
- Afternoons
- 30 °C
- Rainfall
- 65 mm (3% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇬🇹 Antigua Guatemala, 🇨🇷 Nosara, 🇬🇹 Lake Atitlán, 🇧🇿 Caye Caulker
West AfricaAfrica
76% of 24 places at their bestJanuary in West Africa is tropical and dry: 32 °C afternoons and 11 mm of rain, 1% of the year's total; dust season is on in parts of the region, dry season and wind season in others — 76% of its 24 places are at their best.
- Season
- Tropical
- Rain
- Dry season
- Afternoons
- 32 °C
- Rainfall
- 11 mm (1% of the year)
CaribbeanNorth America
68% of 47 places at their bestJanuary in the Caribbean is tropical and dry: 30 °C afternoons and 37 mm of rain, 4% of the year's total; dry season and winter-sun season are on in parts of the region — 68% of its 47 places are at their best.
- Season
- Tropical
- Rain
- Dry season
- Afternoons
- 30 °C
- Rainfall
- 37 mm (4% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇯🇲 Negril, 🇩🇴 Punta Cana, 🇯🇲 Montego Bay, 🇩🇴 Samaná
Southeast AsiaAsia
58% of 102 places at their bestJanuary in Southeast Asia is tropical and between wet and dry: 32 °C afternoons and 132 mm of rain, 6% of the year's total; smoke season and extreme cold are on in parts of the region, dry season and monsoon in others — 58% of its 102 places are at their best.
- Season
- Tropical
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 32 °C
- Rainfall
- 132 mm (6% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇻🇳 Phu Quoc, 🇹🇭 Pattaya, 🇹🇭 Khao Lak, 🇲🇾 Langkawi
South AsiaAsia
57% of 76 places at their bestJanuary in South Asia is winter and dry: 20 °C afternoons and 62 mm of rain, 4% of the year's total; winter smog and extreme cold are on in parts of the region, dry season and ski season in others — 57% of its 76 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Dry season
- Afternoons
- 20 °C
- Rainfall
- 62 mm (4% of the year)
⚠ Winter smog⚠ Extreme cold⚠ Smoke season⚠ Avalanche seasonDry seasonSki seasonOff-season shutdownHarvestBest-known this month: 🇮🇳 Goa, 🇮🇳 Jodhpur, 🇮🇳 Kolkata, 🇮🇳 Udaipur
OceaniaOceania
46% of 48 places at their bestJanuary in Oceania is summer and between wet and dry: 27 °C afternoons and 135 mm of rain, 11% of the year's total; cyclone season and smoke season are on in parts of the region, trail season and monsoon in others — 46% of its 48 places are at their best.
- Season
- Summer
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 27 °C
- Rainfall
- 135 mm (11% of the year)
⚠ Cyclone season⚠ Smoke season⚠ Extreme heat⚠ Flood seasonTrail seasonMonsoonSea warm enoughSummer season opensBest-known this month: 🇦🇺 Hobart, 🇳🇿 Christchurch, 🇦🇺 Cradle Mountain, 🇳🇿 Lake Tekapo
Central AfricaAfrica
43% of 9 places at their bestJanuary in Central Africa is tropical and between wet and dry: 35 °C afternoons and 80 mm of rain, 6% of the year's total; dust season is on in parts of the region, dry season and monsoon in others — 43% of its 9 places are at their best.
- Season
- Tropical
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 35 °C
- Rainfall
- 80 mm (6% of the year)
Shoulder season in January (8 regions)
a mixed bag — some of the region's places are near their best, most aren't.
East AfricaAfrica
37% of 32 places at their bestJanuary in East Africa is tropical and between wet and dry: 30 °C afternoons and 113 mm of rain, 8% of the year's total; monsoon and dry season are on in parts of the region — 37% of its 32 places are at their best.
- Season
- Tropical
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 30 °C
- Rainfall
- 113 mm (8% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇰🇪 Lamu, 🇰🇪 Mombasa, 🇰🇪 Nairobi, 🇰🇪 Maasai Mara
Middle EastAsia
33% of 46 places at their bestJanuary in the Middle East is winter and between wet and dry: 17 °C afternoons and 38 mm of rain, 18% of the year's total; flood season and extreme cold are on in parts of the region, winter-sun season and ski season in others — 33% of its 46 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 17 °C
- Rainfall
- 38 mm (18% of the year)
⚠ Flood season⚠ Extreme cold⚠ Winter smogWinter-sun seasonSki seasonOff-season shutdownSummer season opensBest-known this month: 🇶🇦 Doha, 🇴🇲 Nizwa, 🇦🇪 Abu Dhabi, 🇦🇪 Dubai
South AmericaSouth America
27% of 121 places at their bestJanuary in South America is summer and between wet and dry: 28 °C afternoons and 143 mm of rain, 11% of the year's total; flood season and extreme heat are on in parts of the region, monsoon and wind season in others — 27% of its 121 places are at their best.
- Season
- Summer
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 28 °C
- Rainfall
- 143 mm (11% of the year)
⚠ Flood season⚠ Extreme heat⚠ Smoke season⚠ Storm seasonMonsoonWind seasonTrail seasonSea warm enoughBest-known this month: 🇨🇱 San Pedro de Atacama, 🇦🇷 El Calafate, 🇨🇴 Cartagena, 🇪🇨 Puerto Ayora
Southern AfricaAfrica
26% of 35 places at their bestJanuary in Southern Africa is summer and wet: 31 °C afternoons and 124 mm of rain, 19% of the year's total; cyclone season and storm season are on in parts of the region, monsoon and wind season in others — 26% of its 35 places are at their best.
- Season
- Summer
- Rain
- Wet season
- Afternoons
- 31 °C
- Rainfall
- 124 mm (19% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇿🇦 Knysna, 🇿🇦 Port Elizabeth, 🇳🇦 Swakopmund, 🇿🇦 Durban
Central EuropeEurope
23% of 70 places at their bestJanuary in Central Europe is winter and between wet and dry: 0 °C afternoons and 82 mm of rain, 7% of the year's total; winter smog and avalanche season are on in parts of the region, ski season and wind season in others — 23% of its 70 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 0 °C
- Rainfall
- 82 mm (7% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇨🇭 Davos, 🇦🇹 Ischgl, 🇨🇭 Verbier, 🇦🇹 Sölden
East AsiaAsia
17% of 82 places at their bestJanuary in East Asia is winter and dry: 6 °C afternoons and 64 mm of rain, 4% of the year's total; winter smog and extreme cold are on in parts of the region, ski season and ice season in others — 17% of its 82 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Dry season
- Afternoons
- 6 °C
- Rainfall
- 64 mm (4% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇯🇵 Niseko, 🇯🇵 Hakuba, 🇯🇵 Furano, 🇹🇼 Sun Moon Lake
North AfricaAfrica
15% of 35 places at their bestJanuary in North Africa is winter and dry: 17 °C afternoons and 19 mm of rain, 10% of the year's total; flood season is on in parts of the region, surf season and harvest in others — 15% of its 35 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Dry season
- Afternoons
- 17 °C
- Rainfall
- 19 mm (10% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇪🇬 Sharm El Sheikh, 🇪🇬 Marsa Alam, 🇪🇬 Dahab, 🇪🇬 Hurghada
North AmericaNorth America
15% of 225 places at their bestJanuary in North America is winter and between wet and dry: 6 °C afternoons and 76 mm of rain, 8% of the year's total; extreme cold and algae & red tide are on in parts of the region, ski season and off-season shutdown in others — 15% of its 225 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 6 °C
- Rainfall
- 76 mm (8% of the year)
⚠ Extreme cold⚠ Algae & red tide⚠ Avalanche season⚠ Flood seasonSki seasonOff-season shutdownIce seasonWind seasonBest-known this month: 🇲🇽 Puerto Escondido, 🇺🇸 Aspen, 🇲🇽 Los Cabos, 🇺🇸 Park City
Off-season in January (12 regions)
few of the region's places are near their own best right now — that's a fact about the calendar, not a verdict on the place.
PacificOceania
9% of 33 places at their bestJanuary in the Pacific is tropical and between wet and dry: 33 °C afternoons and 273 mm of rain, 12% of the year's total; cyclone season and flood season are on in parts of the region, monsoon and dry season in others — 9% of its 33 places are at their best.
- Season
- Tropical
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 33 °C
- Rainfall
- 273 mm (12% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇲🇵 Saipan, Rarotonga, Avarua, Aitutaki
CaucasusAsia
9% of 11 places at their bestJanuary in the Caucasus is winter and between wet and dry: 1 °C afternoons and 63 mm of rain, 6% of the year's total; avalanche season is on in parts of the region, ski season and off-season shutdown in others — 9% of its 11 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 1 °C
- Rainfall
- 63 mm (6% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇬🇪 Gudauri, 🇬🇪 Tbilisi, 🇦🇿 Baku, 🇬🇪 Kazbegi
Eastern EuropeEurope
9% of 38 places at their bestJanuary in Eastern Europe is winter and between wet and dry: -6 °C afternoons and 48 mm of rain, 6% of the year's total; extreme cold and winter smog are on in parts of the region, ski season and ice season in others — 9% of its 38 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- -6 °C
- Rainfall
- 48 mm (6% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇧🇬 Borovets, 🇷🇺 Elbrus, 🇷🇺 Krasnaya Polyana, 🇷🇴 Brașov
Western EuropeEurope
8% of 38 places at their bestJanuary in Western Europe is winter and between wet and dry: 5 °C afternoons and 83 mm of rain, 9% of the year's total; storm season is on in parts of the region, wind season and off-season shutdown in others — 8% of its 38 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 5 °C
- Rainfall
- 83 mm (9% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇫🇷 Courchevel, 🇫🇷 Val d'Isère, 🇫🇷 Chamonix, 🇫🇷 Marseille
Southern EuropeEurope
7% of 108 places at their bestJanuary in Southern Europe is winter and between wet and dry: 10 °C afternoons and 75 mm of rain, 11% of the year's total; dust season and extreme cold are on in parts of the region, off-season shutdown and ski season in others — 7% of its 108 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 10 °C
- Rainfall
- 75 mm (11% of the year)
⚠ Dust season⚠ Extreme cold⚠ Winter smog⚠ Avalanche seasonOff-season shutdownSki seasonHarvestSurf seasonBest-known this month: 🇪🇸 Las Palmas, 🇮🇹 Livigno, 🇮🇹 Madonna di Campiglio, 🇮🇹 Courmayeur
Northern EuropeEurope
4% of 75 places at their bestJanuary in Northern Europe is winter and between wet and dry: 0 °C afternoons and 91 mm of rain, 9% of the year's total; storm season and flood season are on in parts of the region, ski season and off-season shutdown in others — 4% of its 75 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 0 °C
- Rainfall
- 91 mm (9% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇸🇪 Åre, 🇫🇮 Ruka, 🇬🇧 Aviemore, 🇫🇮 Levi
Western AsiaAsia
4% of 26 places at their bestJanuary in Western Asia is winter and wet: 8 °C afternoons and 134 mm of rain, 18% of the year's total; extreme cold and winter smog are on in parts of the region, off-season shutdown and ski season in others — 4% of its 26 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Wet season
- Afternoons
- 8 °C
- Rainfall
- 134 mm (18% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇹🇷 Uludağ, 🇹🇷 Göreme, 🇹🇷 Pamukkale, 🇹🇷 Selçuk
Southeast EuropeEurope
0% of 25 places at their bestJanuary in Southeast Europe is winter and between wet and dry: 7 °C afternoons and 114 mm of rain, 10% of the year's total; winter smog is on in parts of the region, off-season shutdown and wind season in others — 0% of its 25 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 7 °C
- Rainfall
- 114 mm (10% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇭🇷 Split, 🇭🇷 Plitvice Lakes, 🇷🇸 Belgrade, 🇭🇷 Hvar
Indian OceanAfrica
0% of 18 places at their bestJanuary in the Indian Ocean is tropical and wet: 35 °C afternoons and 240 mm of rain, 20% of the year's total; cyclone season is on in parts of the region, monsoon and wind season in others — 0% of its 18 places are at their best.
- Season
- Tropical
- Rain
- Wet season
- Afternoons
- 35 °C
- Rainfall
- 240 mm (20% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇲🇺 Grand Baie, 🇲🇻 Malé, 🇲🇺 Port Louis, 🇸🇨 Praslin
Central AsiaAsia
0% of 16 places at their bestJanuary in Central Asia is winter and between wet and dry: 1 °C afternoons and 36 mm of rain, 8% of the year's total; extreme cold and winter smog are on in parts of the region, off-season shutdown and ski season in others — 0% of its 16 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 1 °C
- Rainfall
- 36 mm (8% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇺🇿 Bukhara, 🇰🇿 Almaty
MediterraneanEurope
0% of 5 places at their bestJanuary in the Mediterranean is winter and between wet and dry: 15 °C afternoons and 61 mm of rain, 20% of the year's total; winter-sun season and off-season shutdown are on in parts of the region — 0% of its 5 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 15 °C
- Rainfall
- 61 mm (20% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇲🇹 Valletta, 🇨🇾 Limassol, 🇨🇾 Paphos
ArcticNorth America
0% of 3 places at their bestJanuary in the Arctic is winter and between wet and dry: -12 °C afternoons and 56 mm of rain, 8% of the year's total; ski season and ice season are on in parts of the region — 0% of its 3 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- -12 °C
- Rainfall
- 56 mm (8% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇬🇱 Ilulissat
The two hemispheres in January
Northern hemisphere
Winter in 16 regions (South Asia, Middle East, Central Europe, East Asia, North Africa, North America, Caucasus, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Southern Europe, Northern Europe, Western Asia, Southeast Europe, Central Asia, Mediterranean, Arctic). Tropical, with no cool season: Central America, West Africa, Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Central Africa. Driest: North Africa at 19 mm; wettest: Western Asia at 134 mm. Most places at their best: Central America, 79%.
Southern hemisphere
Summer in 3 regions (Oceania, South America, Southern Africa). Tropical, with no cool season: East Africa, Pacific, Indian Ocean. Driest: Southern Africa at 124 mm; wettest: South America at 143 mm. Most places at their best: Oceania, 46%.