Is warm the same as dry in January?

No, and it is the mistake that ruins most January trips. Bali, Phuket's east coast, northern Queensland and much of West Africa are all warm in January while also being at or near their annual rainfall peak. Every destination on this page clears both tests: at least 22°C average and under 90 mm of rain for the month.

How is the score calculated?

Each destination's January record — average temperature, monthly rainfall, humidity, daylight hours and historical sunny days — is scored on a single 0-10 climate-comfort scale, so a hot-and-humid month and a mild-and-dry one can be compared directly.

Guide

Where is it warm in January?

January splits the travel map in two: the northern hemisphere is at its coldest and the southern hemisphere at its wettest. Warm and dry at the same time is rarer than the brochures suggest. This page takes every destination in our climate database, keeps only the ones averaging 22-34°C with under 90 mm of rain in January, and ranks what is left by climate-comfort score.

The ranked list

#	Destination	Avg temp	Rain	Sunny days	Score
1	CarnarvonAustralia	28°C	0 mm	31	10/10
2	BusseltonAustralia	24°C	3 mm	31	10/10
3	ExmouthAustralia	29°C	5 mm	31	10/10
4	Gold CoastAustralia	28°C	10 mm	28	10/10
5	FranschhoekSouth Africa	22°C	15 mm	31	10/10
6	FranschhoekSouth Africa	22°C	15 mm	31	10/10
7	TamarindoCosta Rica	28°C	3 mm	24	9.9/10
8	TamarindoCosta Rica	28°C	3 mm	24	9.9/10
9	GoaIndia	26°C	12 mm	31	9.9/10
10	San Juan del SurNicaragua	28°C	1 mm	22	9.8/10
11	San Juan del SurNicaragua	28°C	1 mm	22	9.8/10
12	Santa MartaColombia	27°C	2 mm	27	9.8/10
13	LamuKenya	28°C	12 mm	31	9.8/10
14	PattayaThailand	27°C	14 mm	22	9.8/10
15	CartagenaColombia	27°C	17 mm	31	9.8/10
16	MombasaKenya	28°C	19 mm	28	9.8/10
17	Diani BeachKenya	28°C	29 mm	28	9.8/10
18	AdelaideAustralia	22°C	36 mm	30	9.8/10
19	MysuruIndia	22°C	8 mm	22	9.7/10
20	MáncoraPeru	24°C	12 mm	29	9.7/10
21	Mui NeVietnam	25°C	13 mm	22	9.7/10
22	Los RoquesVenezuela	27°C	18 mm	25	9.7/10
23	San Andrés IslandColombia	28°C	18 mm	24	9.7/10
24	WatamuKenya	28°C	19 mm	31	9.7/10
25	OudtshoornSouth Africa	23°C	26 mm	31	9.7/10
26	Puerto EscondidoMexico	22°C	5 mm	24	9.6/10
27	Si Phan DonLaos	25°C	10 mm	29	9.6/10
28	VientianeLaos	23°C	17 mm	29	9.6/10
29	Hua HinThailand	26°C	18 mm	21	9.6/10
30	SihanoukvilleCambodia	27°C	19 mm	21	9.6/10
31	Phu QuocVietnam	27°C	19 mm	21	9.6/10
32	LoméTogo	28°C	21 mm	21	9.6/10
33	Phu QuocVietnam	27°C	22 mm	21	9.6/10
34	CastriesSaint Lucia	27°C	25 mm	21	9.6/10
35	Koh RongCambodia	27°C	30 mm	21	9.6/10
36	Manuel AntonioCosta Rica	26°C	35 mm	26	9.6/10
37	MumbaiIndia	22°C	1 mm	18	9.5/10
38	SalalahOman	22°C	8 mm	23	9.5/10
39	Con DaoVietnam	26°C	21 mm	21	9.5/10
40	AricaChile	22°C	1 mm	31	9.4/10

How to read it

A high score means the month is comfortable, not merely hot: 33°C with 85% humidity scores below 27°C with dry air. The rainfall column is the one to check against your own tolerance — under 30 mm is effectively a dry month, 60-90 mm means an occasional afternoon shower rather than lost days.

Frequently asked questions

Where is it warm in January?: The reliable January warmth sits in three bands: the Caribbean and Central America, the Red Sea and southern Arabia, and Southeast Asia's dry-season coasts. Southern-hemisphere summer adds Australia, southern Africa and the South Pacific, though several of those are also in their wettest months, which is why this list filters on rainfall as well as temperature.
Is warm the same as dry in January?: No, and it is the mistake that ruins most January trips. Bali, Phuket's east coast, northern Queensland and much of West Africa are all warm in January while also being at or near their annual rainfall peak. Every destination on this page clears both tests: at least 22°C average and under 90 mm of rain for the month.
How is the score calculated?: Each destination's January record — average temperature, monthly rainfall, humidity, daylight hours and historical sunny days — is scored on a single 0-10 climate-comfort scale, so a hot-and-humid month and a mild-and-dry one can be compared directly.

More guides: all guides