Weather in Boa Vista in January

How January compares

January is the 11th warmest month of the year in Boa Vista and ranks 37th of 134 destinations we compare for January - see where else is hot in January. Within Cape Verde it is 1st of 2 (Cape Verde in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Boa Vista is 17.3°C warmer by day and 17.9°C warmer at night.

Daytime and night-time in January

The typical January day in Boa Vista peaks at 24.7°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 26.8°C or more. Roughly 1 in 2 days top 25°C and 1 in 1000 pass 30°C. Nights average 20.1°C; one night in ten drops to 18.9°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day here reached 30.8°C (2016-01-12) and the coldest night 17.1°C (2020-01-21).

Rain in January

Dry (3 rainy days or fewer): about 0 days with 1 mm or more, 4 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 2005 with 56 mm, the driest 1995 with 0 mm. Humidity averages 68%.

Sea temperature in January

The sea averages 22.7°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 21.9°C to 23.5°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (26.6°C).

Sunshine and daylight

Around 5.9 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 11.1 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:03 and sets about 18:19 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 47%.

Is January a good time to visit Boa Vista?

Yes - it is one of the better months: warm days, little rain. The best months for Boa Vista on our scoring are June, May, March; months averaging 25°C or more: Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.

Warm enough for light clothes, not reliably hot

Boa Vista offers a clear change from a UK January: its average daytime high is 17.3°C above London's. Light clothes should suit the daytime, but pack a light layer for evenings, especially if you tend to feel cold when sitting outside. Only 42% of days reach 25°C, so think comfortable warmth rather than dependable heat. January ranks near the cooler end of the island's year, which makes it a reasonable choice if you dislike very hot weather. You can plan time outdoors without chasing the coolest part of the day, though shade and sun protection still make sense around midday.

Very little rain, but sunshine has its limits

Rain is unlikely to dictate your plans: January averages about 0 rainy days and just 4.0 mm of rain. That supports keeping your outdoor plans flexible rather than building the holiday around indoor alternatives, although a completely rain-free stay is not guaranteed. Sunshine averages 5.9 hours within 11.1 hours of daylight, so dry does not mean clear skies all day. Make use of sunny spells for relaxing by the sea, and keep expectations realistic if uninterrupted sunshine is your main priority. For packing, sun protection deserves more attention than wet-weather gear; a light evening layer is more useful than clothing for intense heat.