Weather in Cancun in January

How January compares

January is the 12th warmest month of the year in Cancun and ranks 35th of 134 destinations we compare for January - see where else is hot in January. Within Mexico it is 5th of 5 (Mexico in January). Against London's average high of 7.4°C in January, Cancun is 18.0°C warmer by day and 20.0°C warmer at night.

Daytime and night-time in January

The typical January day in Cancun peaks at 25.4°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 27.3°C or more. About 65% of days top 25°C. Nights average 22.2°C; one night in ten drops to 19.5°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest January day here reached 29.7°C (2017-01-22) and the coldest night 15.6°C (2017-01-24).

Rain in January

Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 11 days with 1 mm or more, 61 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest January was 2014 with 165 mm, the driest 2001 with 7 mm. Humidity averages 73%.

Sea temperature in January

The sea averages 26.1°C - warm enough to swim (22°c+). Depending on the year it ranges from 25.6°C to 26.5°C. For the warmest sea here, come in September (28.9°C).

Sunshine and daylight

Around 5.6 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 10.8 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:27 and sets about 18:26 local time in mid-January. Average cloud cover is 48%.

Is January a good time to visit Cancun?

It is a reasonable choice: hot days but expect showers. The best months for Cancun on our scoring are April, March, February; months averaging 25°C or more: Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec.

Warm enough for light clothes, without peak heat

January is Cancun's coolest month, but that needs putting in context: daytime highs are around 18°C above London's. Days reach 25°C about 65% of the time, so light clothing is a sensible starting point rather than something reserved for an unusually warm afternoon. This suits travellers who want warmth without making very hot weather the focus of the trip. Humidity is 73%, so it can still feel sticky; keep midday plans relaxed if you dislike humid conditions. Evenings are generally warm, though the coldest 10% of nights fall to 19.5°C or below. Pack a light layer alongside your summer clothes rather than assuming every evening will feel equally balmy.

Leave room for rain and cloud

The catch is that January is still wet enough to interrupt outdoor plans, with about 10 rainy days during the month. That does not tell you how long any spell of rain will last, so neither a complete washout nor a quick shower is a safe assumption. Expect a mixture rather than uninterrupted sunshine: there are about 5.6 hours of sunshine within 10.8 hours of daylight. Keep beach time flexible, carry a light waterproof and choose plans you can change without much fuss. January is a better fit for someone happy to work around the weather than for someone whose holiday depends on clear skies every day.