January is one of the cooler months of the year in Panama City, with average highs near 16.1°C and lows around 9.5°C (mean 12.8°C). It is about average for rainfall, averaging 115 mm of rainfall and 81% relative humidity across the period.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Panama City. Across 45 years of records, the warmest January in Panama City was 2017 — when the month averaged 16°C — while the coldest was 2014 at 9.5°C. Typical January days reach 16.1°C with nights near 9.5°C. The long-term trend is warming, about 0.2°C per decade.
January is about average for rainfall in Panama City, averaging 115 mm of rainfall. The wettest January on record was 1991 with 412 mm, while the driest was 2003 at 14 mm.
Relative humidity in Panama City during January averages 81%. The most humid January was 1993 at 86%, and the least humid was 1981 at 68%.
January receives about 3.1 kWh/m²/day of solar energy in Panama City. The sunniest January was 2003 at 3.6 kWh/m²/day, and the cloudiest were 1991 and 1993 at 2.3.
Average wind speed in Panama City during January is 4.1 m/s. The windiest January was 1996 at 4.7 m/s, while the calmest was 1989 at 3.4 m/s.
Ranked against the other 11 months using 1981–2025 averages.
| Metric | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s | 2020s | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Temp | 11.9°C | 13.4°C | 13.1°C | 12.5°C | 13.1°C | +1.2°C |
| Avg High | 15.2°C | 16.6°C | 16.3°C | 15.8°C | 16.4°C | +1.2°C |
| Avg Low | 8.6°C | 10.2°C | 9.9°C | 9.1°C | 9.7°C | +1.1°C |
| Avg Rain | 102 mm | 169 mm | 78 mm | 108 mm | 119 mm | +17 mm |
January temperatures in Panama City have risen by about 1.6°C between 1981–1985 and 2021–2025.
January has ranged from a record low of -6.6°C (1985) to a record high of 23.8°C (2022).
Rainfall in January is about average for rainfall, averaging 115 mm, with a wettest year of 412 mm.
A quieter season to visit Panama City
If your dates are flexible, the more temperate months of October and May tend to be the most comfortable for visiting Panama City. That said, January — with days averaging 16.1°C and nights around 9.5°C (mean 12.8°C) and higher rainfall (115 mm) — can still be rewarding for travellers who don't mind the cooler conditions, and often means fewer crowds.
| Year | Avg High | Avg Temp | Avg Low | Hottest Day | Coldest Day | Rainfall | Humidity | Wind | Solar |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 14.3°C | 10.5°C | 6.7°C | 20.8°C | -1.1°C | 106 mm | 77% | 4.1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2024 | 15.7°C | 12.1°C | 8.4°C | 20.9°C | -1.7°C | 161 mm | 83% | 4.6 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2023 | 18.7°C | 15.6°C | 12.4°C | 22.7°C | 5.2°C | 119 mm | 80% | 3.6 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2022 | 15.9°C | 12.5°C | 9.0°C | 23.8°C | 2.5°C | 82 mm | 80% | 4.3 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2021 | 16.1°C | 13.2°C | 10.3°C | 22.0°C | 3.0°C | 153 mm | 82% | 3.9 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2020 | 17.9°C | 14.8°C | 11.6°C | 23.4°C | 2.0°C | 95 mm | 82% | 4.1 m/s | 3 |
| 2019 | 16.0°C | 12.8°C | 9.6°C | 21.9°C | 3.4°C | 99 mm | 81% | 4.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2018 | 14.3°C | 10.4°C | 6.6°C | 20.4°C | -1.2°C | 76 mm | 73% | 4.5 m/s | 3.5 |
| 2017 🔥 | 18.9°C | 16.0°C | 13.0°C | 23.6°C | 0.2°C | 178 mm | 83% | 4.2 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2016 | 15.3°C | 12.1°C | 8.8°C | 20.2°C | 2.3°C | 136 mm | 80% | 4.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2015 | 15.9°C | 12.5°C | 9.0°C | 22.0°C | -2.6°C | 113 mm | 82% | 4 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2014 ❄️ | 13.3°C | 9.5°C | 5.8°C | 20.1°C | -3.1°C | 109 mm | 81% | 4.3 m/s | 3 |
| 2013 | 18.8°C | 15.9°C | 12.9°C | 22.8°C | 7.0°C | 34 mm | 82% | 4.1 m/s | 3 |
| 2012 | 18.2°C | 15.0°C | 11.8°C | 22.2°C | 3.7°C | 62 mm | 79% | 3.8 m/s | 3.4 |
| 2011 | 14.3°C | 10.8°C | 7.3°C | 19.3°C | 0.1°C | 110 mm | 78% | 3.9 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2010 | 13.0°C | 9.8°C | 6.7°C | 20.3°C | -0.6°C | 167 mm | 81% | 4.6 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2009 | 16.7°C | 13.5°C | 10.2°C | 21.6°C | 0.7°C | 57 mm | 79% | 3.9 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2008 | 15.9°C | 12.4°C | 8.8°C | 21.5°C | 0.0°C | 93 mm | 81% | 4.5 m/s | 3 |
| 2007 | 16.8°C | 13.7°C | 10.6°C | 22.7°C | 1.2°C | 113 mm | 81% | 4 m/s | 2.7 |
| 2006 | 17.9°C | 14.9°C | 11.8°C | 21.9°C | 4.0°C | 92 mm | 81% | 4.1 m/s | 3.3 |
| 2005 | 17.4°C | 14.5°C | 11.5°C | 21.9°C | 0.7°C | 83 mm | 85% | 4.2 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2004 | 15.9°C | 12.6°C | 9.3°C | 22.3°C | 2.1°C | 77 mm | 80% | 3.9 m/s | 3.1 |
| 2003 | 13.7°C | 10.4°C | 7.1°C | 19.0°C | -3.3°C | 14 mm | 76% | 4.3 m/s | 3.6 |
| 2002 | 17.0°C | 14.0°C | 10.9°C | 22.6°C | 1.4°C | 118 mm | 84% | 3.6 m/s | 2.8 |
| 2001 | 14.8°C | 11.3°C | 7.9°C | 21.8°C | 1.1°C | 58 mm | 78% | 3.8 m/s | 3.2 |
| 2000 | 17.2°C | 13.9°C | 10.5°C | 21.9°C | 1.5°C | 78 mm | 79% | 4.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1999 | 17.8°C | 14.4°C | 11.0°C | 22.1°C | -1.2°C | 131 mm | 85% | 4.2 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1998 | 16.7°C | 13.7°C | 10.7°C | 21.0°C | 4.0°C | 191 mm | 85% | 3.8 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1997 | 17.0°C | 13.6°C | 10.3°C | 22.4°C | -0.5°C | 149 mm | 83% | 4.1 m/s | 3 |
| 1996 | 16.7°C | 12.7°C | 8.7°C | 21.7°C | 0.0°C | 69 mm | 81% | 4.7 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1995 | 15.7°C | 12.7°C | 9.8°C | 20.9°C | 3.0°C | 124 mm | 79% | 4.1 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1994 | 14.0°C | 10.7°C | 7.4°C | 19.6°C | -1.2°C | 151 mm | 83% | 4.4 m/s | 3 |
| 1993 | 18.1°C | 15.4°C | 12.6°C | 22.4°C | 6.1°C | 212 mm | 86% | 3.6 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1992 | 15.3°C | 12.4°C | 9.4°C | 20.9°C | 2.8°C | 172 mm | 80% | 4.1 m/s | 2.8 |
| 1991 🌧️ | 17.6°C | 14.3°C | 11.1°C | 22.1°C | 3.7°C | 412 mm | 85% | 3.9 m/s | 2.3 |
| 1990 | 16.9°C | 13.7°C | 10.5°C | 20.9°C | 2.8°C | 77 mm | 85% | 3.5 m/s | 3.2 |
| 1989 | 19.2°C | 15.9°C | 12.6°C | 22.1°C | 6.4°C | 30 mm | 82% | 3.4 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1988 | 13.8°C | 10.8°C | 7.8°C | 20.0°C | 2.2°C | 106 mm | 81% | 4.3 m/s | 2.6 |
| 1987 | 15.5°C | 12.4°C | 9.3°C | 22.3°C | 0.7°C | 209 mm | 82% | 4.4 m/s | 3 |
| 1986 | 15.4°C | 12.1°C | 8.9°C | 19.7°C | -1.3°C | 100 mm | 81% | 3.8 m/s | 3.4 |
| 1985 | 14.5°C | 10.8°C | 7.1°C | 23.1°C | -6.6°C | 117 mm | 75% | 4.4 m/s | 3 |
| 1984 | 13.7°C | 10.4°C | 7.1°C | 19.8°C | 1.1°C | 105 mm | 83% | 3.9 m/s | 3.1 |
| 1983 | 14.7°C | 11.8°C | 8.8°C | 20.1°C | 2.9°C | 105 mm | 81% | 3.8 m/s | — |
| 1982 | 16.0°C | 12.4°C | 8.8°C | 21.7°C | -4.1°C | 101 mm | 83% | 4.1 m/s | — |
| 1981 | 14.3°C | 10.6°C | 6.9°C | 19.7°C | -1.5°C | 49 mm | 68% | 4 m/s | — |
Actual recorded January data for each year, 1981–2025 — sourced from NASA POWER.
The average high in January is around 16.1°C with lows near 9.5°C (mean 12.8°C), based on 45 years of NASA POWER data.
January averages 115 mm of rainfall in Panama City, about average for rainfall. The wettest on record was 412 mm in 1991.
The hottest January reached 23.8°C in 2022. The coldest dipped to -6.6°C in 1985.
Comparing the earliest years on record (1981–1985) with the most recent (2021–2025), average January temperatures have risen by about 1.6°C. Daytime highs moved from 14.6°C to 16.1°C and overnight lows from 7.7°C to 9.4°C over the same span.
January is one of the cooler months of the year in Panama City and about average for rainfall, so plan for around 16.1°C daytime highs and 9.5°C at night.
Yes — January is the coldest month of the year in Panama City, averaging 12.8°C.
For January in Panama City, pack light layers you can adjust through the day, with typical highs of 16.1°C and lows of 9.5°C. Bring an umbrella or light rain jacket too.
Relative humidity in January averages 81% — quite humid.
Average wind speed in January is 4.1 m/s. The windiest January on record averaged 4.7 m/s (1996).
The wettest January on record was 1991 with 412 mm. On average, January sees 115 mm.
All figures are derived from NASA POWER (Prediction Of Worldwide Energy Resources), based on MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis, covering 1981–2025.
Explore how the weather in Panama City behaves each January, based on 45 years of NASA POWER climate data from 1981 to 2025. This page breaks down average temperatures, rainfall, humidity, wind and solar radiation for January specifically, along with year-by-year records and how the month has changed over the decades.
