Climate South Africa
Because of its size and location near the southernmost tip of Africa, South Africa has a wide range of temperatures throughout the year. The climate is subtropical, meaning warm to hot year-round with only brief cold spells in winter. The typical temperature in South Africa ranges from about 15 to 20 degrees Celsius, depending on the region and time of year.
Spring (September to November)
Between the extremes of summer heat and winter cold, South Africa has a brief spring from September to November. During this time, temperatures are usually between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius, but this can vary by area.
During this time of year, storms and other types of bad weather are more common and intense throughout the country.
Summer (December to February)
Summer in South Africa reaches its peak during the months of December, January and February. Temperatures usually range from the mid-20s to mid-30s during this time, but in the north and inland areas they can reach much higher.
At this time of year, humidity rises throughout the country, making the already unpleasant heat much worse.
Fall (March to May)
The South African autumn season, covering the months of March through May, is a transitional period between the country's scorching summer and cold winter. At this time of year, temperatures are usually between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius.
At this time of year, precipitation in the country increases, which can lead to an increase in the frequency and intensity of storms and other forms of extreme weather.
Winter (June to August)
The South African winter (June-August) is the period when temperatures drop the most. Usually temperatures at this time of year are between 10 and 15 degrees Celsius, but in some regions they can be significantly lower, especially at higher altitudes.
Part of the country may see sub-zero temperatures and perhaps snowfall due to cold fronts advancing from the South Atlantic.
Climate variations by region
South Africa's weather varies from area to area, and the country's many regions all have their own characteristics. The Western Cape, for example, has a Mediterranean climate, making winters hot and wet and summers extremely hot and dry.
Eastern areas such as KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape have a subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and moderate, dry winters. The northern provinces of Limpopo and Mpumalanga have the same hot, dry climate as the rest of the country.
Click on a region of South Africa to view the climate:
- Southwest South Africa (Cape Town)
- East South Africa (Durban)
- Northeast South Africa (Krugerpark)
Climate Southwest South Africa (Cape Town) by month
Southwest South Africa has a desert climate. The temperature during the day is warm and you won't have rain here anytime soon. The average annual temperature for Southwest South Africa is 21° degrees and there is about 395 mm of rain in a year. It is dry for 233 days a year with an average humidity of 72% and an UV-index of 5.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day temp. (°C) | 26 | 26 | 25 | 22 | 19 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 21 | 22 | 24 |
| Night temp. (°C) | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 13 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 16 |
| Water temp. (°C) | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 20 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Precipitation (mm) | 9 | 8 | 11 | 32 | 40 | 92 | 45 | 68 | 37 | 20 | 19 | 15 |
| Days with rain | 6 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 12 | 9 | 7 | 6 |
| Dry days | 25 | 23 | 24 | 21 | 20 | 16 | 22 | 19 | 18 | 22 | 23 | 25 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Sun hours per day | 11 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 11 | 11 |
| Wind force (Bft) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| UV-index | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 |
Weather data from: Cape Town
Climate East South Africa (Durban) by month
East South Africa has a desert climate. The temperature during the day is warm and you won't have rain here anytime soon. The average annual temperature for East South Africa is 24° degrees and there is about 521 mm of rain in a year. It is dry for 159 days a year with an average humidity of 76% and an UV-index of 5.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day temp. (°C) | 26 | 27 | 26 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
| Night temp. (°C) | 20 | 20 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 19 |
| Water temp. (°C) | 28 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 27 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Precipitation (mm) | 67 | 56 | 60 | 29 | 29 | 9 | 22 | 21 | 31 | 54 | 65 | 78 |
| Days with rain | 21 | 17 | 18 | 12 | 9 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 14 | 18 | 20 | 23 |
| Dry days | 10 | 11 | 13 | 18 | 22 | 24 | 23 | 23 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 8 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Sun hours per day | 8 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| Wind force (Bft) | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| UV-index | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Weather data from: Durban
Climate Northeast South Africa (Krugerpark) by month
Northeast South Africa has a desert climate. The temperature during the day is warm and you won't have rain here anytime soon. The average annual temperature for Northeast South Africa is 29° degrees and there is about 422 mm of rain in a year. It is dry for 203 days a year with an average humidity of 62% and an UV-index of 6.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day temp. (°C) | 31 | 31 | 31 | 28 | 27 | 25 | 24 | 27 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 32 |
| Night temp. (°C) | 21 | 21 | 20 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Precipitation (mm) | 91 | 59 | 50 | 19 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 22 | 65 | 93 |
| Days with rain | 20 | 17 | 18 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 20 |
| Dry days | 11 | 11 | 13 | 19 | 27 | 28 | 27 | 28 | 24 | 22 | 15 | 11 |
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Sun hours per day | 9 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 |
| Wind force (Bft) | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| UV-index | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 |
Weather data from: Krugerpark
