South Africa
Cape Town Weather & Climate
Table Mountain, Boulders Beach penguins and the Cape of Good Hope
20°C
Max sea
22°C
Max air
January
Best month
11mm
Driest month
Table Mountain, Boulders Beach penguins and the Cape of Good Hope
Cape Town is consistently rated one of the world's most beautiful cities, and the claim is hard to argue with: a flat-topped mountain rising 1,000m above a city that stretches around two ocean-facing bays, with vineyards, penguin colonies, wildflower reserves and dramatic sea cliffs within an hour's drive. The V&A Waterfront has the restaurants and the views; the Cape Winelands (Stellenbosch, Franschhoek) have the food and the wine; Clifton and Camps Bay have some of the southern hemisphere's most spectacular urban beaches; and the Cape of Good Hope, where two oceans are said to meet, has a romance that no photograph quite captures. The city is also the world's most important hub for whale watching — southern right whales calve in Walker Bay between July and November.
When to go: November to March is Cape Town's summer — warm, sunny and ideal for beaches. July to September brings whale watching season.
The best months to visit Cape Town are January, February. Peak season is January with the best combination of warm temperatures and low rainfall.
| Month | Air | Sea | Rain | UV | Wind |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22°C | 19°C | 15mm | 9 | 18 |
| Feb | 22°C | 20°C | 17mm | 8 | 18 |
| Mar | 21°C | 19°C | 20mm | 7 | 17 |
| Apr | 18°C | 18°C | 41mm | 5 | 18 |
| May | 15°C | 17°C | 69mm | 4 | 19 |
| Jun | 13°C | 16°C | 93mm | 3 | 20 |
| Jul | 12°C | 15°C | 82mm | 3 | 20 |
| Aug | 13°C | 15°C | 77mm | 4 | 19 |
| Sep | 14°C | 16°C | 41mm | 5 | 18 |
| Oct | 17°C | 17°C | 31mm | 7 | 17 |
| Nov | 19°C | 18°C | 14mm | 8 | 17 |
| Dec | 21°C | 19°C | 11mm | 9 | 17 |
The best time to visit Cape Town is January, February. Peak season is January when temperatures reach 22°C with virtually no rain. November to March is Cape Town's summer — warm, sunny and ideal for beaches. July to September brings whale watching season.
Sea temperatures in Cape Town range from 15°C in July to 20°C in February. The sea is refreshing at its warmest.
Winter temperatures in Cape Town average 21°C with sea temperatures of 19°C. Conditions are milder in winter.
The driest month is December with 11mm. The wettest month sees 93mm. Cape Town receives 511mm annually.
Mild and refreshing seas. Virtually no rain (15mm). UV 9. Sun protection essential.
Mild and refreshing seas. Virtually no rain (17mm). UV 8. Sun protection essential.
Mild and refreshing seas. Virtually no rain (20mm). UV 7.
Cool and refreshing seas. Very little rain (41mm). UV 5.
Cool and cool seas. Some rain (69mm). UV 4.
Cold and cool seas. Some rain (93mm). UV 3.
Cold and cool seas. Some rain (82mm). UV 3.
Cold and cool seas. Some rain (77mm). UV 4.
Cold and cool seas. Very little rain (41mm). UV 5.
Cool and cool seas. Very little rain (31mm). UV 7.
Cool and refreshing seas. Virtually no rain (14mm). UV 8. Sun protection essential.
Mild and refreshing seas. Virtually no rain (11mm). UV 9. Sun protection essential.
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