South Africa Climate and Average Weather
Climate of South Africa: average temperatures, rainfall and seasons month by month.
Climate in South Africa month by month
Average high, average low and total rainfall, based on three years of reanalysis data.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Rainfall | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 82° | 62° | 3,8 in | ★★★★☆ |
| February | 83° | 63° | 3,4 in | ★★★★☆ |
| March | 80° | 61° | 3,7 in | ★★★★☆ |
| April | 73° | 56° | 3,9 in | ★★★★☆ |
| May | 71° | 50° | 0,5 in | ★★★★★ |
| June | 66° | 44° | 0,2 in | ★★★★☆ |
| July | 69° | 44° | 0,0 in | ★★★★☆ |
| August | 74° | 48° | 0,2 in | ★★★★★ |
| September | 81° | 55° | 0,8 in | ★★★★★ |
| October | 81° | 56° | 2,2 in | ★★★★☆ |
| November | 81° | 60° | 3,9 in | ★★★★☆ |
| December | 82° | 62° | 4,3 in | ★★★★☆ |
Climate type: Mediterranean. Source: Open-Meteo archive (ERA5).
Recent extremes in South Africa
Highest and lowest readings observed in the last 3 years of reanalysis data - not all-time records.
How South Africa compares with nearby places
Annual averages, and the difference against South Africa.
| Place | Distance | Avg temp | vs here | Annual rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Botswana | 164 mi | 70°F | +37°F warmer | 18 in |
| Mozambique | 271 mi | 74°F | +41°F warmer | 38 in |
Climate by city in South Africa
2 cities mapped in this atlas
Climate by national park in South Africa
1 national parks mapped in this atlas
Best time to visit South Africa
Go in May, June, July, August, September and October. These months score highest on comfortable temperatures, low rainfall and useful daylight.
Hardest months: March, April and November - expect the least comfortable mix of heat, cold or rain.
What this means for South Africa
Today is slightly warmer than average for August. The forecast high of 79°F is 5°F above the 74°F typical for this month.
Rain is very unlikely today - plans do not need a backup.
No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Southern Hemisphere, so peak summer falls in December to February.
The gap between the warmest and coldest month averages 50°F.
What to pack, what to skip
- Sunglasses, a brimmed hat and SPF 30+
- If your dates are flexible, avoid March, April and November - historically the least comfortable months here.
Summary
South Africa is a country in Africa. South Africa is a country in Africa with its capital at Pretoria. It has a population of about 60 million. The capital is Pretoria.
Right now it is 67°F (19°C) in South Africa with clear sky. It feels like 64°F. Today runs from 55°F to 79°F. Chance of precipitation is 0%. Sightseeing conditions score 9.8/10 - excellent - go now.
The best time to visit South Africa is May, June, July, August, September and October. The climate is Mediterranean. March, April and November tend to be the least comfortable months. February is the warmest month with average highs near 83°F, while June is the coldest with lows near 44°F.
The closest major airport is O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), about 27 mi away. Nearby highlights include Kruger National Park, Table Mountain, Robben Island and Boulders Beach.
In plain terms. Today is slightly warmer than average for August. The forecast high of 79°F is 5°F above the 74°F typical for this month. The best window to be outside is roughly 6 PM to 9 PM, when temperature, rain chance and wind line up best. sightseeing is the strongest bet in South Africa today at 9.8/10. No weather-related travel disruption is expected today. Roads and airports should run normally.
Compiled from this page's own data: atlas facts plus live Open-Meteo readings.
Quick facts about South Africa
| Type | Country |
|---|---|
| Continent | Africa |
| Continent | Africa |
| Coordinates | 25°44′52.4″S 28°13′45.5″E (-25.7479, 28.2293) |
| Capital | Pretoria |
| Population | 60.000.000 |
| Area | 471.445 sq mi |
| ISO code | ZA |
| ISO 3166-1 alpha-3 | ZAF |
| Currency | South African rand (ZAR) |
| Languages | English, Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa |
| Calling code | +27 |
| Time zone | Africa/Johannesburg |
| Local time | 11:33 AM (UTC+02:00) |
| Best months | May, June, July, August, September and October |
| Climate | Mediterranean |
Weather map for South Africa
Animated model layers. Pick a layer to load it.
Animated layers by Windy. For pin-level detail and nearby places, see the interactive map below.
Explore South Africa
Every topic we hold for this place, and the same topic for the places around it.
Climate for related places
Frequently asked questions
Where is South Africa?
South Africa is a country in Africa. Its coordinates are -25.7479, 28.2293. It lies in Africa.
What is the weather like in South Africa right now?
It is currently 67°F (19°C) with clear sky. Humidity is 40% and wind is 3 mph.
When is the best time to visit South Africa?
May, June, July, August, September and October offer the most comfortable conditions in South Africa, which has a Mediterranean climate. March, April and November are usually the hardest months for outdoor plans.
What time zone is South Africa in?
South Africa observes Africa/Johannesburg (UTC+02:00). The local time is 11:33 AM.
How many people live in South Africa?
South Africa has a population of approximately 60 million.
What is the nearest airport to South Africa?
The closest airports are O. R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), 27 mi away and Cape Town International Airport (CPT), 809 mi away.
What are the top things to do in South Africa?
Popular options include Kruger National Park, Table Mountain, Robben Island, Boulders Beach, Camps Bay Beach and Table Mountain.
What places are in South Africa?
South Africa covers 3 places in this atlas, including Cape Town, Johannesburg and Kruger National Park.
Related articles
Data sources and methodology
| Place data | USPOTUS Atlas dataset (countries-v1) - coordinates, hierarchy and facts. |
|---|---|
| Forecast and observations | Open-Meteo (ECMWF and national models). |
| Air quality and pollen | Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. US AQI scale. |
| Climate averages | ERA5 reanalysis via the Open-Meteo archive, aggregated over 3 years. |
| Method | Scores, comparisons and advice on this page are computed from the inputs above. Distances are straight-line. Nothing is estimated where data is missing - the block is simply not shown. |
Last updated August 21, 2026 at 11:33 AM local time. Live blocks refresh every 15 minutes; climate averages monthly.
