You may think that Cape Town’s mild Mediterranean climate means that it’s the perfect conditions every single day of the year. While some days are pure bliss, it’s not all sunshine and clear skies.
Cape Town’s weather is famous for “four seasons in a day”. You can start your morning lazily lying on sandy shores with not a breath of wind in sight. Then out of nowhere, you'll be blown across the beach like a wayward sun umbrella. Before you know it, you’re drenched in a sudden downpour, wishing you had a normal umbrella.
Whether you’re planning a short trip or a long-distance move to the Mother City, here’s what you can expect from Cape Town's weather each month of the year, plus some local insights you won’t find anywhere else.
Cape Town summers are hot, dry (with very little rain) and filled with long sunny days.
This is also Cape Town’s windiest season, thanks to the strong southeaster that picks up most afternoons. Nicknamed the Cape Doctor for blowing away all the pollution and disease, this chilly wind forces you to bring a jacket everywhere you go.
December in Cape Town is warm with temperatures on the rise. January brings in gusty winds, offering a cool relief to the heat on scorching days. February is the hottest month of the year in Cape Town, with temperatures reaching +35°C on some days.
Sea temperatures are warmest in January and February, reaching 21°C on the False Bay side and 19°C on the Atlantic side. That’s why it’s the perfect time to explore Cape Town’s best beaches.
| Dec | Jan | Feb | |
| Max temp (°C) | 26.7 | 28.0 | 28.4 |
| Min temp (°C) | 15.4 | 16.5 | 16.4 |
| Ave. rainfall (mm) | 22 | 19 | 18 |
| No. of rainy days | 5 | 4 | 4 |
| Ave. wind (kph) | 23 | 24 | 22 |
| Ave. UV | 11+ | 11 | 11+ |
March is a great time in Cape Town. Temperatures are still high, with a welcome break from the summer wind. Most tourists have also left, so the city feels blissfully calm and less crowded.
Temperatures start to drop in April. This is also when the leaves on the trees really start to turn brown and fall. The first bouts of rain usually come in May, as winter creeps nearer and nearer.
| Mar | Apr | May | |
| Max temp (°C) | 27.0 | 24.7 | 21.7 |
| Min temp (°C) | 14.9 | 12.0 | 10.1 |
| Ave. rainfall (mm) | 20 | 52 | 79 |
| No. of rainy days | 5 | 8 | 12 |
| Ave. wind (kph) | 19 | 16 | 14 |
| Ave. UV | 9 | 6 | 4 |
Winter is Cape Town’s rainiest season, and the damp air can make the cold feel like it cuts straight to the bone. While the temperatures don’t drop too low, most houses don’t have internal heating, so when it’s cold outside, it’s also cold inside. To survive a Cape Town winter, you’ll need plenty of layers of clothing, blankets, and heaters.
While Cape Town winters are not as gusty, you can expect a warm and dry northwesterly ‘Berg’ wind just before a cold front. Locals will tell you this is a clear sign that rain is coming.
June is Cape Town’s wettest month, where it can sometimes rain for days on end. July is the coldest month, with some early mornings reaching as low as 3°C. August is when winter has its last say. Though it isn’t as cold or as wet as the other winter months, it can still surprise with a cold snap and a generous dusting of snow on the mountain tops.
| Jun | Jul | Aug | |
| Max temp (°C) | 19.1 | 18.7 | 19.1 |
| Min temp (°C) | 7.8 | 7.2 | 7.7 |
| Ave. rainfall (mm) | 125 | 109 | 97 |
| No. of rainy days | 13 | 13 | 12 |
| Ave. wind (kph) | 15 | 15 | 16 |
| Ave. UV | 3 | 3 | 4 |
Cape Town’s weather begins to warm up again in spring, though September is still a mixed bag. You can swing from sunshine and clear skies to icy rain in a matter of days
Tip: September is also a spectacular time to visit the breathtaking fields of wildflowers that bloom on the West Coast.
Once you get to October and November, the pre-summer excitement really kicks in. Temperatures start to rise, the rain goes away, and the wind stays low. That’s why it’s another beautiful time to come to Cape Town, especially if you want to avoid peak season.
Tip: In November, you can head up to Hermanus for peak whale-watching season. Here are some more outdoor activities in Cape Town perfect for a spring day.
| Sept | Oct | Nov | |
| Max temp (°C) | 20.5 | 23.3 | 24.6 |
| Min temp(°C) | 9.2 | 11.3 | 13.3 |
| Ave. rainfall (mm) | 63 | 40 | 37 |
| No. of rainy days | 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Ave. wind (kph) | 17 | 19 | 22 |
| Ave. UV | 6 | 8 | 11 |
Cape Town’s diverse landscape and topography result in multiple microclimates forming across the Cape Peninsula. This means you can expect slightly different weather conditions in each Cape Town suburb. This can play a role in which Cape Town neighbourhoods you choose to stay in.
Here are some of Cape Town’s most distinct microclimates.
Newlands is the wettest part of Cape Town. If it’s raining anywhere in Cape Town, it’s certainly raining in Newlands. The mountain slopes push the sea breeze up, forming clouds and then precipitation.
This is also why Newlands is so green, providing the luscious Newlands forest, perfect for nature walks and trail runs.
Most coastal suburbs are hit with relentlessly strong winds. This includes Hout Bay, Camps Bay, Gordon’s Bay and particularly in the Deep South, where the wind forms a tunnel through the valley from Fish Hoek to Kommetjie/Noordehoek.
So while these areas offer stunning beaches, there’s always the threat of getting sand in your eyes.
Further inland areas, such as Stellenbosch and Paarl, experience more extreme temperatures. It will always be a few degrees hotter in summer and a few degrees colder in winter compared to Cape Town.
And with the beach far in the distance, your own pool is a must for those sweltering February days.
Temperatures are also hotter in dense, developed areas such as Woodstock, the City Bowl, and the Cape Flats.
The dark concrete and tar roads suck up all the heat with little vegetation to add a cool relief. This is especially the case in informal settlements due to the concentration of corrugated iron.
Whether it's moving boxes in the pouring rain or in scorching 40°C, sweating buckets– some weather conditions make moving houses just that much more of a mission.
While Cape Town’s best weather certainly comes in summer, it’s also peak tourist season. This means that property prices tend to be inflated.
On the flip side, winter’s property market is slower with less competition, but you’ll have to chance it with the rainy season. Autumn time is probably your sweet spot, because many property owners may be looking for long-term stable renters after the slow winter season.
The verdict? March to April and September to October are the best times to move to Cape Town. Not only is the weather in your favour, but it also comes with lower costs and fewer tourists to worry about.
Once you’ve picked your perfect date, you can ensure a stress-free move to the Mother City with the help of Wise Move. Our reliable moving teams in Cape Town will help you get the job done, rain or shine.
December to February, during summer, is the most popular time for visiting Cape Town. March and November are also great times, especially if you want to enjoy the good weather without large crowds of tourists and the high prices of peak season.
Yes, the summer brings in the cool southeaster wind, known as the ‘Cape Doctor’. Before winter cold fronts, you’ll often feel a warm, dry Berg wind.
You won't find snow in the city centre and the surrounding suburbs, but light snow can dust Table Mountain and the surrounding ranges in the depths of winter. What is the average sea temperature in Cape Town?
False Bay's sea temperature is typically 3-6 °C warmer than the Atlantic Seaboard.
Johannesburg has hotter summers and colder winters compared to Cape Town. This is due to Joburg being further inland and at a higher altitude, resulting in a more extreme climate.
