Climate Insights for Cape Town

The climate in Cape Town is temperate. The average annual temperature is 12°C and approximately 368mm of precipitation falls per year. December is the wettest month, receiving around 33mm of rainfall. Cape Town is in the Southern Hemisphere. The seasons are reversed — summer runs from December to February, while winter falls between June and August. The summer months are: December, November, May. The coldest months are September, March, February, when temperatures can drop to 6°C. Light snow can occur between October and October.

Cape Town sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 6°C to 17°C. December is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 17°C with a mean of 14°C. September is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 6°C and an average of 10°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 3°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between March and April, with a 6°C shift in average temperatures.

Cape Town is a quite dry location, receiving approximately 368mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 31mm per month. The wettest month is January, averaging 33mm of rainfall. March and April also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is February, with just 17mm. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, so there is no pronounced dry or wet season to plan around. Light snowfall can occur between October and October, totalling around 8cm annually. October is the snowiest month with approximately 8cm.

Cape Town is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 6km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is April, averaging 9km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in September, with average winds dropping to 2km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind speeds vary significantly across the year, with a 7km/h difference between the calmest and windiest months. This level of variation is worth factoring into travel plans.

It is currently winter in Cape Town, which began on June 21, 2026. Cape Town is in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed — spring starts in September, summer in December, autumn in March, and winter in June. The warmest period peaks in December at around 17°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in September near 6°C. Spring is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 16 days from now.

The best time to visit Cape Town is during May, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 15°C with modest rainfall averaging 33mm per month. By contrast, December can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 17°C, while September is the coldest period with lows dropping to 6°C. A light rain jacket is recommended, though showers are generally brief and shouldn't disrupt your plans.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Cape Town based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Snow is measured in centimetres (cm) and reflects average monthly snowfall accumulation. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.