Climate Insights for Knysna

The climate in Knysna is cool. The average annual temperature is 6°C and approximately 290mm of precipitation falls per year. October is the wettest month, receiving around 33mm of rainfall. Knysna 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, July. The coldest months are March, February, April, when temperatures can drop to 1°C. Light snow can occur between January and July.

Knysna has relatively stable temperatures year-round, staying within a 10°C range. December is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 11°C with a mean of 10°C. March is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 1°C and an average of 2°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 2°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between June and July, with a 2°C shift in average temperatures.

Knysna is a quite dry location, receiving approximately 290mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 24mm per month. The wettest month is January, averaging 33mm of rainfall. February and June also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is April, with just 4mm. That's 29mm less than January, the wettest month. Rainfall is heavily concentrated in certain months, creating a distinct wet and dry season. Visitors should plan around these patterns, as the difference between peak and low months is dramatic. Light snowfall can occur between January and July, totalling around 5cm annually. July is the snowiest month with approximately 3cm.

Knysna is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 9km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is October, averaging 12km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in January, with average winds dropping to 4km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind speeds vary significantly across the year, with a 8km/h difference between the calmest and windiest months. This level of variation is worth factoring into travel plans. Wind tends to be stronger during winter months, driven by seasonal pressure systems. The seasonal averages break down to 10km/h in winter, 11km/h in spring, 7km/h in summer, 8km/h in autumn.

It is currently winter in Knysna, which began on June 21, 2026. Knysna 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 11°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in March near 1°C. Spring is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 (16 days from now).

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Knysna 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.