Climate Insights for Swellendam

The climate in Swellendam is temperate. The average annual temperature is 12°C and approximately 324mm of precipitation falls per year. November is the wettest month, receiving around 33mm of rainfall. Swellendam 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: November, September, March. The coldest months are January, November, August, when temperatures can drop to 5°C.

Swellendam sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 5°C to 19°C. November is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 19°C with a mean of 12°C. January is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 5°C and an average of 6°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 4°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between January and February, with a 7°C shift in average temperatures.

Swellendam is a quite dry location, receiving approximately 324mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 27mm per month. The wettest month is February, averaging 33mm of rainfall. March and April also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is December, with just 5mm. That's 28mm less than February, 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.

Swellendam is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 5km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is March, averaging 12km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in November, 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 10km/h difference between the calmest and windiest months. This level of variation is worth factoring into travel plans. Wind tends to pick up during the summer months. The seasonal averages are 3km/h in winter, 4km/h in spring, 6km/h in summer, 8km/h in autumn.

It is currently winter in Swellendam, which began on June 21, 2026. Swellendam 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 November at around 19°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in January near 5°C. Spring is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 16 days from now.

The best time to visit Swellendam is during September, 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, November can be uncomfortably hot with highs reaching 19°C, while January is the coldest period with lows dropping to 5°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 Swellendam 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. 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.