Climate Insights for Port Elizabeth

The climate in Port Elizabeth is warm and mild. The average annual temperature is 18°C and approximately 460mm of precipitation falls per year. September is the wettest month, receiving around 45mm of rainfall. Port Elizabeth 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: January, February, March. The coldest months are July, August, June, when temperatures can drop to 12°C.

Port Elizabeth sees moderate temperature variation throughout the year, ranging from 12°C to 24°C. January is the warmest month, though highs remain moderate at 24°C with a mean of 21°C. July is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 12°C and an average of 15°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 6°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between March and April, with a 2°C shift in average temperatures.

Port Elizabeth is a relatively dry area, receiving approximately 460mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 38mm per month. The wettest month is September, averaging 45mm of rainfall. July and June also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is January, with just 25mm. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, so there is no pronounced dry or wet season to plan around.

Port Elizabeth is moderately windy, with an average annual wind speed of 28km/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 31km/h, which can feel quite blustery and may affect outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in May, with average winds dropping to 25km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 6km/h between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently winter in Port Elizabeth, which began on June 21, 2026. Port Elizabeth 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 January at around 24°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in July near 12°C. Autumn is next, beginning on March 20, 2026 — 3 days from now.

The best time to visit Port Elizabeth is during January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November and December, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 18°C with modest rainfall averaging 38mm per month. 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 Port Elizabeth 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.