Climate Insights for Swellendam

The climate in Swellendam is temperate. The average annual temperature is 17°C and approximately 365mm of precipitation falls per year. Juni is the wettest month, receiving around 42mm 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: Januar, Februar, Dezember. The coldest months are Juli, August, Juni, when temperatures can drop to 6°C.

Temperatures in Swellendam vary considerably across the year, with a 23°C difference between the coldest and warmest months. The warmest month is Januar, when average highs reach 29°C and the mean temperature sits around 22°C. Juli is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 6°C and an average of 11°C. On average, daily temperatures fluctuate by about 13°C between overnight lows and afternoon highs. The sharpest temperature change occurs between September and October, with a 3°C shift in average temperatures.

Swellendam is a quite dry location, receiving approximately 365mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 30mm per month. The wettest month is June, averaging 42mm of rainfall. March and July also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is February, with just 20mm. That's 22mm less than June, the wettest month. Rainfall is relatively evenly distributed throughout the year, so there is no pronounced dry or wet season to plan around.

Swellendam is mildly breezy, with an average annual wind speed of 17km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is December, averaging 20km/h, noticeable enough to affect lighter outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in May, with average winds dropping to 13km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. There is moderate seasonal variation in wind speed, with a 7km/h gap between the calmest and windiest months. Wind tends to pick up during the summer months. The seasonal averages are 14km/h in winter, 18km/h in spring, 20km/h in summer, 15km/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 Januar at around 29°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in Juli near 6°C. Autumn is next, beginning on March 20, 2026 — 2 days from now.

The best time to visit Swellendam is during Januar, Februar, März, April, Oktober, November and Dezember, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 20°C with modest rainfall averaging 28mm per month. By contrast, Juli can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to 6°C. With minimal rainfall expected, you can pack light and plan outdoor activities with confidence.

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.