The best times to visit Downtown for ideal weather are
January 29th to April 29th
or
September 10th to November 11th
based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.
Downtown Travel Guide
Other Downtown Travel Info
Weather in Downtown
Temperature
Average temperatures in Downtown vary somewhat. Considering humidity, temperatures feel nice most of the year, excluding some cold weeks in the winter, with a low chance of precipitation most of the year. The area is more temperate than most — in the 68th percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. Weeks with ideal weather are listed above. If you’re looking for the very warmest time to visit Downtown, the hottest months are February, January, and then December. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally mid December where highs are regularly around 82°F (27.8°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 58.8°F (14.9°C) at night.
Downtown Temperatures (Fahrenheit)
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Downtown Temperatures (Celsius)
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“Feels-Like” Temperatures
The way we experience weather isn’t all about temperature. Higher temperatures affect us much more at higher humidity, and colder temperatures feel piercing with high winds. Our perceived temperatures factor in humidity and wind chill to better represent how hot or cold the day feels to a person.
Downtown Perceived Temperature (F)
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Downtown Perceived Temperature (C)
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Average Downtown Temperatures by Month
Daily highs (averaged for the month) usually give the best indication of the weather. A significantly lower mean and low generally just means it gets colder at night.
Show Fahrenheit
| Month | Avg. High (°F) | Avg. Mean (°F) | Avg. Low (°F) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 79.6 | 68.9 | 60.3 |
| Feb | 80.4 | 68.9 | 59.3 |
| Mar | 77.5 | 66.1 | 56.9 |
| Apr | 72.6 | 60.1 | 49.8 |
| May | 70.3 | 55.9 | 44.4 |
| Jun | 64.8 | 50 | 38.3 |
| Jul | 64.2 | 49.5 | 37.6 |
| Aug | 70 | 54.7 | 41.5 |
| Sep | 77.3 | 62.6 | 49.3 |
| Oct | 78.6 | 65.4 | 53.3 |
| Nov | 78.9 | 66.8 | 55.8 |
| Dec | 80.1 | 68.6 | 59.2 |
Show Celsius
| Month | Avg. High (°C) | Avg. Mean (°C) | Avg. Low (°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26.4 | 20.5 | 15.7 |
| Feb | 26.9 | 20.5 | 15.2 |
| Mar | 25.3 | 18.9 | 13.8 |
| Apr | 22.6 | 15.6 | 9.9 |
| May | 21.3 | 13.3 | 6.9 |
| Jun | 18.2 | 10 | 3.5 |
| Jul | 17.9 | 9.7 | 3.1 |
| Aug | 21.1 | 12.6 | 5.3 |
| Sep | 25.2 | 17 | 9.6 |
| Oct | 25.9 | 18.6 | 11.8 |
| Nov | 26.1 | 19.3 | 13.2 |
| Dec | 26.7 | 20.3 | 15.1 |
Precipitation (Rain or Snow)
If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Downtown are May, June, and then July. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around mid April. For example, on the week of April 16th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late January with an average of 4 days of significant precipitation the week of January 22nd.
When can you find snow in Downtown? Weather stations report no annual snow. Please note that a value of 0 for snow in the graph below may either mean there was no snow, or that snow is unreported.
Chance of Precipitation
The graph below shows the % chance of rainy and snowy days in Downtown.
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Snow on the Ground
The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Downtown (in).
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Average Rain and Snow by Month
Show Inches
| Month | Daily Chance of Rain | Average Snow Depth (in) | Total Precipitation (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23% | 0 | 4.2 |
| Feb | 20% | 0 | 2.8 |
| Mar | 18% | 0 | 2.6 |
| Apr | 7% | 0 | 0.7 |
| May | 0% | 0 | 0 |
| Jun | 0% | 0 | 0 |
| Jul | 2% | 0 | 0.1 |
| Aug | 5% | 0 | 0.7 |
| Sep | 9% | 0 | 1.6 |
| Oct | 10% | 0 | 1.3 |
| Nov | 26% | 0 | 3.7 |
| Dec | 31% | 0 | 4.7 |
Show Centimeters
| Month | Daily Chance of Rain | Average Snow Depth (cm) | Total Precipitation (cm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23 | 0 | 10.7 |
| Feb | 20 | 0 | 7.1 |
| Mar | 18 | 0 | 6.6 |
| Apr | 7 | 0 | 1.8 |
| May | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jun | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jul | 2 | 0 | 0.3 |
| Aug | 5 | 0 | 1.8 |
| Sep | 9 | 0 | 4.1 |
| Oct | 10 | 0 | 3.3 |
| Nov | 26 | 0 | 9.4 |
| Dec | 31 | 0 | 11.9 |
Humidity and Wind
Downtown has some comfortably humid months, and dry months in the opposite season. The least humid month is September (28% relative humidity), and the most humid month is January (59.1%).
Wind in Downtown is usually extremely calm. The windiest month is November, followed by October and September. November’s average wind speed of around 2.1 knots (2.4 MPH or 3.9 KPH) is considered “light air.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in late September where average top sustained speeds reach 5.3 knots, which is considered a light breeze.
Relative Humidity (%)
The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Downtown.
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Wind
The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.
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Average Wind Speeds
Show Wind Speeds
All wind speeds are in knots. 1 knot = 1.15 MPH or 1.85 KPH.
| Month | Avg. Wind | Avg. Wind Feel | Sustained High Wind | High Wind Feel |
| Jan | 1.7 | Barely noticeable | 4.2 | Light breeze |
| Feb | 1.6 | Barely noticeable | 4.5 | Light breeze |
| Mar | 1.5 | Barely noticeable | 4.1 | Light breeze |
| Apr | 1.4 | Barely noticeable | 3.8 | Barely noticeable |
| May | 1.3 | Barely noticeable | 3.7 | Light breeze |
| Jun | 1.6 | Barely noticeable | 4.1 | Light breeze |
| Jul | 1.4 | Barely noticeable | 4 | Light breeze |
| Aug | 1.7 | Barely noticeable | 4.4 | Light breeze |
| Sep | 2 | Barely noticeable | 4.8 | Light breeze |
| Oct | 2 | Barely noticeable | 4.8 | Light breeze |
| Nov | 2.1 | Barely noticeable | 4.8 | Light breeze |
| Dec | 1.9 | Barely noticeable | 4.8 | Light breeze |
Show Relative Humidity by Month
| Month | Avg. Relative Humidity |
|---|---|
| Jan | 59.1% |
| Feb | 53.1% |
| Mar | 55% |
| Apr | 50.7% |
| May | 41.3% |
| Jun | 39.6% |
| Jul | 35.8% |
| Aug | 30.2% |
| Sep | 28% |
| Oct | 40.1% |
| Nov | 47.4% |
| Dec | 54.4% |
Is it Safe to Travel to Downtown?
Our best data indicates this area is somewhat safe. As of Dec 04, 2023 there are travel warnings for South Africa; exercise a high degree of caution. Check this page for any recent changes or regions to avoid: Travel Advice and Advisories. This advisory was last updated on Nov 30, 2023.
The Busiest and Least Crowded Months
The busiest month for tourism in Downtown, South Africa is August, followed by June and February. Prices for hotels and flights will be most expensive during these months, though you can save if you purchase well in advance. Tourists are unlikely to visit Downtown in December. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.
Estimated Tourism by Month
Most Popular Months to Visit
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Overall Downtown Travel Experience by Season
Fall (March through May)
Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderate. Highs range from 79.3°F (26.3°C) and 67.1°F (19.5°C) with colder temperatures in the later months. Rain is rare with 0 to 5 days of significant precipitation per month. Fall is the second busiest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for things to do.
Winter (June through August)
The middle-year months have cold weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see the least precipitation with 0 to 1 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Downtown, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.
Spring (September through November)
Spring daily highs range from 80.2°F (26.8°C) and 76.1°F (24.5°C), which will feel very nice given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 3 to 8 days per month. Tourism is the slowest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be affordably priced.
Summer (December through February)
Weather is perfect this time of year in Downtown to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 82°F (27.8°C) and 78°F (25.6°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 5 to 10 times per month. These times of year are fairly slow with tourists.
Best Times to Travel› South Africa › Downtown, South Africa