The best times to visit Port Elizabeth for ideal weather are

October 29th to March 25th

based on average temperature and humidity from NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). Read below for more weather and travel details.

 

 


Other Port Elizabeth Travel Info

Weather in Port Elizabeth

Temperature

Average temperatures in Port Elizabeth vary little. Considering humidity, temperatures feel very enjoyable all year with a low chance of precipitation most of the year. The area is more temperate than most — in the 75th 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 Port Elizabeth, the hottest months are January, February, and then March. See average monthly temperatures below. The warmest time of year is generally late January where highs are regularly around 81.8°F (27.7°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 63.8°F (17.7°C) at night.

Port Elizabeth Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Port Elizabeth Temperatures (Celsius)

Key
High
Average
Low

“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.

Port Elizabeth Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Port Elizabeth Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Port Elizabeth 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 80 70.7 63.4
Feb 80.1 70.5 63.3
Mar 79.2 68.9 61.3
Apr 75.8 64.4 55.5
May 73.9 61.9 52.2
Jun 70.3 58.1 47
Jul 69.4 57.5 47
Aug 70.5 58.6 48.4
Sep 70.4 60.1 50.6
Oct 71.2 62.8 55.2
Nov 74.2 64.9 57.3
Dec 76.7 68.2 60.7

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 26.7 21.5 17.4
Feb 26.7 21.4 17.4
Mar 26.2 20.5 16.3
Apr 24.3 18 13.1
May 23.3 16.6 11.2
Jun 21.3 14.5 8.3
Jul 20.8 14.2 8.3
Aug 21.4 14.8 9.1
Sep 21.3 15.6 10.3
Oct 21.8 17.1 12.9
Nov 23.4 18.3 14.1
Dec 24.8 20.1 15.9

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Port Elizabeth are January, December, and then May. Note that we define “significant precipitation” as .1 inches or more in this section. The lowest chance of rain or snow occurs around mid February. For example, on the week of February 19th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late June with an average of 2 days of significant precipitation the week of June 25th.

When can you find snow in Port Elizabeth? 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 Port Elizabeth.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Port Elizabeth (in).

Key
Snow depth

Average Rain and Snow by Month

Show Inches

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (in) Total Precipitation (in)
Jan 8% 0 0.9
Feb 13% 0 1.5
Mar 13% 0 2.5
Apr 17% 0 2.6
May 11% 0 2
Jun 18% 0 3.3
Jul 20% 0 3.2
Aug 13% 0 1.9
Sep 12% 0 1.1
Oct 17% 0 2.8
Nov 17% 0 2.5
Dec 11% 0 1.4

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 8 0 2.3
Feb 13 0 3.8
Mar 13 0 6.4
Apr 17 0 6.6
May 11 0 5.1
Jun 18 0 8.4
Jul 20 0 8.1
Aug 13 0 4.8
Sep 12 0 2.8
Oct 17 0 7.1
Nov 17 0 6.4
Dec 11 0 3.6

 

Humidity and Wind

Port Elizabeth has some very humid months, and above average humidity throughout the year. The least humid month is June (60.9% relative humidity), and the most humid month is February (71.6%).

Wind in Port Elizabeth is usually moderate. The windiest month is November, followed by October and September. November’s average wind speed of around 12 knots (13.8 MPH or 22.3 KPH) is considered “a moderate breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in early November where average top sustained speeds reach 21.5 knots, which is considered a fresh breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Port Elizabeth.

Key
Avg. Relative Humidity

Wind

The graph below shows wind speed (max and average) in knots.

Key
Max Sustained Wind
Average Daily Wind

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 11.3 Significant breeze 19.3 Strong breeze
Feb 11 Significant breeze 18.9 Strong breeze
Mar 10.7 Gentle breeze 19 Strong breeze
Apr 9.7 Gentle breeze 17.3 Strong breeze
May 8.7 Gentle breeze 16.6 Strong breeze
Jun 9.3 Gentle breeze 17.1 Strong breeze
Jul 9.2 Gentle breeze 17.1 Strong breeze
Aug 10 Gentle breeze 18.7 Strong breeze
Sep 11.4 Significant breeze 20.5 Strong breeze
Oct 11.7 Significant breeze 20.1 Strong breeze
Nov 12 Significant breeze 20.3 Strong breeze
Dec 11 Significant breeze 18.9 Strong breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 70.7%
Feb 71.6%
Mar 71.1%
Apr 67.6%
May 66%
Jun 60.9%
Jul 61.5%
Aug 64.5%
Sep 66.6%
Oct 71.2%
Nov 68.6%
Dec 71.6%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Port Elizabeth?

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 Port Elizabeth, South Africa is September, followed by January and August. 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 Port Elizabeth in March. Those willing to visit at these times will likely find it the least expensive month.

Estimated Tourism by Month

 

Most Popular Months to Visit

Key
Tourists Seeking Accommodations

Tourism graph is based on Google searches for services used by tourists relative to the rest of the year. Tourism data for this area is extrapolated based on nearby areas. Displayed data is calculated relative to the peak, so a score of 71.5 in March means 71.5% of the tourists vs. September.

 

 

Overall Port Elizabeth Travel Experience by Season

Fall (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel moderate. Highs range from 81.8°F (27.7°C) and 71.2°F (21.8°C) with colder temperatures in the later months. Rain is somewhat common with 4 to 5 days of significant precipitation per month. Fall is the slowest for tourism, which makes it a good time for those looking for deals.

Winter (June through August)

The middle-year months have comfortably cool weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see the most precipitation with 4 to 6 days of precipitation per month. June – August is fairly slow season for tourism in Port Elizabeth, so lodging and other accommodations may cost slightly less.

Spring (September through November)

Spring daily highs range from 75.4°F (24.1°C) and 70°F (21.1°C), which will feel comfortable given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 3 to 5 days per month. Tourism is the second busiest during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be slightly higher priced.

Summer (December through February)

Weather is perfect this time of year in Port Elizabeth to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 81.8°F (27.7°C) and 74.7°F (23.7°C). On average, it rains or snows a smalll amount: 3 to 4 times per month. These times of year are the busiest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› South Africa › Port Elizabeth, South Africa