The best times to visit Richards Bay for ideal weather are

May 21st to September 16th

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

 

 


Other Richards Bay Travel Info

Weather in Richards Bay

Temperature

Average temperatures in Richards Bay vary little. Considering humidity, temperatures feel nice most of the year, excluding some hot weeks in the summer, with a low chance of precipitation most of the year. The area is more temperate than most — in the 62nd 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 Richards Bay, 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 92.3°F (33.5°C) with temperatures rarely dropping below 72.5°F (22.5°C) at night.

Richards Bay Temperatures (Fahrenheit)

Key
High
Average
Low

Richards Bay 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.

Richards Bay Perceived Temperature (F)

Key
High
Average
Low

Richards Bay Perceived Temperature (C)

Key
High
Average
Low

 

Average Richards Bay 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 87.8 77.6 71.1
Feb 87.5 76.9 70.7
Mar 88 76.6 70.7
Apr 82.2 71.7 64.8
May 82.2 70.3 62.7
Jun 79.2 65.5 55.6
Jul 78 65.3 56.7
Aug 80.1 67.6 59.4
Sep 82.2 69 61.6
Oct 82 70 63.2
Nov 84.1 71.4 65.1
Dec 87.4 75.3 68.9

Show Celsius

Month Avg. High (°C) Avg. Mean (°C) Avg. Low (°C)
Jan 31 25.3 21.7
Feb 30.8 24.9 21.5
Mar 31.1 24.8 21.5
Apr 27.9 22.1 18.2
May 27.9 21.3 17.1
Jun 26.2 18.6 13.1
Jul 25.6 18.5 13.7
Aug 26.7 19.8 15.2
Sep 27.9 20.6 16.4
Oct 27.8 21.1 17.3
Nov 28.9 21.9 18.4
Dec 30.8 24.1 20.5

 


 

Precipitation (Rain or Snow)

If dry weather is what you’re after, the months with the lowest chance of significant precipitation in Richards Bay are June, August, 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 early to mid February. For example, on the week of February 12th there are no days of precipitation on average. By contrast, it’s most likely to rain or snow in late January and early February with an average of 3 days of significant precipitation the week of January 29th.

When can you find snow in Richards Bay? 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 Richards Bay.

Key
Days with precipitation

Snow on the Ground

The graph below shows the average snow on the ground in Richards Bay (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 17% 0 2.6
Feb 20% 0 2.3
Mar 18% 0 2.4
Apr 10% 0 2.7
May 9% 0 0.9
Jun 5% 0 0.4
Jul 10% 0 2.3
Aug 7% 0 0.6
Sep 15% 0 1.7
Oct 18% 0 4.2
Nov 12% 0 1.6
Dec 20% 0 2.6

Show Centimeters

Month Daily Chance of Rain Average Snow Depth (cm) Total Precipitation (cm)
Jan 17 0 6.6
Feb 20 0 5.8
Mar 18 0 6.1
Apr 10 0 6.9
May 9 0 2.3
Jun 5 0 1
Jul 10 0 5.8
Aug 7 0 1.5
Sep 15 0 4.3
Oct 18 0 10.7
Nov 12 0 4.1
Dec 20 0 6.6

 

Humidity and Wind

Richards Bay has some high humidity months, with other comfortably humid months. The least humid month is June (56.3% relative humidity), and the most humid month is March (68.8%).

Wind in Richards Bay is usually moderate. The windiest month is November, followed by October and September. November’s average wind speed of around 9.2 knots (10.6 MPH or 17.1 KPH) is considered “a gentle breeze.” Maximum sustained winds (the highest speed for the day lasting more than a few moments) are at their highest in late October to early November where average top sustained speeds reach 15.6 knots, which is considered a moderate breeze.

Relative Humidity (%)

The graph below shows the average % humidity by month in Richards Bay.

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 7.8 Gentle breeze 12.9 Significant breeze
Feb 7.4 Gentle breeze 12.6 Significant breeze
Mar 7.2 Gentle breeze 11.6 Significant breeze
Apr 6.9 Light breeze 11.5 Significant breeze
May 7.2 Gentle breeze 11.2 Significant breeze
Jun 6.5 Light breeze 10.6 Gentle breeze
Jul 7.2 Gentle breeze 11.3 Significant breeze
Aug 8.2 Gentle breeze 12 Significant breeze
Sep 8.5 Gentle breeze 13.3 Significant breeze
Oct 9.1 Gentle breeze 14 Significant breeze
Nov 9.2 Gentle breeze 14.4 Significant breeze
Dec 8.4 Gentle breeze 13.3 Significant breeze

Show Relative Humidity by Month

Month Avg. Relative Humidity
Jan 66.5%
Feb 67.5%
Mar 68.8%
Apr 66.2%
May 65.6%
Jun 56.3%
Jul 57.6%
Aug 60.4%
Sep 63%
Oct 63.8%
Nov 62.7%
Dec 66.8%

 

Is it Safe to Travel to Richards Bay?

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 Richards Bay, South Africa is August, followed by June and March. 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 Richards Bay in February. 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 56.7 in February means 56.7% of the tourists vs. August.

 

 

Overall Richards Bay Travel Experience by Season

Fall (March through May)

Humidity and temperatures combine to make this season feel warm. Highs range from 92.3°F (33.5°C) and 78.9°F (26.1°C) with colder temperatures in the later months. Rain is rare with 3 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 very comfortable weather with high temperatures that are comfortable. These months see the least precipitation with 2 to 3 days of precipitation per month. June – August is the busiest season for tourism in Richards Bay, so lodging and other accommodations may cost more than usual.

Spring (September through November)

Spring daily highs range from 86.7°F (30.4°C) and 79°F (26.1°C), which will feel very nice given the humidity and wind. It rains or snows a significant amount: 4 to 5 days per month. Tourism is fairly slow during these months due to the weather, so hotels may be lower priced.

Summer (December through February)

Weather is perfect this time of year in Richards Bay to be enjoyable for warm weather travelers. The average high during this season is between 90.4°F (32.4°C) and 83.8°F (28.8°C). On average, it rains or snows a fair amount: 5 to 6 times per month. These times of year are the slowest with tourists.

 

Best Times to Travel› South Africa › Richards Bay, South Africa