Climate in Cape Town — Annual Weather Overview
Cape Town has a mediterranean climate — hot dry summers and mild wet winters. The hottest month is February (average high 25.5°C) and the coolest is August (16.4°C). There is a noticeable seasonal temperature shift of 9.1°C between February and August. Annual rainfall totals around 718mm. June is the wettest month at 161.5mm, while February averages just 12.8mm. Average daily sunshine is 10.5 hours.
**Spring (September, October, November):** average highs 20.2°C, 123mm rain. **Summer (December, January, February):** average highs 24.7°C, 64mm rain. **Autumn (March, April, May):** average highs 21.4°C, 175mm rain. **Winter (June, July, August):** average highs 16.9°C, 355mm rain.
Cape Town — Monthly Temperatures
Cape Town — Monthly Rainfall
✅ Best months to visit
All year
ℹ️ No months to avoid
Weather in Cape Town stays reasonable all year.
Cape Town weather by month
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Sun/day | Rainy days | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25.2°C | 17.2°C | 19.2mm | 13.2h | 4 | 10/10 |
| February | 25.5°C | 17.4°C | 12.8mm | 12.0h | 2 | 10/10 |
| March | 23.5°C | 16.0°C | 50.2mm | 10.6h | 6 | 10/10 |
| April | 21.8°C | 14.1°C | 33.9mm | 9.7h | 4 | 10/10 |
| May | 18.9°C | 11.9°C | 90.8mm | 8.5h | 9 | 10/10 |
| June | 17.8°C | 11.3°C | 161.5mm | 7.7h | 12 | 9/10 |
| July | 16.6°C | 9.7°C | 92.5mm | 8.6h | 9 | 10/10 |
| August | 16.4°C | 9.7°C | 101.4mm | 9.1h | 11 | 9/10 |
| September | 17.3°C | 10.7°C | 63.7mm | 9.9h | 9 | 10/10 |
| October | 21.1°C | 13.1°C | 30.0mm | 11.7h | 7 | 10/10 |
| November | 22.3°C | 14.5°C | 29.7mm | 12.3h | 7 | 10/10 |
| December | 23.4°C | 16.0°C | 32.2mm | 13.0h | 4 | 10/10 |
For the full verdict on when to go, see the best time to visit Cape Town. Seasonal breakdowns: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What type of climate does Cape Town have?
Cape Town has a mediterranean climate — hot dry summers and mild wet winters. Average highs range from 16.4°C in August to 25.5°C in February.
What is the hottest month in Cape Town?
February is the hottest month in Cape Town, with average highs of 25.5°C and lows of 17.4°C.
What is the coldest month in Cape Town?
August is the coolest month, with average highs of 16.4°C and lows of 9.7°C.
What is the wettest month in Cape Town?
June is the wettest month, averaging 161.5mm of rainfall over around 12 rainy days.
How much rain does Cape Town get per year?
Cape Town receives around 718mm of rain per year. The driest month is February (12.8mm).
When is the best time to visit Cape Town?
The best time to visit Cape Town is All year. See the full month-by-month guide →
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Trip essentials for Cape Town
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Climate data sourced from Open-Meteo (open source, open data licence). Monthly averages calculated from 2020–2023 historical data. Weather can be unpredictable — always check a live forecast before travelling.