When Does Winter Start in South Africa
Photo by sandrapetersen on Pixabay
There are several answers to this question. The most common answer is that it depends on which province you’re talking about. In the Western Cape, winter starts around mid-September and can last until early April. In the Eastern Cape, winter starts in November and can last until late March. However, in some outlying areas of the country, a more extended winter season may be experienced. The best way to know when winter has officially arrived is to go outside and check for yourself (yes, we know it can be cold outside). If you see snow or ice on the ground or if it starts getting colder at night, then chances are you’ve officially entered Winter. : ) And yes, South Africa does have a four-season climate with summer being its hottest period of the year with daytime temperatures averaging between 22°C – 25°C during daylight hours and 18°C – 23°C at night throughout most of the country. Hence, any time from early October to early April is considered summer in South Africa (and should be avoided if you want to maintain your optimal summer body temperature).
Spring
Spring is the season when the day temperatures rise above 22°C and the nights go down to 15°C or less. The weather is generally warm and sunny with a slight wind. Spring is followed by summer and then autumn, each season lasting about two months. Spring starts in the Western Cape in September and continues until April.
Summer
Summer is the season when day temperatures stay above 25°C and nights do not dip below 21°C. However, while the weather is generally warm, it is not yet hot enough to grow summer flowers. Summer is the ideal time to go to the beach, visit mountains or mountains lakes, or go water sports such as swimming, snorkelling or sailing.
Autumn
Autumn is the season when the days start getting noticeably cooler, with the temperature dropping below 21°C at night. This is the ideal time to visit the autumn colour highlighted areas of South Africa such as the Cape Town and the Garden Route, or to visit the winter-oriented areas of Southern Africa such as Lesotho, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.
Winter
The winter season lasts from December to February. Winter days stay below 17°C but nights are usually above freezing. Despite the cold weather, winter is the ideal time to visit the winter-oriented areas of Southern Africa such as the Kruiselspruit and the Winterberg, or to visit the winter-oriented areas of the Western Cape such as the Winterweeekend, and the Storm Coast.
When Does Winter Start in South Africa?
This depends on which province you’re in. In the Western Cape, winter starts around mid-September and can last until early April. In the Eastern Cape, winter starts in November and can last until late March. However, in some outlying areas of the country, a more extended winter season may be experienced. The best way to know when winter has officially arrived is to go outside and check for yourself (yes, we know it can be cold outside). If you see snow or ice on the ground or if it starts getting colder at night, then chances are you’ve officially entered Winter. And yes, South Africa does have a four-season climate with summer being its hottest period of the year with daytime temperatures averaging between 22°C – 25°C during daylight hours and 18°C – 23°C at night throughout most of the country. Hence, any time from early October to early April is considered summer in South Africa (and should be avoided if you want to maintain your optimal summer body temperature).
