Swakopmund in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Swakopmund sees average daytime highs around 23°C and overnight lows near 16°C, with 11 mm of rain over about 3 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 22°C in early December to 24°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 64% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels comfortable.
Summer is Swakopmund's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Swakopmund's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 23°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 16°C
- Rainfall
- 11 mm
- 3 wet days
- Avg wind
- 13 km/h
- Travel score
- 8.7
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Swakopmund in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 22°C in early December to 24°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Swakopmund reaches about 23°C and drops to 16°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
Swakopmund weather by month
How the three summer months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 23° / 17° | 4 | 1 | 13.2 | 8.6 |
| Feb | 24° / 17° | 6 | 1.1 | 12.8 | 8.7 |
| Mar | 24° / 17° | 4 | 0.7 | 12.2 | 9.1 |
| Apr | 24° / 15° | 4 | 0.6 | 11.5 | 9.3 |
| May | 23° / 14° | 1 | 0.2 | 10.9 | 9.4 |
| Jun | 23° / 13° | 0 | 0.1 | 10.6 | 9.4 |
| Jul | 22° / 13° | 0 | 0.1 | 10.7 | 9.3 |
| Aug | 20° / 11° | 0 | 0.1 | 11.2 | 8.6 |
| Sep | 20° / 11° | 1 | 0.2 | 11.9 | 8.3 |
| Oct | 20° / 12° | 0 | 0 | 12.5 | 8.4 |
| Nov | 21° / 14° | 1 | 0.2 | 13.1 | 8.6 |
| Dec | 22° / 15° | 2 | 0.5 | 13.4 | 8.7 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 64% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Swakopmund gets around 11 mm of rain over 3 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels comfortable — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 13 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 13 h 18 min in early December to 12 h 30 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 7.6 kWh/m².
Is summer a good time to visit Swakopmund?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is one of the better times to visit Swakopmund for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Swakopmund in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Swakopmund sees daytime highs around 23°C and nights near 16°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes.
Sea temperature near Swakopmund in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 18°C across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 17 km away) is warmest in February at about 18°C and coldest in September near 13°C.
The water stays below 20°C all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 18 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 17 |
| Comfort | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Cool |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 18 | Cool |
| Feb | 18 | Cool |
| Mar | 18 | Cool |
| Apr | 17 | Cool |
| May | 15 | Cool |
| Jun | 14 | Bracing |
| Jul | 14 | Bracing |
| Aug | 14 | Bracing |
| Sep | 13 | Bracing |
| Oct | 14 | Bracing |
| Nov | 15 | Cool |
| Dec | 17 | Cool |
UV index in Swakopmund in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 13 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Swakopmund peaks around January 15 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 18 at about 6 (high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 15 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 13 | 13 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | High | High | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 15 | Extreme |
| Feb | 13 | Extreme |
| Mar | 13 | Extreme |
| Apr | 9 | Very high |
| May | 7 | High |
| Jun | 5 | High |
| Jul | 6 | High |
| Aug | 7 | Very high |
| Sep | 9 | Very high |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 13 | Extreme |
| Dec | 13 | Extreme |
Air quality in Swakopmund in Summer
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where summer falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Swakopmund is worst in July — around 39 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 7.6× the cleanest month (January, 5 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 5 | 6 | 6 | 11 | 27 | 36 | 39 | 26 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 5 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 5 | Good |
| Feb | 6 | Good |
| Mar | 6 | Good |
| Apr | 11 | Good |
| May | 27 | Moderate |
| Jun | 36 | Poor |
| Jul | 39 | Poor |
| Aug | 26 | Moderate |
| Sep | 10 | Good |
| Oct | 7 | Good |
| Nov | 6 | Good |
| Dec | 5 | Good |
Where is Swakopmund?
Swakopmund sits at 22.7°S, 14.5°E, 18 m above sea level, in Namibia. The nearest listed city is Walvis Bay, 31 km away.
Topography around Swakopmund
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Swakopmund.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Swakopmund has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 38 m around an average of 10 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 189 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,011 m.
The land around Swakopmund is covered by water (44%), bare terrain (33%) and artificial surfaces (21%) within 3 km, water (49%) and bare terrain (48%) within 16 km, and bare terrain (67%) and water (30%) within 80 km.
Namibia travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type D / M
- 220 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 41% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $4,876
- 2025
- Happiness
- 4.8 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Homicide rate
- 11.2
- per 100k, 2021
- Road deaths
- 34.8
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Lower middle
- World Bank
- Religion
Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.
Data sources
Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Swakopmund (-22.6784°, 14.5266°, elevation 18 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google.