Swakopmund in Winter

In winter (June, July and August), Swakopmund sees average daytime highs around 22°C and overnight lows near 12°C, with 1 mm of rain over about 0 wet days across the season. It is the 3rd-warmest season and the driest season of the year.

Over the season highs ease from about 23°C in early June to 20°C by late August. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 87% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.

Winter is Swakopmund's 2nd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Swakopmund's year-round climate.

Avg daytime high
22°C
3rd-warmest season
Avg overnight low
12°C
Rainfall
1 mm
0 wet days
Avg wind
14 km/h
Travel score
9.1
2nd-best season
Months
Jun · Jul · Aug

Temperature in Swakopmund in Winter

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Over the season highs ease from about 23°C in early June to 20°C by late August.

A typical winter day in Swakopmund reaches about 22°C and drops to 12°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is June, the coolest August.

10°20°30°JunJulAug

Swakopmund weather by month

How the three winter months (June, July and August) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan23° / 17°4113.28.6
Feb24° / 17°61.112.88.7
Mar24° / 17°40.712.29.1
Apr24° / 15°40.611.59.3
May23° / 14°10.210.99.4
Jun23° / 13°00.110.69.4
Jul22° / 13°00.110.79.3
Aug20° / 11°00.111.28.6
Sep20° / 11°10.211.98.3
Oct20° / 12°0012.58.4
Nov21° / 14°10.213.18.6
Dec22° / 15°20.513.48.7

Cloud cover in Winter

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 87% of the time across winter.

0%25%50%75%100%JunJulAug

Chance of precipitation in Winter

Any precipitation

Swakopmund gets around 1 mm of rain over 0 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

0%10%20%30%JunJulAug

Humidity in Winter

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

0%25%50%75%100%JunJulAug

Wind in Winter

Winds average 14 km/h across winter.

05101520JunJulAug

Sunrise & sunset in Winter

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 42 min in early June to 11 h 30 min by late August. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AMJunJulAug

Solar energy in Winter

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 4.7 kWh/m².

0246JunJulAug
Planning a trip in winter

Is winter a good time to visit Swakopmund?

Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.

9.1
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
6.1
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

winter 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 Winter

From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In winter, Swakopmund sees daytime highs around 22°C and nights near 12°C. Worth packing: light clothes and sun protection.

light clothessun protection

Sea temperature near Swakopmund in Winter

The nearest coast averages about 14°C across winter — 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.

12°14°16°18°20°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcool
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan18Cool
Feb18Cool
Mar18Cool
Apr17Cool
May15Cool
Jun14Bracing
Jul14Bracing
Aug14Bracing
Sep13Bracing
Oct14Bracing
Nov15Cool
Dec17Cool

UV index in Swakopmund in Winter

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. 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.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highHighVery highExtremeJan 15UV 14Jun 18UV 6
UV index (midday)Level
Jan15Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr9Very high
May7High
Jun5High
Jul6High
Aug7Very high
Sep9Very high
Oct11Extreme
Nov13Extreme
Dec13Extreme

Air quality in Swakopmund in Winter

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter 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).

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModeratePoorModerateGoodJul 1138 µg/m³Jan 15 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan5Good
Feb6Good
Mar6Good
Apr11Good
May27Moderate
Jun36Poor
Jul39Poor
Aug26Moderate
Sep10Good
Oct7Good
Nov6Good
Dec5Good
Location & terrain

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.

OkahandjaKatuturaWindhoekRehobothOtjiwarongoMarientalLüderitz

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.

3 km
38 m
16 km
189 m
80 km
1,011 m
shrubsgrasslandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
Winter weather nearby: Walvis Bay 31 km · Okahandja 256 km · Katutura 261 km · Windhoek 263 km · Rehoboth 272 km · Otjiwarongo 330 km · Mariental 412 km · Lüderitz 446 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
Christian 98%unaffiliated 2%other 1%

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.