Windhoek in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Windhoek sees average daytime highs around 29°C and overnight lows near 17°C, with 338 mm of rain over about 34 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs ease from about 30°C in early December to 28°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 38% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels dry.
Summer is Windhoek's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Windhoek's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 29°C
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 17°C
- Rainfall
- 338 mm
- 34 wet days
- Avg wind
- 10 km/h
- Travel score
- 5.4
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Windhoek in Summer
Over the season highs ease from about 30°C in early December to 28°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Windhoek reaches about 29°C and drops to 17°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is December, the coolest December.
Windhoek 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 | 29° / 17° | 131 | 12.8 | 13.2 | 5.2 |
| Feb | 28° / 16° | 143 | 13 | 12.8 | 5.7 |
| Mar | 27° / 15° | 89 | 11.8 | 12.2 | 6.5 |
| Apr | 25° / 12° | 29 | 4.8 | 11.5 | 8.2 |
| May | 23° / 8° | 4 | 0.6 | 10.9 | 9.3 |
| Jun | 21° / 5° | 0 | 0.1 | 10.6 | 9.0 |
| Jul | 21° / 5° | 0 | 0.1 | 10.8 | 8.9 |
| Aug | 23° / 7° | 0 | 0.1 | 11.2 | 9.5 |
| Sep | 27° / 11° | 5 | 1.1 | 11.9 | 8.6 |
| Oct | 29° / 14° | 13 | 3.5 | 12.5 | 6.7 |
| Nov | 30° / 15° | 34 | 5.8 | 13.1 | 6.0 |
| Dec | 30° / 16° | 64 | 7.9 | 13.4 | 5.3 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 38% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Windhoek gets around 338 mm of rain over 34 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 10 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 7.4 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Windhoek
In summer, Windhoek overlaps its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Windhoek's rainy season runs January–March, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is summer a good time to visit Windhoek?
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 a reasonable time to visit Windhoek for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Windhoek in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Windhoek sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 17°C. Pack light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 34 days see rain.
UV index in Windhoek in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 15 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Windhoek peaks around January 14 at about 16 (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) | 16 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 8 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 15 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | High | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16 | Extreme |
| Feb | 14 | Extreme |
| Mar | 14 | Extreme |
| Apr | 10 | Extreme |
| May | 8 | Very high |
| Jun | 6 | High |
| Jul | 7 | High |
| Aug | 9 | Very high |
| Sep | 11 | Extreme |
| Oct | 12 | Extreme |
| Nov | 14 | Extreme |
| Dec | 15 | Extreme |
Air quality in Windhoek 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 Windhoek is worst in August — around 31 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.0× the cleanest month (January, 11 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) | 11 | 12 | 16 | 21 | 25 | 26 | 28 | 31 | 28 | 22 | 18 | 13 |
| Level | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Good |
| Feb | 12 | Moderate |
| Mar | 16 | Moderate |
| Apr | 21 | Moderate |
| May | 25 | Moderate |
| Jun | 26 | Moderate |
| Jul | 28 | Moderate |
| Aug | 31 | Moderate |
| Sep | 28 | Moderate |
| Oct | 22 | Moderate |
| Nov | 18 | Moderate |
| Dec | 13 | Moderate |
Where is Windhoek?
Windhoek sits at 22.6°S, 17.1°E, 1,700 m above sea level, in Namibia. The nearest listed city is Katutura, 5.0 km away.
Topography around Windhoek
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Windhoek.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Windhoek has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 206 m around an average of 1,673 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,012 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,502 m.
The land around Windhoek is covered by artificial surfaces (61%) and shrubs (28%) within 3 km, shrubs (82%) within 16 km, and shrubs (83%) 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 Windhoek (-22.5594°, 17.0832°, elevation 1,700 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.