Franschhoek in Fall
In fall (March, April and May), Franschhoek sees average daytime highs around 23°C and overnight lows near 12°C, with 166 mm of rain over about 20 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the 2nd-wettest season.
Over the season highs ease from about 27°C in early March to 18°C by late May. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 53% of the time across fall, and the air most often feels dry.
Fall is Franschhoek's 2nd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Franschhoek's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 23°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 12°C
- Rainfall
- 166 mm
- 20 wet days
- Avg wind
- 9 km/h
- Travel score
- 7.5
- 2nd-best season
- Months
- Mar · Apr · May
Temperature in Franschhoek in Fall
Over the season highs ease from about 27°C in early March to 18°C by late May.
A typical fall day in Franschhoek reaches about 23°C and drops to 12°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is March, the coolest May.
Franschhoek weather by month
How the three fall months (March, April and May) 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 | 27° / 16° | 25 | 4.3 | 14 | 8.0 |
| Feb | 27° / 16° | 21 | 4 | 13.3 | 7.9 |
| Mar | 26° / 15° | 25 | 4.5 | 12.3 | 8.1 |
| Apr | 23° / 12° | 57 | 6.1 | 11.2 | 7.7 |
| May | 20° / 10° | 84 | 8.9 | 10.3 | 6.6 |
| Jun | 17° / 7° | 126 | 11 | 9.8 | 5.3 |
| Jul | 16° / 6° | 113 | 9.9 | 10 | 5.3 |
| Aug | 16° / 7° | 96 | 11.1 | 10.7 | 5.3 |
| Sep | 18° / 9° | 67 | 8.7 | 11.8 | 6.2 |
| Oct | 21° / 11° | 49 | 7.5 | 12.9 | 7.0 |
| Nov | 23° / 12° | 47 | 6.6 | 13.8 | 7.6 |
| Dec | 25° / 15° | 28 | 5.3 | 14.2 | 8.0 |
Cloud cover in Fall
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 53% of the time across fall.
Chance of precipitation in Fall
Franschhoek gets around 166 mm of rain over 20 wet days across fall. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Fall
Most of fall feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Fall
Winds average 9 km/h across fall.
Sunrise & sunset in Fall
Daylight runs from about 12 h 48 min in early March to 9 h 54 min by late May. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Fall
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across fall, about 4.3 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Franschhoek
In fall, Franschhoek overlaps its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Franschhoek's rainy season runs April–September, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is fall a good time to visit Franschhoek?
Our two travel scores rate fall for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
fall is one of the better times to visit Franschhoek for general sightseeing.
What to pack for Franschhoek in Fall
From fall's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In fall, Franschhoek sees daytime highs around 23°C and nights near 12°C. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 20 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Franschhoek in Fall
The nearest coast averages about 16°C across fall — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea at the nearest coast (about 33 km away) is warmest in January at about 19°C and coldest in July near 15°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) | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| Comfort | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19 | Cool |
| Feb | 18 | Cool |
| Mar | 17 | Cool |
| Apr | 16 | Cool |
| May | 16 | Cool |
| Jun | 15 | Cool |
| Jul | 15 | Bracing |
| Aug | 15 | Bracing |
| Sep | 15 | Cool |
| Oct | 16 | Cool |
| Nov | 17 | Cool |
| Dec | 18 | Cool |
UV index in Franschhoek in Fall
Clear-sky midday UV across fall 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 Franschhoek peaks around January 13 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 21 at about 3 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 11 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 13 | 10 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 10 | 12 | 12 |
| Level | Extreme | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13 | Extreme |
| Feb | 10 | Very high |
| Mar | 10 | Very high |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 4 | Moderate |
| Jun | 3 | Moderate |
| Jul | 3 | Moderate |
| Aug | 4 | Moderate |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 10 | Extreme |
| Nov | 12 | Extreme |
| Dec | 12 | Extreme |
Air quality in Franschhoek in Fall
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where fall falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Franschhoek is worst in May — around 52 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 3.4× the cleanest month (December, 15 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) | 20 | 19 | 28 | 41 | 52 | 50 | 47 | 41 | 33 | 29 | 18 | 15 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 20 | Moderate |
| Feb | 19 | Moderate |
| Mar | 28 | Moderate |
| Apr | 41 | Poor |
| May | 52 | Poor |
| Jun | 50 | Poor |
| Jul | 47 | Poor |
| Aug | 41 | Poor |
| Sep | 33 | Moderate |
| Oct | 29 | Moderate |
| Nov | 18 | Moderate |
| Dec | 15 | Moderate |
Where is Franschhoek?
Franschhoek sits at 33.9°S, 19.1°E, 273 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Le Roux, 3.0 km away.
Topography around Franschhoek
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Franschhoek.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Franschhoek has large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 809 m around an average of 373 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,676 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,254 m.
The land around Franschhoek is covered by trees (31%), grassland (25%) and shrubs (21%) within 3 km, grassland (57%) and shrubs (21%) within 16 km, and grassland (32%) and cropland (21%) within 80 km.
South Africa travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 2
- Exercise Increased Caution
- Power plugs
- Type C / M / N
- 230 V · 50 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 41% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $6,598
- 2025
- Happiness
- 5.0 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 68%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 43.7
- per 100k, 2022
- Road deaths
- 22.2
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Upper middle
- World Bank
- English
- Very high
- EF EPI 602
- 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 Franschhoek (-33.9108°, 19.1198°, elevation 273 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.