Franschhoek in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Franschhoek sees average daytime highs around 26°C and overnight lows near 16°C, with 74 mm of rain over about 14 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 24°C in early December to 27°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 67% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels comfortable.
Summer is Franschhoek's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Franschhoek's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 26°C
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 16°C
- Rainfall
- 74 mm
- 14 wet days
- Avg wind
- 11 km/h
- Travel score
- 8.0
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Franschhoek in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 24°C in early December to 27°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Franschhoek reaches about 26°C and drops to 16°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
Franschhoek 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 | 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 Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 67% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Franschhoek gets around 74 mm of rain over 14 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 11 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 14 h 06 min in early December to 12 h 48 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 7.7 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Franschhoek
None of Franschhoek's seasonal hazards peak in summer. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Franschhoek's rainy season runs April–September, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is summer a good time to visit Franschhoek?
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 Franschhoek for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Franschhoek in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Franschhoek sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 16°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. About 14 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Franschhoek 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 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 Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 12 (very high — sun protection essential). 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 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 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.