Grahamstown in Fall
In fall (March, April and May), Grahamstown sees average daytime highs around 25°C and overnight lows near 13°C, with 130 mm of rain over about 22 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the 3rd-wettest season.
Over the season highs ease from about 27°C in early March to 22°C by late May. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 45% of the time across fall, and the air most often feels dry.
Fall is Grahamstown's 2nd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Grahamstown's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 25°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 13°C
- Rainfall
- 130 mm
- 22 wet days
- Avg wind
- 11 km/h
- Travel score
- 7.4
- 2nd-best season
- Months
- Mar · Apr · May
Temperature in Grahamstown in Fall
Over the season highs ease from about 27°C in early March to 22°C by late May.
A typical fall day in Grahamstown reaches about 25°C and drops to 13°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is March, the coolest May.
Grahamstown 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° | 63 | 9.2 | 14 | 6.6 |
| Feb | 28° / 17° | 64 | 9.9 | 13.2 | 6.4 |
| Mar | 27° / 15° | 59 | 8.7 | 12.3 | 6.9 |
| Apr | 24° / 13° | 49 | 8.1 | 11.2 | 7.3 |
| May | 23° / 11° | 22 | 5 | 10.3 | 7.9 |
| Jun | 21° / 8° | 22 | 4 | 9.8 | 7.7 |
| Jul | 21° / 8° | 22 | 3.6 | 10 | 7.8 |
| Aug | 21° / 8° | 35 | 5.9 | 10.8 | 7.5 |
| Sep | 22° / 10° | 40 | 6.2 | 11.8 | 7.5 |
| Oct | 23° / 12° | 56 | 9 | 12.8 | 7.1 |
| Nov | 24° / 13° | 60 | 9.2 | 13.7 | 7.0 |
| Dec | 26° / 15° | 62 | 9.8 | 14.2 | 6.7 |
Cloud cover in Fall
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 45% of the time across fall.
Chance of precipitation in Fall
Grahamstown gets around 130 mm of rain over 22 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 11 km/h across fall.
Sunrise & sunset in Fall
Daylight runs from about 12 h 48 min in early March to 10 hours 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 4.0 kWh/m².
Is fall a good time to visit Grahamstown?
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 Grahamstown for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Grahamstown in Fall
From fall's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In fall, Grahamstown sees daytime highs around 25°C and nights near 13°C. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 22 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Grahamstown in Fall
The nearest coast averages about 22°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 48 km away) is warmest in February at about 23°C and coldest in September near 19°C.
It's comfortable for a long swim from Nov 4 to Jun 16 — about 7.4 months when the water holds above 20°C.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 |
| Comfort | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Refreshing | Refreshing |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22 | Refreshing |
| Feb | 23 | Refreshing |
| Mar | 22 | Refreshing |
| Apr | 22 | Refreshing |
| May | 21 | Refreshing |
| Jun | 20 | Refreshing |
| Jul | 19 | Cool |
| Aug | 19 | Cool |
| Sep | 19 | Cool |
| Oct | 19 | Cool |
| Nov | 21 | Refreshing |
| Dec | 21 | Refreshing |
UV index in Grahamstown in Fall
Clear-sky midday UV across fall averages around 7 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Grahamstown peaks around January 14 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 22 at about 3 (moderate).
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) | 13 | 11 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13 | Extreme |
| Feb | 11 | Extreme |
| Mar | 10 | Very high |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 4 | Moderate |
| Jun | 3 | Moderate |
| Jul | 3 | Moderate |
| Aug | 5 | Moderate |
| Sep | 7 | High |
| Oct | 10 | Extreme |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 12 | Extreme |
Air quality in Grahamstown 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 Grahamstown is worst in August — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.8× the cleanest month (February, 6 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) | 6 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 6 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 6 | Good |
| Feb | 6 | Good |
| Mar | 7 | Good |
| Apr | 10 | Good |
| May | 14 | Moderate |
| Jun | 15 | Moderate |
| Jul | 14 | Moderate |
| Aug | 17 | Moderate |
| Sep | 14 | Moderate |
| Oct | 11 | Good |
| Nov | 7 | Good |
| Dec | 6 | Good |
Where is Grahamstown?
Grahamstown sits at 33.3°S, 26.5°E, 551 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Port Alfred, 45 km away.
Topography around Grahamstown
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Grahamstown.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Grahamstown has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 240 m around an average of 595 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 697 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,453 m.
The land around Grahamstown is covered by grassland (54%) and trees (21%) within 3 km, grassland (50%) and trees (34%) within 16 km, and grassland (44%), trees (21%) and water (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 Grahamstown (-33.3042°, 26.5328°, elevation 551 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.