Grahamstown weather in May
In May, Grahamstown sees average daytime highs of 23°C and overnight lows near 11°C, with 22 mm of rain across 5 wet days and about 10.3 hours of daylight. It is the 8th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.
Highs ease over the month, from about 23°C in the first days to 22°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 48% of the time in May, and the air most often feels dry.
Daylight stretches from about 10 h 42 min at the start of May to 10 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, May is Grahamstown's 4th-clearest and 11th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Grahamstown's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- 23°
- 8th warmest
- Overnight low
- 11°
- 5th coldest
- Rainfall
- 22 mm
- 5 wet days
- Daylight
- 10 h 18 min
- 7:02 AM – 5:19 PM
- Cloud cover
- 43%
- 4th clearest
- Wind
- 11 km/h
- 11th windiest
- Solar energy
- 3.19 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 7.9
- out of 10
Grahamstown is city in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
- Founded
- 1820
Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.
Temperature in May
Highs ease over the month, from about 23°C in the first days to 22°C by the end.
A typical May day in Grahamstown reaches about 23°C in the afternoon and slips back to 11°C overnight — a 12°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 17°C and 29°C. Set against its neighbours, May runs about 2°C cooler than April and about 2°C warmer than June.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 |
| Avg low (°C) | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 9 |
| Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 23 | 12 |
| 2 | 23 | 11 |
| 3 | 23 | 11 |
| 4 | 23 | 11 |
| 5 | 23 | 11 |
| 6 | 23 | 11 |
| 7 | 23 | 11 |
| 8 | 23 | 11 |
| 9 | 23 | 11 |
| 10 | 23 | 11 |
| 11 | 23 | 11 |
| 12 | 23 | 11 |
| 13 | 23 | 11 |
| 14 | 23 | 11 |
| 15 | 23 | 11 |
| 16 | 23 | 11 |
| 17 | 23 | 11 |
| 18 | 23 | 11 |
| 19 | 23 | 11 |
| 20 | 23 | 10 |
| 21 | 23 | 10 |
| 22 | 23 | 10 |
| 23 | 22 | 10 |
| 24 | 22 | 10 |
| 25 | 22 | 10 |
| 26 | 22 | 10 |
| 27 | 22 | 10 |
| 28 | 22 | 10 |
| 29 | 22 | 9 |
| 30 | 21 | 9 |
| 31 | 21 | 9 |
Grahamstown weather by month
How May compares with the rest of the year at a glance. May is the 8th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| 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 May
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 48% of the time in May.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of May, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 34%.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 64 | 64 | 64 | 64 | 65 | 65 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 67 | 66 | 66 | 66 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 69 | 70 | 70 | 71 |
| Cloudier (%) | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 35 | 35 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 34 | 34 | 34 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 30 | 30 | 29 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 64 | 36 |
| 2 | 64 | 36 |
| 3 | 64 | 36 |
| 4 | 64 | 36 |
| 5 | 65 | 35 |
| 6 | 65 | 35 |
| 7 | 66 | 34 |
| 8 | 66 | 34 |
| 9 | 66 | 34 |
| 10 | 66 | 34 |
| 11 | 67 | 33 |
| 12 | 66 | 34 |
| 13 | 66 | 34 |
| 14 | 66 | 34 |
| 15 | 65 | 35 |
| 16 | 65 | 35 |
| 17 | 65 | 35 |
| 18 | 65 | 35 |
| 19 | 65 | 35 |
| 20 | 65 | 35 |
| 21 | 65 | 35 |
| 22 | 65 | 35 |
| 23 | 66 | 34 |
| 24 | 67 | 33 |
| 25 | 67 | 33 |
| 26 | 68 | 32 |
| 27 | 69 | 31 |
| 28 | 69 | 31 |
| 29 | 70 | 30 |
| 30 | 70 | 30 |
| 31 | 71 | 29 |
Chance of precipitation in May
Grahamstown gets around 22 mm of rain over 5 wet days in May. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 16% and peaks near 21% on the wettest days.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain chance (%) | 21 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 |
| Rain chance (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 21 |
| 2 | 20 |
| 3 | 20 |
| 4 | 20 |
| 5 | 19 |
| 6 | 19 |
| 7 | 18 |
| 8 | 18 |
| 9 | 17 |
| 10 | 17 |
| 11 | 16 |
| 12 | 16 |
| 13 | 15 |
| 14 | 15 |
| 15 | 14 |
| 16 | 14 |
| 17 | 14 |
| 18 | 14 |
| 19 | 14 |
| 20 | 14 |
| 21 | 15 |
| 22 | 15 |
| 23 | 15 |
| 24 | 15 |
| 25 | 15 |
| 26 | 15 |
| 27 | 15 |
| 28 | 15 |
| 29 | 15 |
| 30 | 15 |
| 31 | 15 |
Humidity in May
Most of May feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
By dew point, May lands in the dry band about 93% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry (%) | 82 | 84 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 92 | 93 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 95 | 96 | 96 | 97 | 97 | 97 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 98 | 99 | 99 | 99 | 99 |
| Comfortable (%) | 16 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Humid (%) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Dry (%) | Comfortable (%) | Humid (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 82 | 16 | 2 |
| 2 | 84 | 15 | 1 |
| 3 | 84 | 15 | 1 |
| 4 | 85 | 14 | 1 |
| 5 | 86 | 13 | 1 |
| 6 | 87 | 12 | 1 |
| 7 | 88 | 11 | 1 |
| 8 | 89 | 10 | 1 |
| 9 | 90 | 10 | 0 |
| 10 | 91 | 9 | 0 |
| 11 | 92 | 8 | 0 |
| 12 | 92 | 8 | 0 |
| 13 | 93 | 7 | 0 |
| 14 | 93 | 7 | 0 |
| 15 | 94 | 6 | 0 |
| 16 | 95 | 5 | 0 |
| 17 | 95 | 5 | 0 |
| 18 | 96 | 4 | 0 |
| 19 | 96 | 4 | 0 |
| 20 | 97 | 3 | 0 |
| 21 | 97 | 3 | 0 |
| 22 | 97 | 3 | 0 |
| 23 | 98 | 2 | 0 |
| 24 | 98 | 2 | 0 |
| 25 | 98 | 2 | 0 |
| 26 | 98 | 2 | 0 |
| 27 | 98 | 2 | 0 |
| 28 | 99 | 1 | 0 |
| 29 | 99 | 1 | 0 |
| 30 | 99 | 1 | 0 |
| 31 | 99 | 1 | 0 |
Wind in May
Winds average 11 km/h in May.
Across May, daily wind ranges from about 11 km/h on the calmest days to 12 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (km/h) | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Feels | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze |
| Wind speed (km/h) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 11 | calm |
| 2 | 11 | calm |
| 3 | 11 | calm |
| 4 | 11 | calm |
| 5 | 11 | calm |
| 6 | 11 | calm |
| 7 | 11 | calm |
| 8 | 11 | calm |
| 9 | 11 | calm |
| 10 | 11 | calm |
| 11 | 11 | calm |
| 12 | 11 | calm |
| 13 | 11 | calm |
| 14 | 11 | calm |
| 15 | 11 | calm |
| 16 | 11 | calm |
| 17 | 11 | calm |
| 18 | 11 | calm |
| 19 | 12 | calm |
| 20 | 12 | calm |
| 21 | 12 | calm |
| 22 | 12 | calm |
| 23 | 12 | calm |
| 24 | 12 | calm |
| 25 | 12 | light breeze |
| 26 | 12 | light breeze |
| 27 | 12 | light breeze |
| 28 | 12 | light breeze |
| 29 | 12 | light breeze |
| 30 | 12 | light breeze |
| 31 | 12 | light breeze |
Sunrise & sunset in May
Daylight runs from about 10 h 42 min at the start of May to 10 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Days shrink by about 42 minutes over May. Sunrise moves from 6:50 AM to 7:12 AM, and sunset from 5:32 PM to 5:11 PM.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 10.7 | 10.7 | 10.6 | 10.6 | 10.6 | 10.5 | 10.5 | 10.5 | 10.5 | 10.4 | 10.4 | 10.4 | 10.4 | 10.3 | 10.3 | 10.3 | 10.3 | 10.2 | 10.2 | 10.2 | 10.2 | 10.1 | 10.1 | 10.1 | 10.1 | 10.1 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 | 10.0 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 6:50 | 6:51 | 6:52 | 6:52 | 6:53 | 6:54 | 6:55 | 6:56 | 6:56 | 6:57 | 6:58 | 6:59 | 6:59 | 7:00 | 7:01 | 7:02 | 7:02 | 7:03 | 7:04 | 7:04 | 7:05 | 7:06 | 7:07 | 7:07 | 7:08 | 7:09 | 7:09 | 7:10 | 7:11 | 7:11 | 7:12 |
| Sunset (PM) | 5:32 | 5:31 | 5:30 | 5:29 | 5:28 | 5:27 | 5:26 | 5:25 | 5:24 | 5:23 | 5:23 | 5:22 | 5:21 | 5:20 | 5:19 | 5:19 | 5:18 | 5:17 | 5:17 | 5:16 | 5:15 | 5:15 | 5:14 | 5:14 | 5:13 | 5:13 | 5:12 | 5:12 | 5:11 | 5:11 | 5:11 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10.7 | 6:50 | 5:32 |
| 2 | 10.7 | 6:51 | 5:31 |
| 3 | 10.6 | 6:52 | 5:30 |
| 4 | 10.6 | 6:52 | 5:29 |
| 5 | 10.6 | 6:53 | 5:28 |
| 6 | 10.5 | 6:54 | 5:27 |
| 7 | 10.5 | 6:55 | 5:26 |
| 8 | 10.5 | 6:56 | 5:25 |
| 9 | 10.5 | 6:56 | 5:24 |
| 10 | 10.4 | 6:57 | 5:23 |
| 11 | 10.4 | 6:58 | 5:23 |
| 12 | 10.4 | 6:59 | 5:22 |
| 13 | 10.4 | 6:59 | 5:21 |
| 14 | 10.3 | 7:00 | 5:20 |
| 15 | 10.3 | 7:01 | 5:19 |
| 16 | 10.3 | 7:02 | 5:19 |
| 17 | 10.3 | 7:02 | 5:18 |
| 18 | 10.2 | 7:03 | 5:17 |
| 19 | 10.2 | 7:04 | 5:17 |
| 20 | 10.2 | 7:04 | 5:16 |
| 21 | 10.2 | 7:05 | 5:15 |
| 22 | 10.1 | 7:06 | 5:15 |
| 23 | 10.1 | 7:07 | 5:14 |
| 24 | 10.1 | 7:07 | 5:14 |
| 25 | 10.1 | 7:08 | 5:13 |
| 26 | 10.1 | 7:09 | 5:13 |
| 27 | 10.0 | 7:09 | 5:12 |
| 28 | 10.0 | 7:10 | 5:12 |
| 29 | 10.0 | 7:11 | 5:11 |
| 30 | 10.0 | 7:11 | 5:11 |
| 31 | 10.0 | 7:12 | 5:11 |
Solar energy in May
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in May, about 3.19 kWh/m².
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.81 kWh/m² to a high of 6.46 kWh/m² in December across the year — May's 3.19 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3.5 | Moderate |
| 2 | 3.5 | Moderate |
| 3 | 3.5 | Moderate |
| 4 | 3.5 | Moderate |
| 5 | 3.4 | Moderate |
| 6 | 3.4 | Moderate |
| 7 | 3.4 | Moderate |
| 8 | 3.4 | Moderate |
| 9 | 3.4 | Moderate |
| 10 | 3.3 | Moderate |
| 11 | 3.3 | Moderate |
| 12 | 3.3 | Moderate |
| 13 | 3.3 | Moderate |
| 14 | 3.2 | Moderate |
| 15 | 3.2 | Moderate |
| 16 | 3.2 | Moderate |
| 17 | 3.2 | Moderate |
| 18 | 3.2 | Moderate |
| 19 | 3.1 | Moderate |
| 20 | 3.1 | Moderate |
| 21 | 3.1 | Moderate |
| 22 | 3.1 | Moderate |
| 23 | 3.0 | Moderate |
| 24 | 3.0 | Moderate |
| 25 | 3.0 | Moderate |
| 26 | 3.0 | Moderate |
| 27 | 3.0 | Moderate |
| 28 | 3.0 | Moderate |
| 29 | 2.9 | Moderate |
| 30 | 2.9 | Moderate |
| 31 | 2.9 | Moderate |
Is May a good time to visit Grahamstown?
Our two travel scores rate May for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
May is one of the better times to visit Grahamstown for general sightseeing.
What to pack for Grahamstown in May
From May's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In May, Grahamstown sees daytime highs around 23°C and nights near 11°C. Worth packing: light clothes. About 5 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Grahamstown in May
The nearest coast averages about 21°C in May — 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 May
Clear-sky midday UV in May peaks around 4 — 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 May
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where May 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. Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).