Grahamstown in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Grahamstown sees average daytime highs around 27°C and overnight lows near 16°C, with 189 mm of rain over about 29 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 25°C in early December to 28°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels humid.
Summer is Grahamstown's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Grahamstown's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 27°C
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 16°C
- Rainfall
- 189 mm
- 29 wet days
- Avg wind
- 13 km/h
- Travel score
- 6.6
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Grahamstown in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 25°C in early December to 28°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Grahamstown reaches about 27°C and drops to 16°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
Grahamstown 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° | 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 Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Grahamstown gets around 189 mm of rain over 29 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels humid — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 13 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 14 hours 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 6.1 kWh/m².
Is summer a good time to visit Grahamstown?
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 Grahamstown for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Grahamstown in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Grahamstown sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 16°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 29 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Grahamstown in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 22°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 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 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 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 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 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.