Mthatha in Fall
In fall (March, April and May), Mthatha sees average daytime highs around 23°C and overnight lows near 12°C, with 223 mm of rain over about 31 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the 3rd-wettest season.
Over the season highs ease from about 25°C in early March to 21°C by late May. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 43% of the time across fall, and the air most often feels dry.
Fall is Mthatha's 2nd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Mthatha's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 23°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 12°C
- Rainfall
- 223 mm
- 31 wet days
- Avg wind
- 8 km/h
- Travel score
- 6.9
- 2nd-best season
- Months
- Mar · Apr · May
Temperature in Mthatha in Fall
Over the season highs ease from about 25°C in early March to 21°C by late May.
A typical fall day in Mthatha reaches about 23°C and drops to 12°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is March, the coolest May.
Mthatha 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 | 25° / 16° | 145 | 18.8 | 13.8 | 5.3 |
| Feb | 26° / 16° | 131 | 15.9 | 13.2 | 5.5 |
| Mar | 25° / 15° | 120 | 16.2 | 12.2 | 6.0 |
| Apr | 23° / 12° | 76 | 9.9 | 11.2 | 6.9 |
| May | 22° / 9° | 27 | 5 | 10.4 | 7.8 |
| Jun | 20° / 6° | 24 | 3.3 | 10 | 7.9 |
| Jul | 20° / 6° | 22 | 3.2 | 10.1 | 7.9 |
| Aug | 21° / 8° | 32 | 5.5 | 10.8 | 7.7 |
| Sep | 23° / 10° | 56 | 8.4 | 11.8 | 7.1 |
| Oct | 23° / 11° | 96 | 14.9 | 12.8 | 6.0 |
| Nov | 23° / 13° | 129 | 16.4 | 13.6 | 5.7 |
| Dec | 24° / 14° | 140 | 18.5 | 14 | 5.5 |
Cloud cover in Fall
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 43% of the time across fall.
Chance of precipitation in Fall
Mthatha gets around 223 mm of rain over 31 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 8 km/h across fall.
Sunrise & sunset in Fall
Daylight runs from about 12 h 42 min in early March to 10 h 06 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 4.1 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Mthatha
In fall, Mthatha overlaps its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Mthatha's rainy season runs October–April, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is fall a good time to visit Mthatha?
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 a reasonable time to visit Mthatha for sightseeing.
What to pack for Mthatha in Fall
From fall's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In fall, Mthatha sees daytime highs around 23°C and nights near 12°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes and sun protection. About 31 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Mthatha in Fall
The nearest coast averages about 25°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 64 km away) is warmest in February at about 26°C and coldest in August near 21°C.
The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Comfort | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Warm |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25 | Warm |
| Feb | 26 | Warm |
| Mar | 26 | Warm |
| Apr | 25 | Warm |
| May | 24 | Refreshing |
| Jun | 23 | Refreshing |
| Jul | 22 | Refreshing |
| Aug | 21 | Refreshing |
| Sep | 21 | Refreshing |
| Oct | 22 | Refreshing |
| Nov | 23 | Refreshing |
| Dec | 24 | Warm |
UV index in Mthatha 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 Mthatha peaks around January 15 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 22 at about 4 (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) | 14 | 12 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 11 | 13 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | High | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | High | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14 | Extreme |
| Feb | 12 | Extreme |
| Mar | 10 | Extreme |
| Apr | 7 | High |
| May | 5 | Moderate |
| Jun | 4 | Moderate |
| Jul | 4 | Moderate |
| Aug | 5 | High |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 13 | Extreme |
Air quality in Mthatha 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 Mthatha is worst in August — around 34 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.1× the cleanest month (December, 8 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) | 9 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 20 | 25 | 34 | 24 | 16 | 13 | 8 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | Good |
| Feb | 10 | Good |
| Mar | 12 | Good |
| Apr | 14 | Moderate |
| May | 17 | Moderate |
| Jun | 20 | Moderate |
| Jul | 25 | Moderate |
| Aug | 34 | Moderate |
| Sep | 24 | Moderate |
| Oct | 16 | Moderate |
| Nov | 13 | Moderate |
| Dec | 8 | Good |
Where is Mthatha?
Mthatha sits at 31.6°S, 28.8°E, 694 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Ugie, 68 km away.
Topography around Mthatha
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Mthatha.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Mthatha has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 164 m around an average of 706 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 688 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,012 m.
The land around Mthatha is covered by artificial surfaces (41%) and grassland (35%) within 3 km, grassland (55%) and cropland (30%) within 16 km, and grassland (52%) and trees (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 Mthatha (-31.5889°, 28.7844°, elevation 694 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.