Mthatha weather in March
In March, Mthatha sees average daytime highs of 25°C and overnight lows near 15°C, with 120 mm of rain across 16.2 wet days and about 12.2 hours of daylight. It is the 3rd-warmest and 5th-wettest month of the year here.
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 25°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 30% of the time in March, and the air most often feels humid.
Daylight stretches from about 12 h 42 min at the start of March to 11 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, March is Mthatha's 7th-clearest and 11th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Mthatha's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- 25°
- 3rd warmest
- Overnight low
- 15°
- 10th coldest
- Rainfall
- 120 mm
- 16.2 wet days
- Daylight
- 12 h 12 min
- 6:07 AM – 6:22 PM
- Cloud cover
- 60%
- 7th clearest
- Wind
- 8 km/h
- 11th windiest
- Solar energy
- 4.67 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 6.0
- out of 10
Mthatha is town in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
- Density
- 2,999/km²
- people per km²
- Founded
- 1876
Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.
Temperature in March
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 25°C through the month.
A typical March day in Mthatha reaches about 25°C in the afternoon and slips back to 15°C overnight — a 10°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 19°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, March runs about 1°C cooler than February and about 2°C warmer than April.
| 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) | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 25 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 |
| Avg low (°C) | 16 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 |
| Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 | 16 |
| 2 | 25 | 16 |
| 3 | 25 | 16 |
| 4 | 25 | 16 |
| 5 | 25 | 15 |
| 6 | 25 | 15 |
| 7 | 25 | 15 |
| 8 | 25 | 15 |
| 9 | 25 | 15 |
| 10 | 25 | 15 |
| 11 | 25 | 15 |
| 12 | 25 | 15 |
| 13 | 25 | 15 |
| 14 | 25 | 15 |
| 15 | 25 | 15 |
| 16 | 25 | 15 |
| 17 | 25 | 15 |
| 18 | 25 | 15 |
| 19 | 25 | 15 |
| 20 | 24 | 15 |
| 21 | 24 | 15 |
| 22 | 24 | 15 |
| 23 | 24 | 14 |
| 24 | 24 | 14 |
| 25 | 24 | 14 |
| 26 | 24 | 14 |
| 27 | 24 | 14 |
| 28 | 24 | 14 |
| 29 | 24 | 14 |
| 30 | 24 | 14 |
| 31 | 24 | 14 |
Mthatha weather by month
How March compares with the rest of the year at a glance. March is the 3rd-warmest and 5th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| 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 March
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 30% of the time in March.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 16% of March, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 53%.
| 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 (%) | 46 | 46 | 47 | 47 | 47 | 47 | 46 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 46 | 45 | 45 | 46 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 45 | 46 | 46 | 46 | 47 | 47 | 48 | 48 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Cloudier (%) | 54 | 54 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 54 | 55 | 55 | 54 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 53 | 53 | 52 | 52 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 46 | 54 |
| 2 | 46 | 54 |
| 3 | 47 | 53 |
| 4 | 47 | 53 |
| 5 | 47 | 53 |
| 6 | 47 | 53 |
| 7 | 46 | 54 |
| 8 | 45 | 55 |
| 9 | 45 | 55 |
| 10 | 45 | 55 |
| 11 | 45 | 55 |
| 12 | 46 | 54 |
| 13 | 45 | 55 |
| 14 | 45 | 55 |
| 15 | 46 | 54 |
| 16 | 45 | 55 |
| 17 | 45 | 55 |
| 18 | 45 | 55 |
| 19 | 45 | 55 |
| 20 | 46 | 54 |
| 21 | 46 | 54 |
| 22 | 46 | 54 |
| 23 | 47 | 53 |
| 24 | 47 | 53 |
| 25 | 48 | 52 |
| 26 | 48 | 52 |
| 27 | 50 | 50 |
| 28 | 50 | 50 |
| 29 | 50 | 50 |
| 30 | 50 | 50 |
| 31 | 50 | 50 |
Chance of precipitation in March
Mthatha gets around 120 mm of rain over 16.2 wet days in March. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 52% and peaks near 55% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.
| 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 (%) | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 55 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 54 | 53 | 52 | 52 | 51 | 50 | 49 | 48 | 48 | 47 | 46 | 45 | 45 | 44 |
| Rain chance (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 54 |
| 2 | 54 |
| 3 | 54 |
| 4 | 54 |
| 5 | 54 |
| 6 | 54 |
| 7 | 54 |
| 8 | 55 |
| 9 | 54 |
| 10 | 54 |
| 11 | 54 |
| 12 | 54 |
| 13 | 54 |
| 14 | 54 |
| 15 | 54 |
| 16 | 54 |
| 17 | 54 |
| 18 | 54 |
| 19 | 53 |
| 20 | 52 |
| 21 | 52 |
| 22 | 51 |
| 23 | 50 |
| 24 | 49 |
| 25 | 48 |
| 26 | 48 |
| 27 | 47 |
| 28 | 46 |
| 29 | 45 |
| 30 | 45 |
| 31 | 44 |
Humidity in March
Most of March feels humid — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
By dew point, March lands in the humid band about 43% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 8% of them.
| 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 (%) | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 21 | 23 |
| Comfortable (%) | 23 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 36 | 37 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 47 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 | 48 |
| Humid (%) | 51 | 50 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 51 | 51 | 52 | 51 | 50 | 50 | 49 | 48 | 47 | 46 | 45 | 44 | 43 | 42 | 40 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 32 | 31 | 30 | 29 | 27 |
| Muggy (%) | 17 | 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 13 | 12 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Dry (%) | Comfortable (%) | Humid (%) | Muggy (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 | 23 | 51 | 17 |
| 2 | 9 | 24 | 50 | 17 |
| 3 | 10 | 24 | 50 | 16 |
| 4 | 10 | 24 | 51 | 15 |
| 5 | 10 | 24 | 52 | 14 |
| 6 | 11 | 25 | 51 | 13 |
| 7 | 11 | 26 | 51 | 12 |
| 8 | 11 | 26 | 52 | 11 |
| 9 | 12 | 27 | 51 | 10 |
| 10 | 12 | 28 | 50 | 10 |
| 11 | 12 | 29 | 50 | 9 |
| 12 | 12 | 30 | 49 | 8 |
| 13 | 12 | 32 | 48 | 8 |
| 14 | 12 | 33 | 47 | 7 |
| 15 | 12 | 34 | 46 | 7 |
| 16 | 13 | 36 | 45 | 6 |
| 17 | 13 | 37 | 44 | 6 |
| 18 | 13 | 39 | 43 | 6 |
| 19 | 13 | 40 | 42 | 5 |
| 20 | 13 | 41 | 40 | 5 |
| 21 | 14 | 43 | 39 | 5 |
| 22 | 14 | 44 | 38 | 4 |
| 23 | 14 | 45 | 37 | 4 |
| 24 | 15 | 46 | 36 | 4 |
| 25 | 15 | 47 | 35 | 3 |
| 26 | 16 | 47 | 34 | 3 |
| 27 | 17 | 48 | 32 | 3 |
| 28 | 18 | 48 | 31 | 2 |
| 29 | 20 | 48 | 30 | 2 |
| 30 | 21 | 48 | 29 | 2 |
| 31 | 23 | 48 | 27 | 1 |
Wind in March
Winds average 8 km/h in March.
Across March, daily wind ranges from about 8 km/h on the calmest days to 8 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) | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| 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 | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm | calm |
| Wind speed (km/h) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 | calm |
| 2 | 8 | calm |
| 3 | 8 | calm |
| 4 | 8 | calm |
| 5 | 8 | calm |
| 6 | 8 | calm |
| 7 | 8 | calm |
| 8 | 8 | calm |
| 9 | 8 | calm |
| 10 | 8 | calm |
| 11 | 8 | calm |
| 12 | 8 | calm |
| 13 | 8 | calm |
| 14 | 8 | calm |
| 15 | 8 | calm |
| 16 | 8 | calm |
| 17 | 8 | calm |
| 18 | 8 | calm |
| 19 | 8 | calm |
| 20 | 8 | calm |
| 21 | 8 | calm |
| 22 | 8 | calm |
| 23 | 8 | calm |
| 24 | 8 | calm |
| 25 | 8 | calm |
| 26 | 8 | calm |
| 27 | 8 | calm |
| 28 | 8 | calm |
| 29 | 8 | calm |
| 30 | 8 | calm |
| 31 | 8 | calm |
Sunrise & sunset in March
Daylight runs from about 12 h 42 min at the start of March to 11 h 42 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Days shrink by about 60 minutes over March. Sunrise moves from 5:56 AM to 6:18 AM, and sunset from 6:40 PM to 6:02 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) | 12.7 | 12.7 | 12.7 | 12.6 | 12.6 | 12.6 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.5 | 12.4 | 12.4 | 12.4 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.3 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 12.1 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 12.0 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 11.9 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.8 | 11.7 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 5:56 | 5:57 | 5:58 | 5:59 | 5:59 | 6:00 | 6:01 | 6:02 | 6:02 | 6:03 | 6:04 | 6:05 | 6:05 | 6:06 | 6:07 | 6:07 | 6:08 | 6:09 | 6:09 | 6:10 | 6:11 | 6:11 | 6:12 | 6:13 | 6:13 | 6:14 | 6:15 | 6:16 | 6:16 | 6:17 | 6:18 |
| Sunset (PM) | 6:40 | 6:39 | 6:38 | 6:36 | 6:35 | 6:34 | 6:33 | 6:32 | 6:30 | 6:29 | 6:28 | 6:27 | 6:26 | 6:24 | 6:23 | 6:22 | 6:20 | 6:19 | 6:18 | 6:17 | 6:15 | 6:14 | 6:13 | 6:11 | 6:10 | 6:09 | 6:07 | 6:06 | 6:05 | 6:03 | 6:02 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12.7 | 5:56 | 6:40 |
| 2 | 12.7 | 5:57 | 6:39 |
| 3 | 12.7 | 5:58 | 6:38 |
| 4 | 12.6 | 5:59 | 6:36 |
| 5 | 12.6 | 5:59 | 6:35 |
| 6 | 12.6 | 6:00 | 6:34 |
| 7 | 12.5 | 6:01 | 6:33 |
| 8 | 12.5 | 6:02 | 6:32 |
| 9 | 12.5 | 6:02 | 6:30 |
| 10 | 12.4 | 6:03 | 6:29 |
| 11 | 12.4 | 6:04 | 6:28 |
| 12 | 12.4 | 6:05 | 6:27 |
| 13 | 12.3 | 6:05 | 6:26 |
| 14 | 12.3 | 6:06 | 6:24 |
| 15 | 12.3 | 6:07 | 6:23 |
| 16 | 12.2 | 6:07 | 6:22 |
| 17 | 12.2 | 6:08 | 6:20 |
| 18 | 12.2 | 6:09 | 6:19 |
| 19 | 12.1 | 6:09 | 6:18 |
| 20 | 12.1 | 6:10 | 6:17 |
| 21 | 12.1 | 6:11 | 6:15 |
| 22 | 12.0 | 6:11 | 6:14 |
| 23 | 12.0 | 6:12 | 6:13 |
| 24 | 12.0 | 6:13 | 6:11 |
| 25 | 11.9 | 6:13 | 6:10 |
| 26 | 11.9 | 6:14 | 6:09 |
| 27 | 11.9 | 6:15 | 6:07 |
| 28 | 11.8 | 6:16 | 6:06 |
| 29 | 11.8 | 6:16 | 6:05 |
| 30 | 11.8 | 6:17 | 6:03 |
| 31 | 11.7 | 6:18 | 6:02 |
Solar energy in March
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in March, about 4.67 kWh/m².
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.14 kWh/m² to a high of 5.68 kWh/m² in December across the year — March's 4.67 kWh/m² falls in the middle.
| 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) | 5.1 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.8 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.6 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.4 | 4.3 | 4.3 |
| Level | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5.1 | Bright |
| 2 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 3 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 4 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 5 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 6 | 5.0 | Bright |
| 7 | 4.9 | Bright |
| 8 | 4.9 | Bright |
| 9 | 4.9 | Bright |
| 10 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 11 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 12 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 13 | 4.8 | Bright |
| 14 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 15 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 16 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 17 | 4.7 | Bright |
| 18 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 19 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 20 | 4.6 | Bright |
| 21 | 4.5 | Bright |
| 22 | 4.5 | Bright |
| 23 | 4.5 | Bright |
| 24 | 4.5 | Bright |
| 25 | 4.5 | Bright |
| 26 | 4.4 | Bright |
| 27 | 4.4 | Bright |
| 28 | 4.4 | Bright |
| 29 | 4.4 | Bright |
| 30 | 4.3 | Bright |
| 31 | 4.3 | Bright |
Hazard calendar for Mthatha
In March, Mthatha sits inside 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 March a good time to visit Mthatha?
Our two travel scores rate March for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
March is a reasonable time to visit Mthatha for sightseeing.
What to pack for Mthatha in March
From March's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In March, Mthatha sees daytime highs around 25°C and nights near 15°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes and sun protection. About 16 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Mthatha in March
The nearest coast averages about 26°C in March — 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 March
Clear-sky midday UV in March peaks around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). 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 March
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where March 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. 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).