Mthatha in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Mthatha sees average daytime highs around 25°C and overnight lows near 15°C, with 416 mm of rain over about 53 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 23°C in early December to 25°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 20% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels humid.
Summer is Mthatha's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Mthatha's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 25°C
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 15°C
- Rainfall
- 416 mm
- 53 wet days
- Avg wind
- 9 km/h
- Travel score
- 5.4
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Mthatha in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 23°C in early December to 25°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Mthatha reaches about 25°C and drops to 15°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
Mthatha 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 | 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 Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 20% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Mthatha gets around 416 mm of rain over 53 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 9 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 13 h 54 min 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 5.5 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Mthatha
In summer, 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 summer a good time to visit Mthatha?
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 Mthatha for sightseeing.
What to pack for Mthatha in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Mthatha sees daytime highs around 25°C and nights near 15°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes and sun protection. About 53 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Mthatha in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 25°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 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 Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 13 (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 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 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.