Paarl in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Paarl sees average daytime highs around 28°C and overnight lows near 16°C, with 62 mm of rain over about 10 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 26°C in early December to 29°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 74% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels dry.
Summer is Paarl's 2nd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Paarl's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 28°C
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 16°C
- Rainfall
- 62 mm
- 10 wet days
- Avg wind
- 10 km/h
- Travel score
- 7.5
- 2nd-best season
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Paarl in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 26°C in early December to 29°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Paarl reaches about 28°C and drops to 16°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
Paarl 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 | 29° / 16° | 21 | 3.1 | 14 | 7.3 |
| Feb | 29° / 16° | 17 | 2.8 | 13.3 | 7.2 |
| Mar | 27° / 15° | 21 | 3.3 | 12.3 | 8.0 |
| Apr | 24° / 12° | 57 | 5.6 | 11.2 | 7.9 |
| May | 20° / 9° | 99 | 8.3 | 10.3 | 6.8 |
| Jun | 17° / 7° | 152 | 10.7 | 9.8 | 5.4 |
| Jul | 16° / 6° | 130 | 9.9 | 10 | 5.4 |
| Aug | 17° / 6° | 110 | 10.6 | 10.7 | 5.4 |
| Sep | 19° / 8° | 77 | 8.7 | 11.8 | 6.3 |
| Oct | 22° / 10° | 47 | 6.1 | 12.8 | 7.4 |
| Nov | 24° / 12° | 44 | 6 | 13.8 | 7.9 |
| Dec | 27° / 15° | 25 | 4.4 | 14.2 | 8.0 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 74% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Paarl gets around 62 mm of rain over 10 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 10 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 14 h 06 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 7.9 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Paarl
None of Paarl's seasonal hazards peak in summer. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Paarl's rainy season runs May–September, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is summer a good time to visit Paarl?
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 one of the better times to visit Paarl for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Paarl in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Paarl sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 16°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. About 10 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Paarl in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 18°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 44 km away) is warmest in January at about 19°C and coldest in July near 15°C.
The water stays below 20°C all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 |
| Comfort | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Bracing | Bracing | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19 | Cool |
| Feb | 18 | Cool |
| Mar | 17 | Cool |
| Apr | 16 | Cool |
| May | 16 | Cool |
| Jun | 15 | Cool |
| Jul | 15 | Bracing |
| Aug | 15 | Bracing |
| Sep | 15 | Cool |
| Oct | 16 | Cool |
| Nov | 17 | Cool |
| Dec | 18 | Cool |
UV index in Paarl 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 Paarl peaks around January 13 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 20 at about 3 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 11 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 13 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Level | Extreme | Very high | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13 | Extreme |
| Feb | 10 | Very high |
| Mar | 9 | Very high |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 4 | Moderate |
| Jun | 3 | Moderate |
| Jul | 3 | Moderate |
| Aug | 4 | Moderate |
| Sep | 5 | High |
| Oct | 10 | Extreme |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 12 | Extreme |
Air quality in Paarl 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 Paarl is worst in May — around 52 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 3.4× the cleanest month (December, 15 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) | 20 | 19 | 28 | 41 | 52 | 50 | 47 | 41 | 33 | 29 | 18 | 15 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 20 | Moderate |
| Feb | 19 | Moderate |
| Mar | 28 | Moderate |
| Apr | 41 | Poor |
| May | 52 | Poor |
| Jun | 50 | Poor |
| Jul | 47 | Poor |
| Aug | 41 | Poor |
| Sep | 33 | Moderate |
| Oct | 29 | Moderate |
| Nov | 18 | Moderate |
| Dec | 15 | Moderate |
Where is Paarl?
Paarl sits at 33.7°S, 19.0°E, 107 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Wellington, 11 km away.
Topography around Paarl
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Paarl.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Paarl has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 517 m around an average of 163 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,613 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,250 m.
The land around Paarl is covered by artificial surfaces (42%) within 3 km, grassland (38%) and cropland (27%) within 16 km, and grassland (32%) and cropland (25%) 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 Paarl (-33.7338°, 18.9752°, elevation 107 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.