Pietermaritzburg weather in April

In April, Pietermaritzburg sees average daytime highs of 24°C and overnight lows near 14°C, with 58 mm of rain across 9.7 wet days and about 11.3 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 7th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 24°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 45% of the time in April, and the air most often feels comfortable.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 42 min at the start of April to 10 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, April is Pietermaritzburg's 5th-clearest and 11th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Pietermaritzburg's year-round climate.

Daytime high
24°
6th warmest
Overnight low
14°
7th coldest
Rainfall
58 mm
9.7 wet days
Daylight
11 h 18 min
6:20 AM – 5:37 PM
Cloud cover
48%
5th clearest
Wind
7 km/h
11th windiest
Solar energy
4.1 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.1
out of 10

Pietermaritzburg is city in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Density
6,661/km²
people per km²
Founded
1839

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in April

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 24°C through the month.

A typical April day in Pietermaritzburg reaches about 24°C in the afternoon and slips back to 14°C overnight — a 11°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 19°C and 29°C. Set against its neighbours, April runs about 2°C cooler than March and about 1°C warmer than May.

10°20°30°151015202530
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12515
22515
32515
42515
52515
62515
72514
82514
92514
102514
112514
122514
132514
142414
152414
162413
172413
182413
192413
202413
212413
222413
232413
242413
252413
262412
272412
282412
292412
302412

Pietermaritzburg weather by month

How April compares with the rest of the year at a glance. April is the 6th-warmest and 7th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan27° / 17°1341813.75.3
Feb27° / 17°11314.913.15.5
Mar26° / 16°9614.312.26.1
Apr24° / 14°589.711.37.1
May23° / 10°295.110.58.1
Jun21° / 203.410.18.2
Jul21° / 293.810.38.1
Aug23° / 325.910.97.9
Sep24° / 12°569.511.87.2
Oct24° / 13°9215.412.76.1
Nov25° / 14°11617.213.55.5
Dec26° / 16°12919.213.95.2

Cloud cover in April

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 45% of the time in April.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of April, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 41%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15050
25050
35149
45248
55248
65347
75446
85446
95644
105644
115743
125743
135842
145842
155941
166040
175941
186040
196040
206139
216139
226238
236238
246337
256436
266436
276535
286634
296634
306832

Chance of precipitation in April

Any precipitation

Pietermaritzburg gets around 58 mm of rain over 9.7 wet days in April. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 32% and peaks near 40% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202530
Rain chance (%)
140
239
338
438
537
636
736
835
935
1034
1134
1234
1333
1433
1533
1633
1732
1832
1932
2031
2131
2230
2329
2429
2528
2627
2727
2826
2925
3025

Humidity in April

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of April feels comfortable — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, April lands in the comfortable band about 43% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202530
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
11439434
21540413
31741393
41942372
52043352
62244321
72445301
82546281
92747251
102948231
113048220
123148200
133349180
143449170
153549160
163749150
173848140
183948130
194147120
204346110
214545100
22474490
23494380
24524170
25534070
26563860
27593650
28603550
29633340
30663130

Wind in April

Winds average 7 km/h in April.

Across April, daily wind ranges from about 7 km/h on the calmest days to 7 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202530
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
17calm
27calm
37calm
47calm
57calm
67calm
77calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm

Sunrise & sunset in April

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 42 min at the start of April to 10 h 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 48 minutes over April. Sunrise moves from 6:11 AM to 6:29 AM, and sunset from 5:55 PM to 5:23 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202530
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.76:115:55
211.76:125:54
311.76:125:53
411.66:135:51
511.66:135:50
611.66:145:49
711.66:155:48
811.56:155:47
911.56:165:45
1011.56:165:44
1111.46:175:43
1211.46:185:42
1311.46:185:41
1411.36:195:40
1511.36:195:38
1611.36:205:37
1711.36:215:36
1811.26:215:35
1911.26:225:34
2011.26:235:33
2111.16:235:32
2211.16:245:31
2311.16:245:30
2411.16:255:29
2511.06:265:28
2611.06:265:27
2711.06:275:26
2811.06:285:25
2910.96:285:24
3010.96:295:23

Solar energy in April

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in April, about 4.1 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.29 kWh/m² to a high of 5.51 kWh/m² in January across the year — April's 4.1 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

012345151015202530
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.4Bright
24.4Bright
34.3Bright
44.3Bright
54.3Bright
64.3Bright
74.3Bright
84.3Bright
94.2Bright
104.2Bright
114.2Bright
124.2Bright
134.2Bright
144.2Bright
154.1Bright
164.1Bright
174.1Bright
184.1Bright
194.0Bright
204.0Bright
214.0Bright
224.0Moderate
234.0Moderate
243.9Moderate
253.9Moderate
263.9Moderate
273.9Moderate
283.9Moderate
293.9Moderate
303.9Moderate
Planning a trip in April

Hazard calendar for Pietermaritzburg

In seasonPeak

None of Pietermaritzburg's seasonal hazards are active in April. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Pietermaritzburg's rainy season runs October–March, when most of the year's rain falls.

Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is April a good time to visit Pietermaritzburg?

Our two travel scores rate April for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

7.1
Sightseeing
6th-best month of the year
6.2
Beach & pool
2nd-best month of the year

April is one of the better times to visit Pietermaritzburg for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Pietermaritzburg in April

From April's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In April, Pietermaritzburg sees daytime highs around 24°C and nights near 14°C. Worth packing: light clothes and rain gear. About 10 days see rain.

light clothesrain gear

UV index in Pietermaritzburg in April

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in April peaks around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Pietermaritzburg peaks around January 16 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 23 at about 4 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeHighModerateHighExtremeJan 16UV 14Jun 23UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan14Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar11Extreme
Apr6High
May5High
Jun4Moderate
Jul4Moderate
Aug6High
Sep7High
Oct11Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec13Extreme

Air quality in Pietermaritzburg in April

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where April falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Pietermaritzburg is worst in July — around 100 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 4.5× the cleanest month (January, 22 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0306090120JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorUnhealthyPoorModerateJul 1399 µg/m³Jan 1222 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan22Moderate
Feb28Moderate
Mar42Poor
Apr60Unhealthy
May91Unhealthy
Jun92Unhealthy
Jul100Unhealthy
Aug77Unhealthy
Sep62Unhealthy
Oct39Poor
Nov35Moderate
Dec23Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Pietermaritzburg?

Pietermaritzburg sits at 29.6°S, 30.4°E, 636 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Mpophomeni, 21 km away.

Topography around Pietermaritzburg

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Pietermaritzburg.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Pietermaritzburg has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 130 m around an average of 653 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,026 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,321 m.

The land around Pietermaritzburg is covered by artificial surfaces (46%) and trees (33%) within 3 km, trees (43%) and grassland (34%) within 16 km, and grassland (40%) and trees (39%) within 80 km.

3 km
130 m
16 km
1,026 m
80 km
2,321 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
April weather nearby: Mpophomeni 21 km · Howick 22 km · Richmond 31 km · Mpumalanga 32 km · Pinetown 53 km · Ntuzuma 55 km · Folweni 58 km · Mooi River 60 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
Christian 86%or other traditional African religions 5%nothing in particular 5%Muslim 2%

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 Pietermaritzburg (-29.6168°, 30.3928°, elevation 636 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. 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).