Pietermaritzburg in Fall
In fall (March, April and May), Pietermaritzburg sees average daytime highs around 25°C and overnight lows near 13°C, with 183 mm of rain over about 29 wet days across the season. It is the 2nd-warmest season and the 3rd-wettest season.
Over the season highs ease from about 27°C in early March to 22°C by late May. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 47% of the time across fall, and the air most often feels dry.
Fall is Pietermaritzburg's 2nd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Pietermaritzburg's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 25°C
- 2nd-warmest season
- Avg overnight low
- 13°C
- Rainfall
- 183 mm
- 29 wet days
- Avg wind
- 7 km/h
- Travel score
- 7.1
- 2nd-best season
- Months
- Mar · Apr · May
Temperature in Pietermaritzburg in Fall
Over the season highs ease from about 27°C in early March to 22°C by late May.
A typical fall day in Pietermaritzburg reaches about 25°C and drops to 13°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is March, the coolest May.
Pietermaritzburg 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 | 27° / 17° | 134 | 18 | 13.7 | 5.3 |
| Feb | 27° / 17° | 113 | 14.9 | 13.1 | 5.5 |
| Mar | 26° / 16° | 96 | 14.3 | 12.2 | 6.1 |
| Apr | 24° / 14° | 58 | 9.7 | 11.3 | 7.1 |
| May | 23° / 10° | 29 | 5.1 | 10.5 | 8.1 |
| Jun | 21° / 7° | 20 | 3.4 | 10.1 | 8.2 |
| Jul | 21° / 7° | 29 | 3.8 | 10.3 | 8.1 |
| Aug | 23° / 9° | 32 | 5.9 | 10.9 | 7.9 |
| Sep | 24° / 12° | 56 | 9.5 | 11.8 | 7.2 |
| Oct | 24° / 13° | 92 | 15.4 | 12.7 | 6.1 |
| Nov | 25° / 14° | 116 | 17.2 | 13.5 | 5.5 |
| Dec | 26° / 16° | 129 | 19.2 | 13.9 | 5.2 |
Cloud cover in Fall
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 47% of the time across fall.
Chance of precipitation in Fall
Pietermaritzburg gets around 183 mm of rain over 29 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 7 km/h across fall.
Sunrise & sunset in Fall
Daylight runs from about 12 h 42 min in early March to 10 h 18 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 4.2 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Pietermaritzburg
In fall, Pietermaritzburg overlaps its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Pietermaritzburg's rainy season runs October–March, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is fall a good time to visit Pietermaritzburg?
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 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 Fall
From fall's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In fall, Pietermaritzburg sees daytime highs around 25°C and nights near 13°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes and sun protection. About 29 days see rain.
UV index in Pietermaritzburg 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 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 14 | 13 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 11 | 13 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | High | High | Moderate | Moderate | High | High | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14 | Extreme |
| Feb | 13 | Extreme |
| Mar | 11 | Extreme |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 5 | High |
| Jun | 4 | Moderate |
| Jul | 4 | Moderate |
| Aug | 6 | High |
| Sep | 7 | High |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 13 | Extreme |
Air quality in Pietermaritzburg 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 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).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 22 | 28 | 42 | 60 | 91 | 92 | 100 | 77 | 62 | 39 | 35 | 23 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Poor | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22 | Moderate |
| Feb | 28 | Moderate |
| Mar | 42 | Poor |
| Apr | 60 | Unhealthy |
| May | 91 | Unhealthy |
| Jun | 92 | Unhealthy |
| Jul | 100 | Unhealthy |
| Aug | 77 | Unhealthy |
| Sep | 62 | Unhealthy |
| Oct | 39 | Poor |
| Nov | 35 | Moderate |
| Dec | 23 | Moderate |
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.
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 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.