Polokwane in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Polokwane sees average daytime highs around 27°C and overnight lows near 17°C, with 335 mm of rain over about 40 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Across summer, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 27°C. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 31% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels humid.
Summer is Polokwane's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Polokwane's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 27°C
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 17°C
- Rainfall
- 335 mm
- 40 wet days
- Avg wind
- 9 km/h
- Travel score
- 6.0
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Polokwane in Summer
Across summer, daytime highs hold fairly steady around 27°C.
A typical summer day in Polokwane reaches about 27°C and drops to 17°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is January, the coolest December.
Polokwane 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 | 27° / 17° | 116 | 13.7 | 13.3 | 6.0 |
| Feb | 27° / 17° | 88 | 10.1 | 12.8 | 6.4 |
| Mar | 26° / 16° | 74 | 9.5 | 12.2 | 7.0 |
| Apr | 24° / 13° | 39 | 5.4 | 11.5 | 8.0 |
| May | 23° / 10° | 11 | 2.5 | 10.9 | 8.7 |
| Jun | 20° / 7° | 4 | 0.9 | 10.6 | 8.6 |
| Jul | 20° / 6° | 3 | 0.7 | 10.7 | 8.5 |
| Aug | 23° / 9° | 4 | 0.9 | 11.2 | 9.1 |
| Sep | 26° / 12° | 13 | 2.7 | 11.9 | 8.5 |
| Oct | 27° / 14° | 46 | 8 | 12.6 | 7.2 |
| Nov | 27° / 16° | 98 | 13.5 | 13.2 | 6.0 |
| Dec | 27° / 17° | 131 | 15.9 | 13.4 | 5.7 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 31% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Polokwane gets around 335 mm of rain over 40 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 24 min in early December to 12 h 30 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 6.6 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Polokwane
In summer, Polokwane overlaps its rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.
Polokwane's rainy season runs November–March, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is summer a good time to visit Polokwane?
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 Polokwane for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Polokwane in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Polokwane sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 17°C. Pack light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 40 days see rain.
UV index in Polokwane in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages around 14 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Polokwane peaks around January 17 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 18 at about 6 (high).
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 | 14 | 13 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 13 | 14 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | High | High | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14 | Extreme |
| Feb | 14 | Extreme |
| Mar | 13 | Extreme |
| Apr | 9 | Very high |
| May | 7 | High |
| Jun | 6 | High |
| Jul | 6 | High |
| Aug | 8 | Very high |
| Sep | 10 | Very high |
| Oct | 10 | Extreme |
| Nov | 13 | Extreme |
| Dec | 14 | Extreme |
Air quality in Polokwane 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 Polokwane is worst in August — around 26 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.5× the cleanest month (December, 7 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) | 8 | 9 | 11 | 16 | 22 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 25 | 16 | 9 | 7 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8 | Good |
| Feb | 9 | Good |
| Mar | 11 | Good |
| Apr | 16 | Moderate |
| May | 22 | Moderate |
| Jun | 23 | Moderate |
| Jul | 25 | Moderate |
| Aug | 26 | Moderate |
| Sep | 25 | Moderate |
| Oct | 16 | Moderate |
| Nov | 9 | Good |
| Dec | 7 | Good |
Where is Polokwane?
Polokwane sits at 23.9°S, 29.5°E, 1,315 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Mankweng, 24 km away.
Topography around Polokwane
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Polokwane.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Polokwane has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 149 m around an average of 1,293 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 393 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,561 m.
The land around Polokwane is covered by artificial surfaces (61%) within 3 km, grassland (51%) and shrubs (21%) within 16 km, and shrubs (50%) and grassland (20%) 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 Polokwane (-23.9045°, 29.4688°, elevation 1,315 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.