Port Alfred in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Port Alfred sees average daytime highs around 25°C and overnight lows near 19°C, with 167 mm of rain over about 26 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 26°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels muggy.
Summer is Port Alfred's 3rd-best season to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Port Alfred's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 25°C
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 19°C
- Rainfall
- 167 mm
- 26 wet days
- Avg wind
- 17 km/h
- Travel score
- 7.1
- 3rd-best season
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Port Alfred in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 23°C in early December to 26°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Port Alfred reaches about 25°C and drops to 19°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
Port Alfred 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° / 20° | 53 | 8.2 | 14 | 7.2 |
| Feb | 26° / 20° | 56 | 8.6 | 13.2 | 6.9 |
| Mar | 25° / 19° | 59 | 8.8 | 12.3 | 7.3 |
| Apr | 23° / 17° | 54 | 7.9 | 11.2 | 7.4 |
| May | 22° / 15° | 24 | 4.8 | 10.3 | 7.8 |
| Jun | 21° / 13° | 27 | 4.3 | 9.8 | 7.8 |
| Jul | 20° / 12° | 27 | 4.1 | 10 | 7.7 |
| Aug | 20° / 13° | 41 | 6.2 | 10.8 | 7.3 |
| Sep | 20° / 14° | 42 | 6 | 11.8 | 7.1 |
| Oct | 21° / 15° | 51 | 8.4 | 12.8 | 6.8 |
| Nov | 22° / 17° | 56 | 8.9 | 13.7 | 6.9 |
| Dec | 24° / 18° | 58 | 9.4 | 14.2 | 7.1 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 36% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Port Alfred gets around 167 mm of rain over 26 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 17 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 6.2 kWh/m².
Is summer a good time to visit Port Alfred?
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 Port Alfred for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Port Alfred in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Port Alfred sees daytime highs around 25°C and nights near 19°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes and rain gear. About 26 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Port Alfred in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 22°C across summer — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.
The sea offshore is warmest in February at about 23°C and coldest in September near 19°C.
It's comfortable for a long swim from Nov 4 to Jun 16 — about 7.4 months when the water holds above 20°C.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 22 | 23 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 21 | 21 |
| Comfort | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Refreshing | Refreshing |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 22 | Refreshing |
| Feb | 23 | Refreshing |
| Mar | 22 | Refreshing |
| Apr | 22 | Refreshing |
| May | 21 | Refreshing |
| Jun | 20 | Refreshing |
| Jul | 19 | Cool |
| Aug | 19 | Cool |
| Sep | 19 | Cool |
| Oct | 19 | Cool |
| Nov | 21 | Refreshing |
| Dec | 21 | Refreshing |
UV index in Port Alfred 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 Port Alfred peaks around January 15 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 22 at about 3 (moderate).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 10 months of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 13 | 11 | 9 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | Very high | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13 | Extreme |
| Feb | 11 | Extreme |
| Mar | 9 | Very high |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 4 | Moderate |
| Jun | 3 | Moderate |
| Jul | 3 | Moderate |
| Aug | 5 | Moderate |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 10 | Very high |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 12 | Extreme |
Where is Port Alfred?
Port Alfred sits at 33.6°S, 26.9°E, 35 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Grahamstown, 45 km away.
Topography around Port Alfred
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Port Alfred.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Port Alfred has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 128 m around an average of 45 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 332 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 906 m.
The land around Port Alfred is covered by trees (39%) and grassland (28%) within 3 km, water (41%), trees (33%) and grassland (21%) within 16 km, and water (36%), grassland (31%) and trees (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 Port Alfred (-33.586°, 26.8833°, elevation 35 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.