Port Elizabeth in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Port Elizabeth sees average daytime highs around 24°C and overnight lows near 19°C, with 114 mm of rain over about 21 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 22°C in early December to 24°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels humid.
Summer is Port Elizabeth's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Port Elizabeth's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 24°C
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 19°C
- Rainfall
- 114 mm
- 21 wet days
- Avg wind
- 19 km/h
- Travel score
- 7.7
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Port Elizabeth in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 22°C in early December to 24°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Port Elizabeth reaches about 24°C and drops to 19°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
Port Elizabeth 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 | 24° / 19° | 34 | 6.9 | 14 | 7.8 |
| Feb | 24° / 20° | 37 | 6.8 | 13.3 | 7.7 |
| Mar | 23° / 19° | 44 | 7.5 | 12.3 | 7.7 |
| Apr | 22° / 17° | 43 | 7.5 | 11.2 | 7.3 |
| May | 21° / 15° | 38 | 6.3 | 10.3 | 7.3 |
| Jun | 20° / 13° | 41 | 6.5 | 9.8 | 7.1 |
| Jul | 19° / 12° | 38 | 6.4 | 10 | 7.1 |
| Aug | 19° / 13° | 52 | 7.9 | 10.7 | 6.8 |
| Sep | 19° / 14° | 38 | 6.8 | 11.8 | 6.8 |
| Oct | 20° / 15° | 48 | 7.8 | 12.9 | 6.8 |
| Nov | 21° / 16° | 53 | 7.9 | 13.8 | 6.9 |
| Dec | 23° / 18° | 42 | 6.9 | 14.2 | 7.5 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 49% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Port Elizabeth gets around 114 mm of rain over 21 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 19 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 6.9 kWh/m².
Is summer a good time to visit Port Elizabeth?
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 Elizabeth for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Port Elizabeth in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Port Elizabeth sees daytime highs around 24°C and nights near 19°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes. About 21 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Port Elizabeth in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 20°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 January at about 21°C and coldest in August near 17°C.
It's comfortable for a long swim from Dec 26 to Mar 29 — about 3.1 months when the water holds above 20°C.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 17 | 17 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| Comfort | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool | Cool |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21 | Refreshing |
| Feb | 21 | Refreshing |
| Mar | 20 | Refreshing |
| Apr | 20 | Cool |
| May | 19 | Cool |
| Jun | 18 | Cool |
| Jul | 17 | Cool |
| Aug | 17 | Cool |
| Sep | 17 | Cool |
| Oct | 18 | Cool |
| Nov | 19 | Cool |
| Dec | 20 | Cool |
UV index in Port Elizabeth 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 Elizabeth peaks around January 15 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 23 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 | 4 | 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 | 4 | Moderate |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 10 | Very high |
| Nov | 11 | Extreme |
| Dec | 12 | Extreme |
Air quality in Port Elizabeth 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 Port Elizabeth is worst in June — around 22 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.5× the cleanest month (January, 9 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) | 9 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 19 | 22 | 18 | 19 | 16 | 13 | 10 | 9 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 9 | Good |
| Feb | 9 | Good |
| Mar | 11 | Good |
| Apr | 14 | Moderate |
| May | 19 | Moderate |
| Jun | 22 | Moderate |
| Jul | 18 | Moderate |
| Aug | 19 | Moderate |
| Sep | 16 | Moderate |
| Oct | 13 | Moderate |
| Nov | 10 | Good |
| Dec | 9 | Good |
Where is Port Elizabeth?
Port Elizabeth sits at 34.0°S, 25.6°E, 61 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Kariega, 30 km away.
Topography around Port Elizabeth
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Port Elizabeth.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Port Elizabeth has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 105 m around an average of 38 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 285 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,357 m.
The land around Port Elizabeth is covered by artificial surfaces (46%) and water (26%) within 3 km, water (51%) within 16 km, and water (41%), grassland (26%) and trees (21%) 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 Elizabeth (-33.9611°, 25.6149°, elevation 61 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.