Pretoria in Winter
In winter (June, July and August), Pretoria sees average daytime highs around 21°C and overnight lows near 7°C, with 17 mm of rain over about 3 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 21°C in early June to 24°C by late August. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 85% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels dry.
Winter is Pretoria's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Pretoria's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 21°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 7°C
- Rainfall
- 17 mm
- 3 wet days
- Avg wind
- 10 km/h
- Travel score
- 8.7
- best season of the year
- Months
- Jun · Jul · Aug
Temperature in Pretoria in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 21°C in early June to 24°C by late August.
A typical winter day in Pretoria reaches about 21°C and drops to 7°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is August, the coolest July.
Pretoria weather by month
How the three winter months (June, July and August) 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 | 28° / 18° | 103 | 14.7 | 13.4 | 5.8 |
| Feb | 28° / 18° | 93 | 11.9 | 12.9 | 6.0 |
| Mar | 26° / 16° | 83 | 10.4 | 12.2 | 6.8 |
| Apr | 24° / 13° | 38 | 6.2 | 11.4 | 7.9 |
| May | 22° / 9° | 15 | 2.6 | 10.8 | 8.6 |
| Jun | 20° / 6° | 7 | 1.1 | 10.4 | 8.5 |
| Jul | 20° / 6° | 3 | 0.8 | 10.6 | 8.6 |
| Aug | 23° / 9° | 7 | 1.4 | 11.1 | 9.0 |
| Sep | 26° / 13° | 17 | 2.5 | 11.8 | 8.4 |
| Oct | 27° / 15° | 63 | 8.4 | 12.6 | 7.0 |
| Nov | 27° / 16° | 90 | 12.4 | 13.3 | 6.2 |
| Dec | 27° / 17° | 113 | 15.2 | 13.6 | 5.8 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 85% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Pretoria gets around 17 mm of rain over 3 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels dry — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 10 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 10 h 30 min in early June to 11 h 24 min by late August. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 4.4 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Pretoria
None of Pretoria's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Pretoria's rainy season runs October–March, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Pretoria?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is one of the better times to visit Pretoria for general sightseeing.
What to pack for Pretoria in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Pretoria sees daytime highs around 21°C and nights near 7°C. Worth packing: light clothes, a warm layer and sun protection.
UV index in Pretoria in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages 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 Pretoria peaks around December 23 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 17 at about 5 (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 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 14 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | Moderate | High | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14 | Extreme |
| Feb | 13 | Extreme |
| Mar | 12 | Extreme |
| Apr | 8 | Very high |
| May | 6 | High |
| Jun | 5 | Moderate |
| Jul | 6 | High |
| Aug | 7 | Very high |
| Sep | 9 | Very high |
| Oct | 11 | Extreme |
| Nov | 12 | Extreme |
| Dec | 14 | Extreme |
Air quality in Pretoria in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Pretoria is worst in July — around 188 µg/m³ PM2.5 (very unhealthy), about 6.6× the cleanest month (January, 29 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) | 29 | 43 | 67 | 114 | 169 | 185 | 188 | 142 | 108 | 62 | 43 | 32 |
| Level | Moderate | Poor | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Very unhealthy | Very unhealthy | Very unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Poor | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 29 | Moderate |
| Feb | 43 | Poor |
| Mar | 67 | Unhealthy |
| Apr | 114 | Unhealthy |
| May | 169 | Very unhealthy |
| Jun | 185 | Very unhealthy |
| Jul | 188 | Very unhealthy |
| Aug | 142 | Unhealthy |
| Sep | 108 | Unhealthy |
| Oct | 62 | Unhealthy |
| Nov | 43 | Poor |
| Dec | 32 | Moderate |
Where is Pretoria?
Pretoria sits at 25.7°S, 28.2°E, 1,332 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Centurion, 13 km away.
Topography around Pretoria
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Pretoria.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Pretoria has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 217 m around an average of 1,328 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 407 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 888 m.
The land around Pretoria is covered by artificial surfaces (59%) and trees (30%) within 3 km, artificial surfaces (39%), grassland (30%) and trees (21%) within 16 km, and grassland (48%) 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 Pretoria (-25.7449°, 28.1878°, elevation 1,332 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.