Richards Bay weather in February

In February, Richards Bay sees average daytime highs of 29°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 95 mm of rain across 11.9 wet days and about 13 hours of daylight. It is the 1st-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 29°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 41% of the time in February, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 24 min at the start of February to 12 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, February is Richards Bay's 8th-clearest and 9th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Richards Bay's year-round climate.

Daytime high
29°
1st warmest
Overnight low
23°
12th coldest
Rainfall
95 mm
11.9 wet days
Daylight
13 hours
5:36 AM – 6:37 PM
Cloud cover
50%
8th clearest
Wind
16 km/h
9th windiest
Solar energy
5.84 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.3
out of 10

Richards Bay is town.

Air quality
Moderate
PM2.5 13 µg/m³ · 2012
Founded
1879

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in February

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 29°C through the month.

A typical February day in Richards Bay reaches about 29°C in the afternoon and slips back to 23°C overnight — a 6°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 25°C and 32°C. Set against its neighbours, February runs on par with January and on par with March.

20°25°30°35°151015202528
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12923
22923
32923
42923
52923
62923
72923
82923
92923
102923
112923
122923
132923
142923
152923
162923
172923
182923
192923
202923
212923
222923
232923
242923
252923
262923
272923
282923

Richards Bay weather by month

How February compares with the rest of the year at a glance. February is the 1st-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 23°10813.513.65.3
Feb29° / 23°9511.9135.3
Mar28° / 22°9712.312.25.9
Apr27° / 20°7910.411.36.8
May25° / 18°567.610.67.8
Jun24° / 16°396.610.28.2
Jul23° / 15°476.910.48.0
Aug24° / 16°397118.0
Sep25° / 18°548.211.87.4
Oct25° / 19°8012.212.76.5
Nov26° / 20°9313.213.46.0
Dec28° / 22°8611.713.85.9

Cloud cover in February

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 41% of the time in February.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of February, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 41%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202528
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15545
25644
35743
45743
55842
65842
75842
85842
95842
105842
115842
125842
135941
146040
156040
166040
176040
186040
196040
206040
216139
226040
236040
246040
256139
266139
276238
286337

Chance of precipitation in February

Any precipitation

Richards Bay gets around 95 mm of rain over 11.9 wet days in February. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 43% and peaks near 46% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%151015202528
Rain chance (%)
146
245
345
444
544
643
743
843
943
1044
1144
1244
1344
1444
1544
1643
1743
1843
1943
2043
2143
2242
2342
2442
2541
2641
2740
2840

Humidity in February

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of February feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, February lands in the oppressive band about 45% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 90% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202528
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
11847431
21847431
31847431
41847431
51847431
61847431
71847431
81846441
91846441
101945441
111945451
121944451
131944461
141943461
151943461
160943461
170943461
180943461
1901043460
2001043460
2101043460
2211043460
2311043460
2411043450
2511143450
2611143450
2721143440
2821143440

Wind in February

Winds average 16 km/h in February.

Across February, daily wind ranges from about 16 km/h on the calmest days to 16 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202528
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
116light breeze
216light breeze
316light breeze
416light breeze
516light breeze
616light breeze
716light breeze
816light breeze
916light breeze
1016light breeze
1116light breeze
1216light breeze
1316light breeze
1416light breeze
1516light breeze
1616light breeze
1716light breeze
1816light breeze
1916light breeze
2016light breeze
2116light breeze
2216light breeze
2316light breeze
2416light breeze
2516light breeze
2616light breeze
2716light breeze
2816light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in February

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 24 min at the start of February to 12 h 42 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 42 minutes over February. Sunrise moves from 5:25 AM to 5:45 AM, and sunset from 6:46 PM to 6:26 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202528
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.45:256:46
213.35:256:46
313.35:266:45
413.35:276:45
513.35:286:44
613.25:296:43
713.25:296:43
813.25:306:42
913.25:316:42
1013.25:326:41
1113.15:336:40
1213.15:336:39
1313.15:346:39
1413.15:356:38
1513.05:366:37
1613.05:366:36
1713.05:376:36
1812.95:386:35
1912.95:396:34
2012.95:396:33
2112.95:406:32
2212.85:416:31
2312.85:426:30
2412.85:426:29
2512.85:436:28
2612.75:446:28
2712.75:446:27
2812.75:456:26

Solar energy in February

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in February, about 5.84 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.16 kWh/m² to a high of 6.12 kWh/m² in January across the year — February's 5.84 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202528
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.0Intense
26.0Bright
36.0Bright
46.0Bright
56.0Bright
66.0Bright
76.0Bright
86.0Bright
95.9Bright
105.9Bright
115.9Bright
125.9Bright
135.8Bright
145.8Bright
155.8Bright
165.8Bright
175.8Bright
185.7Bright
195.7Bright
205.7Bright
215.7Bright
225.7Bright
235.6Bright
245.6Bright
255.6Bright
265.6Bright
275.6Bright
285.6Bright
Planning a trip in February

Hazard calendar for Richards Bay

In seasonPeak

In February, Richards Bay sits inside its cyclone season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Richards Bay sits in the South Indian Ocean cyclone belt; the season peaks January–March.

Cyclone
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is February a good time to visit Richards Bay?

Our two travel scores rate February for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

5.3
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
6.6
Beach & pool
4th-best month of the year

February is a reasonable time to visit Richards Bay for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Richards Bay in February

From February's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In February, Richards Bay sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 12 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Richards Bay in February

The nearest coast averages about 27°C in February — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 13 km away) is warmest in February at about 27°C and coldest in August near 22°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

20°22°24°26°28°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan26Warm
Feb27Warm
Mar26Warm
Apr25Warm
May24Warm
Jun23Refreshing
Jul22Refreshing
Aug22Refreshing
Sep22Refreshing
Oct22Refreshing
Nov24Refreshing
Dec25Warm

UV index in Richards Bay in February

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in February peaks 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 Richards Bay peaks around February 10 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 21 at about 4 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeHighModerateHighVery highVery highExtremeFeb 10UV 12Jun 21UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan12Extreme
Feb12Extreme
Mar11Extreme
Apr6High
May5Moderate
Jun4Moderate
Jul4Moderate
Aug6High
Sep6High
Oct10Extreme
Nov10Very high
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Richards Bay in February

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where February falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Richards Bay is worst in July — around 21 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.4× the cleanest month (January, 6 µg/m³).

Seasonal pattern from CAMS reanalysis, scaled to Richards Bay's WHO annual average of 13 µg/m³.

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1420 µg/m³Jan 186 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb7Good
Mar9Good
Apr15Moderate
May17Moderate
Jun19Moderate
Jul21Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep16Moderate
Oct12Moderate
Nov9Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Richards Bay?

Richards Bay sits at 28.8°S, 32.0°E, 9 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Empangeni, 14 km away.

Topography around Richards Bay

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Richards Bay.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Richards Bay has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 48 m around an average of 12 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 187 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,252 m.

The land around Richards Bay is covered by trees (25%) and water (23%) within 3 km, trees (37%) and water (33%) within 16 km, and water (34%), trees (29%) and grassland (24%) within 80 km.

3 km
48 m
16 km
187 m
80 km
1,252 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetlandmangroves
February weather nearby: Empangeni 14 km · eSikhaleni 17 km · Mtubatuba 43 km · Eshowe 56 km · Mandeni 73 km · Ulundi 79 km · KwaDukuza 95 km · Shakaskraal 109 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
Christian 86%or other traditional African religions 5%nothing in particular 5%Muslim 2%

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 Richards Bay (-28.783°, 32.0377°, elevation 9 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. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).