Swellendam weather in October

In October, Swellendam sees average daytime highs of 23°C and overnight lows near 11°C, with 39 mm of rain across 5.5 wet days and about 12.9 hours of daylight. It is the 7th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 22°C in the first days to 24°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 41% of the time in October, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 12 h 18 min at the start of October to 13 h 24 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, October is Swellendam's 12th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Swellendam's year-round climate.

Daytime high
23°
7th warmest
Overnight low
11°
6th coldest
Rainfall
39 mm
5.5 wet days
Daylight
12 h 54 min
5:57 AM – 6:49 PM
Cloud cover
49%
12th clearest
Wind
10 km/h
4th windiest
Solar energy
6 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.8
out of 10

Swellendam is town in Western Cape, South Africa.

Founded
1746

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

Temperature in October

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 22°C in the first days to 24°C by the end.

A typical October day in Swellendam reaches about 23°C in the afternoon and slips back to 11°C overnight — a 12°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 17°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, October runs about 2°C warmer than September and about 2°C cooler than November.

10°20°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12210
22210
32210
42310
52310
62310
72310
82311
92311
102311
112311
122311
132311
142311
152311
162411
172411
182411
192412
202412
212412
222412
232412
242412
252412
262412
272412
282412
292412
302412
312412

Swellendam weather by month

How October compares with the rest of the year at a glance. October is the 7th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan28° / 16°285.1147.0
Feb28° / 16°235.313.37.0
Mar27° / 15°35612.37.5
Apr24° / 12°376.111.27.7
May21° / 305.410.37.5
Jun18° / 316.19.86.9
Jul18° / 336106.8
Aug19° / 336.510.76.9
Sep21° / 245.711.87.3
Oct23° / 11°395.512.97.8
Nov25° / 13°405.813.87.7
Dec27° / 15°295.414.27.4

Cloud cover in October

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 41% of the time in October, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 17% of October, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 41%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15941
26040
36040
45941
55941
65941
75941
85941
95941
105941
115941
125941
135941
145941
155941
165941
175842
185842
195842
205842
215842
225842
235842
245842
255842
265941
275842
285842
295941
305941
315842

Chance of precipitation in October

Any precipitation

Swellendam gets around 39 mm of rain over 5.5 wet days in October. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 18% and peaks near 19% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
118
217
317
417
517
617
717
817
917
1017
1118
1218
1318
1419
1519
1619
1719
1819
1919
2019
2119
2219
2319
2419
2519
2619
2719
2819
2919
3019
3119

Humidity in October

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, October lands in the dry band about 90% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
19820
29730
39730
49730
59640
69640
79550
89460
99460
109370
119280
129280
139190
1490100
1590100
1688111
1788111
1887121
1987121
2087121
2186131
2286131
2386131
2485141
2585141
2685141
2785141
2885141
2985141
3085141
3185141

Wind in October

Winds average 10 km/h in October.

Across October, daily wind ranges from about 10 km/h on the calmest days to 11 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
110calm
210calm
310calm
410calm
510calm
610calm
710calm
810calm
910calm
1010calm
1110calm
1210calm
1310calm
1410calm
1510calm
1610calm
1710calm
1810calm
1910calm
2010calm
2110calm
2210calm
2310calm
2410calm
2510calm
2610calm
2711calm
2811calm
2911calm
3011calm
3111calm

Sunrise & sunset in October

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 12 h 18 min at the start of October to 13 h 24 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 66 minutes over October. Sunrise moves from 6:17 AM to 5:41 AM, and sunset from 6:37 PM to 7:02 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
112.36:176:37
212.46:166:38
312.46:146:39
412.46:136:40
512.56:126:40
612.56:106:41
712.66:096:42
812.66:086:43
912.66:066:43
1012.76:056:44
1112.76:046:45
1212.76:026:46
1312.86:016:47
1412.86:006:48
1512.85:596:48
1612.95:576:49
1712.95:566:50
1812.95:556:51
1913.05:546:52
2013.05:536:53
2113.05:516:53
2213.15:506:54
2313.15:496:55
2413.15:486:56
2513.25:476:57
2613.25:466:58
2713.25:456:59
2813.35:447:00
2913.35:437:01
3013.35:427:02
3113.45:417:02

Solar energy in October

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in October, about 6 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.64 kWh/m² to a high of 7.53 kWh/m² in December across the year — October's 6 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.5Bright
25.5Bright
35.5Bright
45.6Bright
55.6Bright
65.7Bright
75.7Bright
85.7Bright
95.8Bright
105.8Bright
115.8Bright
125.9Bright
135.9Bright
145.9Bright
156.0Bright
166.0Intense
176.0Intense
186.1Intense
196.1Intense
206.1Intense
216.2Intense
226.2Intense
236.3Intense
246.3Intense
256.3Intense
266.4Intense
276.4Intense
286.4Intense
296.5Intense
306.5Intense
316.6Intense
Planning a trip in October

Is October a good time to visit Swellendam?

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

7.8
Sightseeing
1st-best month of the year
6.2
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

October is one of the better times to visit Swellendam for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Swellendam in October

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

In October, Swellendam sees daytime highs around 23°C and nights near 11°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes. About 6 days see rain.

sun protectionlight clothes

Sea temperature near Swellendam in October

The nearest coast averages about 17°C in October — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 56 km away) is warmest in February at about 22°C and coldest in July near 15°C.

It's comfortable for a long swim from Dec 15 to Mar 26 — about 3.4 months when the water holds above 20°C.

15°20°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshingcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan21Refreshing
Feb22Refreshing
Mar21Refreshing
Apr19Cool
May17Cool
Jun16Cool
Jul15Cool
Aug15Cool
Sep16Cool
Oct17Cool
Nov19Cool
Dec20Refreshing

UV index in Swellendam in October

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in October peaks around 10 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Swellendam peaks around January 13 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 20 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 11 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highModerateExtremeJan 13UV 13Jun 20UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan14Extreme
Feb10Very high
Mar10Very high
Apr6High
May4Moderate
Jun3Moderate
Jul3Moderate
Aug4Moderate
Sep6High
Oct10Extreme
Nov12Extreme
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Swellendam in October

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

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

Air quality in Swellendam is worst in June — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.9× the cleanest month (January, 6 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJun 2017 µg/m³Jan 166 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb8Good
Mar9Good
Apr10Good
May16Moderate
Jun17Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug16Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct9Good
Nov7Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Swellendam?

Swellendam sits at 34.0°S, 20.4°E, 128 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Montagu, 40 km away.

Topography around Swellendam

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Swellendam has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 248 m around an average of 163 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,677 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,683 m.

The land around Swellendam is covered by trees (28%), grassland (25%) and shrubs (24%) within 3 km, grassland (33%), cropland (31%) and shrubs (24%) within 16 km, and grassland (38%), shrubs (27%) and cropland (22%) within 80 km.

3 km
248 m
16 km
1,677 m
80 km
1,683 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
October weather nearby: Montagu 40 km · Ashton 41 km · Robertson 57 km · Bredasdorp 68 km · Riversdale 76 km · Caledon 96 km · Worcester 101 km · Gansbaai 118 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 Swellendam (-34.0226°, 20.4417°, elevation 128 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. 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).