Weather in Johannesburg

Planning your day in Johannesburg or just curious about the weather there? In this section, you will find the most up-to-date information: current weather conditions, detailed forecasts, and useful charts.

The climate of Johannesburg can be described as subtropical highland, which ensures the city enjoys predominantly moderate and pleasant weather conditions throughout the year. Johannesburg is characterized by sunny days and relatively low humidity, especially during the winter period. The city has clearly defined seasons, allowing travelers to choose the most comfortable time for their visit.

Summer in Johannesburg, lasting approximately from November to March, is warm and sunny, with average temperatures around 20-21°C. This period is also the rainy season, observing the highest number of days with precipitation (from 10 to 18 wet days per month from December to March), often in the form of brief afternoon showers. Winter, from May to August, is distinguished by cool and very dry weather with clear days. Average daily temperatures fluctuate around 11-14°C; however, nights can be quite cold, sometimes with minimum temperatures around 3-7°C, while precipitation is minimal (0-1 wet day per month from June to August). Spring (September-October) and autumn (April-May) are pleasant transitional seasons with moderate temperatures and a gradual change in rainfall levels.

A key feature of the weather in Johannesburg is the significant difference in precipitation between seasons: a wet summer gives way to a very dry winter. Despite these seasonal changes, extreme weather conditions are rare here, making the city attractive to visit year-round, depending on your preferences—whether it be summer warmth with refreshing rains or winter coolness and cloudless skies.

The temperature regime in Johannesburg is characterized by noticeable seasonal changes, offering comfortable conditions for visiting at different times of the year. The annual average temperature ranges from a cool 11.1°C in the coldest months to warm values around 20-21°C at the peak of summer. The hottest months are usually January and December (average temperature 20.9°C), as well as November (average temperature 20.4°C), when maximum daytime temperatures regularly exceed 26°C, peaking in November (averaging 26.8°C). The coldest months are considered to be June and July with an average temperature of about 11.1°C and minimum night-time temperatures dropping on average to 3.6-3.9°C.

The summer period in Johannesburg, which lasts roughly from November to March, is distinguished by pleasantly warm weather. Average daily temperatures during this time vary from 19.8°C to 20.9°C. During the day, the thermometer often rises to 25-27°C, creating comfortable conditions for walking and outdoor activities, although this period is also characterized by the highest amount of rainfall, especially from December to February. Nights remain quite warm, with minimum temperatures around 14-15.5°C. The difference between day and night temperatures in summer is approximately 10-13°C, which provides relative coolness after a hot day.

Winter in Johannesburg, covering the period from May to August, brings dry and cool weather with an abundance of sunny days. The average temperature in June and July is about 11.1°C, while during the day the air usually warms up to 18-19°C. In May and August, the air warms up even more during the day, reaching 21-22°C. This makes the days quite pleasant, especially in the sun. However, nights become significantly colder: average minimum temperatures drop to 3.6-7.3°C, particularly in June and July (3.6-3.9°C). A characteristic feature of the winter period is substantial diurnal temperature fluctuations, which can reach 14-15°C, so warm clothes for the evening and morning hours will be very useful.

Precipitation in Johannesburg has a clearly defined seasonal character, which is important to consider when planning a trip. The year here is clearly divided into a wet summer period and a very dry winter. Most of the rain falls in the months from November to March, while from May to September, predominantly clear and cloudless weather sets in.

The rainy season in Johannesburg usually lasts from October-November to March-April. During this time, precipitation is most likely. The highest frequency of rainy days occurs in December (on average 18 days), January (16 days), and February (15 days). Interestingly, with such regularity of rains, the total monthly rainfall in these peak months is about 4 mm. This suggests that summer precipitation in Johannesburg most likely represents short or not very intense rains rather than prolonged downpours.

The winter months, from May to September, constitute a distinct dry season. During this period, precipitation is a great rarity. July and August are typically absolutely dry, with neither rainy days nor precipitation registered (0 mm). June and September are also practically rain-free: with zero average rainfall, rainy weather is possible for only 1 and 3 days respectively. In May, about 1 mm of precipitation may fall, distributed over approximately 3 days. Such dry weather in winter is accompanied by a large number of sunshine hours.

When packing your suitcase for a trip to Johannesburg, consider its subtropical highland climate with clearly defined seasons. In summer (from November to March), it is warm here, with the average temperature holding around 20-21°C, and daytime highs reaching 25-27°C. During this period, you will need light clothing: t-shirts, shorts, sundresses. However, this is also the rainy season, with frequent, though usually short-lived, precipitation (up to 18 rainy days in December), so do not forget to bring a light waterproof jacket or a compact umbrella. Regardless of the season, sunscreen and a hat are mandatory due to the active sun at high altitude, and comfortable walking shoes will make your strolls around the city comfortable.

In winter (from June to August), the weather in Johannesburg is dry and cool. Daytime temperatures are pleasant, around 18-22°C, but nights can be quite cold, with temperatures dropping to 3-7°C. The key principle for a winter wardrobe is layering. Bring warm sweaters, fleece tops, a jacket, long trousers, and closed shoes. A scarf and gloves may also come in handy for evening walks. In the transitional seasons—spring (September-October) and autumn (April-May)—the weather is changeable, so layered clothing that allows you to adapt to temperature changes throughout the day will be the best choice.