Cape Town has dry, warm to hot summers from December to March and wet, mild winters from June to August. In summer, wear linen and light dresses, add sun cover for a UV index of 10 to 12, and carry a layer for the south-easter and cool evenings. In winter, bring a warm knit and a rain layer: June is the wettest month, with about 10 rain days.
Amaya is designed in Sea Point, so we dress for this weather every day, wind included. The figures below are rounded long-term averages from Cape Town International Airport. The airport is inland and runs warmer in summer than the Atlantic Seaboard, so treat them as a guide and check the forecast for where you are. We say what we love; we are not affiliated with any of these places. Check hours before you go.
Cape Town weather and what to pack, by month
Temperatures are rounded airport averages. Sunset times are rounded and taken for the 15th of each month.
| Month | Typical day | Evening | Wind | Rain | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Hot, about 29°C inland, cooler by the sea | About 17°C, sunset around 20:00 | South-easter season | Dry, about 2 rain days | Linen, hat, sunscreen, light knit |
| February | Hot, about 28°C inland | About 17°C, sunset around 19:40 | South-easter season | Dry, about 2 rain days | Linen, printed dresses, hat |
| March | Warm, about 26°C | About 15°C, sunset around 19:05 | South-easter season | Mostly dry, about 3 rain days | Dresses plus a layer for evenings |
| April | Mild, about 24°C | About 12°C, sunset around 18:25 | South-easter tails off | About 5 rain days | Linen pants, knit, light jacket |
| May | Mild, about 21°C | About 10°C, sunset around 17:55 | Cold fronts begin | About 7 rain days | Knits, rain layer, closed shoes |
| June | Cool, about 18°C | About 8°C, sunset around 17:45 | North-westerly with fronts | Wettest, about 10 rain days | Warm knit, rain jacket, boots |
| July | Cool, about 18°C | About 7°C, sunset around 17:55 | North-westerly with fronts | About 9 rain days | Warm knit, rain jacket, boots |
| August | Cool, about 18°C | About 8°C, sunset around 18:15 | North-westerly with fronts | About 9 rain days | Knits, rain layer |
| September | Mild, about 20°C | About 9°C, sunset around 18:40 | Before the south-easter season | About 7 rain days | Layers, one dress, a knit |
| October | Mild, about 22°C | About 12°C, sunset around 19:00 | South-easter starts | About 4 rain days | Linen, knit, light jacket |
| November | Warm, about 24°C | About 13°C, sunset around 19:30 | South-easter season | About 4 rain days | Dresses, hat, a layer |
| December | Warm, about 26°C | About 16°C, sunset around 19:55 | South-easter season | Dry, about 3 rain days | Linen, swimwear, hat, light knit |
Summer: December to February
Summer is dry and sunny, with more than 300 hours of sunshine a month. The UV index averages 12 in December and January, so a hat and sunscreen belong in every outfit. The airport averages run up to about 29°C in January. The Atlantic Seaboard is cooled by the sea, so it is usually milder. Berg winds from the interior can bring hotter days.
The south-easter, known as the Cape Doctor, is the main thing to dress for. It is strongest in summer. Clifton's beaches are sheltered from it; Camps Bay is not. Choose fabrics that move but do not fly up: linen pants, halter maxis and knits that hold their shape. Evenings stay light until around 20:00, then cool quickly.
The Atlantic water is cold. Clifton and Camps Bay are usually about 12 to 16°C and can drop below 10°C when the south-easter blows. False Bay is warmer: Muizenberg often reaches about 20°C in summer.
For December, our Cape Town December packing list has the full list. For events, see the Cape Town summer calendar.
Autumn: March to May
March is still summer in all but name: dry, warm and around 26°C at the airport. It is a good month for evening plans, with sunset around 19:05 by mid-month. April turns mild, at about 24°C by day and 12°C at night, and the rain days start to pick up. By May, cold fronts arrive, with about 7 rain days and daytime highs around 21°C.
Dress in layers from April. A linen pant with a knit on top covers a warm lunch and a cold walk home. Swap sandals for closed shoes in May.
Winter: June to August
Winter is wet and mild. Most of the year's rain falls from June to August, with about 9 to 10 rain days a month. North-westerly winds come in with the cold fronts. Daytime highs average about 18°C and nights drop to about 7 to 8°C. Sunset is around 17:45 in June.
Bring a proper rain jacket and a warm knit. Daytime highs are still mild, so pack one lighter outfit for drier days. The UV index is low, around 2, so sun cover matters less.
Spring: September to November
Spring warms up slowly. September averages about 20°C by day and 9°C at night, with about 7 rain days. By November it is about 24°C, with sunset around 19:30 and a UV index of about 10. The south-easter returns around October.
This is layering season. Wear a dress with a knit, and keep a light jacket in your bag for the evening.
Which month for what
- Beach days: January and February, ideally on a still day, and False Bay if you want to swim.
- Long light evenings: December and January, with sunset around 19:55 to 20:00.
- Walking and city days: March and early April, still warm and mostly dry.
- Cosy restaurant weekends: June to August.
- A bit of everything: October and November.
What to wear
For summer, the Shio Pants are our answer to the wind: loose linen that stays put. The Amalfi Dress in linen works from the beach to lunch. For evenings and cooler months, the Madison Dress is a knit maxi with a halter neck. On travel days and winter weekends, the Wild Lounge Set is a knit set you can layer. Our linen vs satin guide explains which fabric suits which month.
Amaya delivers across South Africa for R99, free over R1 500. Cape Town takes 1 to 2 working days, Johannesburg and Pretoria 2 to 3, the rest of South Africa 3 to 5. Collect in Sea Point for free. The first exchange is free within 14 days.
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Updated October 2026. We update this guide every season.
