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The Cape Town weather system can be full of surprises. The reason for this is that it is greatly influenced by the mountains in and around the city which tend to create different micro climates in and around the city and even on the Peninsula.

This phenomenon can make the weather change spectacularly at surprisingly short distances. Cape Town is known for the fact that you can experience all its four seasons in one day.

In general, Cape Town's climate is regarded as pleasantly Mediterranean, with great warm summers which can become very hot at times with temperatures varying between 25 and 35 degrees Celsius.

They are however quite manageable because of the cool sea breezes. Duration of the summer season is from the middle of October to March with minimal rainfall.

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Lazing in the sunshine on one of Cape Town's famous beaches
Cape Town weather forecast, South Africa weather facts
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The summer period is often dominated by a high-pressure system called the "Atlantic High", taking position over the South Atlantic Ocean off the western coast line of the Peninsula.

When the South Easter blows, the tablecloth is on the table (clouds on Table Mountain)
Cape Town weather forecast, South Africa weather facts
Photograph by Danie van der Merwe

It is this high pressure system that causes the notorious "South Easter" to blow during late spring and early summer, especially the months November and December. It is called the "Cape Doctor" because of its cleansing effect on the air and blowing away the pollution in the Cape Town city bowl.

Cape Town harbour and Table Mountain lit up by lightning
Cape Town weather forecast, South Africa weather facts
Photograph by Glen Kasner

The winter period stretches from June to September. Conditions are cool, wet and windy with plenty of rain brought in by a chain of depressions moving in from the east across the Atlantic Ocean, accompanied by strong westerly winds. With the average temperatures ranging between 7 and 17 degrees Celsius, the winter has its own attractiveness with the vegetation regaining its green freshness.

Snow on the Hottentots Holland mountain range near Cape Town
Cape Town climate, South Africa weather facts
Ian Junor

Springtime is during September and October and autumn is during April and May. They are short and kind of in between seasons, but with the weather conditions at their best. There is very little wind, the temperatures are moderate and pleasant and the evenings are cool yet comfortable. It is the type of weather mostly liked by people who are not used to the heat.

Spring time is flower time with dazzling displays of colour
Cape Town weather forecast, South Africa weather facts
copyright © South African tourism

Spring of course is flower time with dazzling displays of colour along the West Coast and with the vineyards at their lusciously green and flowery best. Autumn is the time for Whale watching all around the False Bay coast line and in fact right up the Western Province south-eastern coast and beyond.

Spring and autumn are great for visiting Cape Town and its surroundings, for many visitors and also local Capetonians they are the best seasons. Compared world-wide, Cape Town's average number of 3,094 sunshine hours per annum is exceptionally high. Although it is a little less than South Africa's national average.

Stunning autumn colours in the Cape
Cape Town weather forecast, South Africa weather facts
copyright © South African tourism

Also interesting is the fact that water temperatures between the Atlantic and False Bay seaboards differ greatly due to the cool northward flowing Benguela current along the west coast of the Peninsula and the warm Agulhas current flowing along its east coast. The annual average temperature of the Atlantic seawater is 13 degrees Celsius with peaks as low as 10 degrees. For the False Bay water the annual average is 17 degrees Celsius with peaks of up to 22 degrees.

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