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The climate if Mthatha (or Umtata) is
subtropical, with very mild, dry winters (during which it can get cold at night) and hot, rainy summers. During the day, it can get very hot from September to April.
The city is located in the south-east of South Africa, in the Eastern Cape Province, at 700 meters (2,300 feet) above sea level and about 55 km (35 mi) from the sea.
Mthatha - Climate data
In Mthatha, the
average temperature of the coldest month (July) is of 14.0 °C (57.3 °F), that of the warmest month (February) is of 23.4 °C (74.1 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
Mthatha - Average temperatures (1991-2020) | Month | Min (°C) | Max (°C) | Mean (°C) | Min (°F) | Max (°F) | Mean (°F) |
|---|
| January | 16.5 | 29.6 | 23.1 | 62 | 85 | 73.5 |
|---|
| February | 17.1 | 29.7 | 23.4 | 63 | 85 | 74.1 |
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| March | 15.6 | 28.9 | 22.2 | 60 | 84 | 72 |
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| April | 12.4 | 26.8 | 19.6 | 54 | 80 | 67.3 |
|---|
| May | 9 | 25.1 | 17 | 48 | 77 | 62.7 |
|---|
| June | 5.5 | 22.9 | 14.2 | 42 | 73 | 57.6 |
|---|
| July | 5.2 | 22.9 | 14 | 41 | 73 | 57.3 |
|---|
| August | 7.4 | 24.4 | 15.9 | 45 | 76 | 60.6 |
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| September | 9.6 | 25.8 | 17.7 | 49 | 78 | 63.8 |
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| October | 11.9 | 26.6 | 19.2 | 53 | 80 | 66.6 |
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| November | 13.4 | 27.2 | 20.3 | 56 | 81 | 68.5 |
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| December | 15.2 | 28.4 | 21.8 | 59 | 83 | 71.2 |
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| Year | 11.5 | 26.5 | 19 | 52.8 | 79.7 | 66 |
|---|
In Mthatha,
precipitation amounts to 650 millimeters (25.6 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 11 mm (0.4 in) in the driest month (June) to 90 mm (3.5 in) in the wettest ones (February, December) Here is the average precipitation.
Mthatha - Average precipitation| Month | Millimeters | Inches | Days |
|---|
| January | 85 | 3.3 | 15 |
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| February | 90 | 3.5 | 14 |
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| March | 85 | 3.3 | 13 |
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| April | 60 | 2.4 | 8 |
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| May | 20 | 0.8 | 5 |
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| June | 11 | 0.4 | 3 |
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| July | 20 | 0.8 | 3 |
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| August | 15 | 0.6 | 5 |
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| September | 35 | 1.4 | 8 |
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| October | 75 | 3 | 13 |
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| November | 75 | 3 | 13 |
|---|
| December | 90 | 3.5 | 14 |
|---|
| Year | 650 | 25.6 | 113 |
|---|
Mthatha - Weather by month
Based on the period 1991-2020
In
January, the weather in Mthatha is usually warm to hot and muggy. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 23.1 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 16.5 °C (61.7 °F) and a maximum of 29.6 °C (85.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0.2 °C (32.4 °F) in January 2002.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 38 °C (100.5 °F). However, it reached 42.1 °C (107.8 °F) in January 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 15 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
In
February, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Mthatha is usually warm to hot and muggy. The average temperature is of 23.4 °C (74 °F), with a minimum of 17.1 °C (62.8 °F) and a maximum of 29.7 °C (85.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55 °F). However, it dropped to 9.4 °C (48.9 °F) in February 2013.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (98 °F). However, it reached 40.8 °C (105.4 °F) in February 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).
In
March, the weather in Mthatha is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 22.2 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 15.6 °C (60 °F) and a maximum of 28.9 °C (84 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in March 2009.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (97 °F). However, it reached 40.4 °C (104.7 °F) in March 2001.
Precipitation amounts to 85 mm (3.3 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 9 kph (6 mph).
In
April, the weather in Mthatha is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.6 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 12.4 °C (54.4 °F) and a maximum of 26.8 °C (80.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (43.5 °F). However, it dropped to 3 °C (37.4 °F) in April 2007.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92 °F). However, it reached 38 °C (100.4 °F) in April 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 20 minutes.
The average humidity is 69%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).
In
May, the weather in Mthatha is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.0 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 9 °C (48.1 °F) and a maximum of 25.1 °C (77.2 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38 °F). However, it dropped to 0.9 °C (33.6 °F) in May 2020.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (88 °F). However, it reached 38.1 °C (100.6 °F) in May 2012.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 30 minutes.
The average humidity is 63%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).
In
June, the weather in Mthatha is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.2 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 5.5 °C (41.8 °F) and a maximum of 22.9 °C (73.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 1 °C (33.5 °F). However, it dropped to -1.4 °C (29.5 °F) in June 1998.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 28 °C (82.5 °F). However, it reached 31.9 °C (89.4 °F) in June 2010.
Precipitation amounts to 11 mm (0.4 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 5 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 56%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).
In
July, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Mthatha is usually mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.0 °C (57 °F), with a minimum of 5.2 °C (41.4 °F) and a maximum of 22.9 °C (73.2 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 0 °C (32 °F). However, it dropped to -1.8 °C (28.8 °F) in July 2014.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84.5 °F). However, it reached 32.9 °C (91.2 °F) in July 2005.
Precipitation amounts to 20 mm (0.8 in), distributed over 3 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
The average humidity is 54%.
The average wind speed is 8 kph (5 mph).
In
August, the weather in Mthatha is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 15.9 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 7.4 °C (45.3 °F) and a maximum of 24.4 °C (75.9 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (35 °F). However, it dropped to -0.3 °C (31.5 °F) in August 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91 °F). However, it reached 36.8 °C (98.2 °F) in August 2002.
Precipitation amounts to 15 mm (0.6 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 55%.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).
In
September, the weather in Mthatha is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 17.7 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 9.6 °C (49.3 °F) and a maximum of 25.8 °C (78.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4 °C (39.5 °F). However, it dropped to 0 °C (32 °F) in September 1992.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36 °C (96.5 °F). However, it reached 38.6 °C (101.5 °F) in September 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 60%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
In
October, the weather in Mthatha is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 19.2 °C (67 °F), with a minimum of 11.9 °C (53.4 °F) and a maximum of 26.6 °C (79.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 6.5 °C (44 °F). However, it dropped to 2.4 °C (36.3 °F) in October 2002.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (98 °F). However, it reached 39.7 °C (103.5 °F) in October 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 65%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
In
November, the weather in Mthatha is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 20.3 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 13.4 °C (56.2 °F) and a maximum of 27.2 °C (80.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (45 °F). However, it dropped to -2.5 °C (27.5 °F) in November 2001.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 37 °C (99 °F). However, it reached 41.2 °C (106.2 °F) in November 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 13 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 50 minutes.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
In
December, the weather in Mthatha is usually warm. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 21.8 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 15.2 °C (59.4 °F) and a maximum of 28.4 °C (83 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (51 °F). However, it dropped to 7.9 °C (46.2 °F) in December 2003.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 36.5 °C (98 °F). However, it reached 40.5 °C (104.9 °F) in December 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 14 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 10 minutes. So the days are long. December 21, the summer solstice, is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).