Climate - Plettenberg Bay (South Africa)

The climate of Plettenberg Bay is subtropical oceanic, with very mild winters and warm summers. The rains are quite abundant (at least compared to South African averages) because the ocean currents, which blow all year round, meet the mountains to the north.
The city is located in South Africa, on the south coast, to the west of Port Elizabeth.
Even though the climate is mild, sometimes the wind from the interior can bring very hot days, more often in spring and autumn. In the worst moments the temperature can reach 38/40 °C (100/104 °F). In the evening, however, the temperature returns cool with the wind from the sea.
Even though the winter is mild, there can be some cold and windy days. On the coldest nights of the year, the temperature can drop to around freezing. At other times, the warm wind from the northern mountains can blow in this season as well, so much so that the temperature can reach 30 °C (86 °F) even in winter.

Plettenberg Bay - Climate data

In Plettenberg Bay, the average temperature of the coldest month (August) is of 15.6 °C (60.0 °F), that of the warmest month (February) is of 21.4 °C (70.5 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Plettenberg Bay, precipitation amounts to 915 millimeters (36 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 65 mm (2.6 in) in the driest months (July, December) to 100 mm (3.9 in) in the wettest one (August). Here is the average precipitation.
At Plettenberg Bay, the sea temperature ranges from 18 °C (64 °F) in July, August, September to 22.5 °C (72 °F) in February. Here are the average sea temperatures.

Plettenberg Bay - Weather by month

Based on the period 1998-2020

---

In January, the weather in Plettenberg Bay is usually warm. The average temperature is of 21.4 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 17.7 °C (63.8 °F) and a maximum of 25.1 °C (77.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C (57 °F). However, it dropped to 13 °C (55.4 °F) in January 1999.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (88.5 °F). However, it reached 36.9 °C (98.4 °F) in January 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22 °C (72 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

---

In February, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Plettenberg Bay is usually warm. The average temperature is of 21.4 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 17.6 °C (63.7 °F) and a maximum of 25.2 °C (77.4 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 14 °C (57.5 °F). However, it dropped to 11.8 °C (53.2 °F) in February 2015.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 37.2 °C (99 °F) in February 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
The average humidity is 79%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22.5 °C (72 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

---

In March, the weather in Plettenberg Bay is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.4 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 16.6 °C (61.9 °F) and a maximum of 24.3 °C (75.7 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 13 °C (55.5 °F). However, it dropped to 11.2 °C (52.2 °F) in March 2020.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32 °C (90 °F). However, it reached 35.6 °C (96.1 °F) in March 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 78%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22 °C (71 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

---

In April, the weather in Plettenberg Bay is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.7 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 14.7 °C (58.5 °F) and a maximum of 22.8 °C (73 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (50.5 °F). However, it dropped to 7.7 °C (45.9 °F) in April 2015.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91 °F). However, it reached 40.2 °C (104.4 °F) in April 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 80 mm (3.1 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 10 kph (6 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 20.5 °C (69 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

---

In May, the weather in Plettenberg Bay is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.8 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 13.3 °C (55.9 °F) and a maximum of 22.3 °C (72.1 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 9.5 °C (49 °F). However, it dropped to 8 °C (46.4 °F) in May 2000.
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 35.1 °C (95.2 °F) in May 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
The average humidity is 70%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 20 °C (67.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

---

In June, the weather in Plettenberg Bay is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.4 °C (62 °F), with a minimum of 11.7 °C (53 °F) and a maximum of 21.1 °C (70 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6.1 °C (43 °F) in June 2017.
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85 °F). However, it reached 33.5 °C (92.3 °F) in June 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 70 mm (2.8 in), distributed over 9 days.
The day lasts on average 9 hours and 55 minutes. June 21, the winter solstice, is the shortest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
The average humidity is 64%.
The average wind speed is 11 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19 °C (66 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

---

In July, the weather in Plettenberg Bay is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.8 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 11.2 °C (52.2 °F) and a maximum of 20.4 °C (68.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (44.5 °F). However, it dropped to 6 °C (42.8 °F) in July 2000.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 32.3 °C (90.1 °F) in July 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 8 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
The average humidity is 66%.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18 °C (65 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

---

In August, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Plettenberg Bay is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.6 °C (60 °F), with a minimum of 11.4 °C (52.5 °F) and a maximum of 19.7 °C (67.5 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (45 °F). However, it dropped to 4.1 °C (39.4 °F) in August 2020.
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (85.5 °F). However, it reached 34 °C (93.2 °F) in August 1999.
Precipitation amounts to 100 mm (3.9 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 71%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (7 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18 °C (64.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

---

In September, the weather in Plettenberg Bay is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 16.0 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 12 °C (53.7 °F) and a maximum of 20 °C (67.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7.5 °C (46 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (88.5 °F). However, it reached 38 °C (100.4 °F) in September 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18 °C (65 °F). Therefore, the sea is cold for swimming.

---

In October, the weather in Plettenberg Bay is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.5 °C (64 °F), with a minimum of 13.7 °C (56.7 °F) and a maximum of 21.3 °C (70.4 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50 °F). However, it dropped to 8.7 °C (47.7 °F) in October 2016.
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 39 °C (102.2 °F) in October 2018.
Precipitation amounts to 90 mm (3.5 in), distributed over 12 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
The average humidity is 74%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 18.5 °C (65.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

---

In November, the weather in Plettenberg Bay is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.3 °C (65 °F), with a minimum of 14.8 °C (58.6 °F) and a maximum of 21.8 °C (71.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11 °C (52 °F). However, it dropped to 8 °C (46.4 °F) in November 1998.
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85 °F). However, it reached 36.7 °C (98.1 °F) in November 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 75 mm (3 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 13 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19.5 °C (67.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

---

In December, the weather in Plettenberg Bay is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.3 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 16.7 °C (62.1 °F) and a maximum of 23.9 °C (75.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 12 °C (53.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85 °F). However, it reached 35.9 °C (96.6 °F) in December 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 10 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 25 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 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 12 kph (8 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 21 °C (70 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.