Climate - Port Elizabeth (South Africa)

The climate of Port Elizabeth (or Gqeberha) is subtropical oceanic, with very mild winters and quite warm summers. The rains are not abundant and are slightly more frequent in spring and autumn.
The city is located in the South African Republic, on the southern coast.
Even though the climate is mild, sometimes the wind from the interior can bring very hot days. In the worst moments the temperature can reach 40 °C (104 °F). In the evening, however, the temperature returns cool with the wind from the sea.

Port Elizabeth - Climate data

In Port Elizabeth, the average temperature of the coldest month (July) is of 14.6 °C (58.2 °F), that of the warmest month (February) is of 22.1 °C (71.8 °F). Here are the average temperatures.
In Port Elizabeth, precipitation amounts to 625 millimeters (24.6 inches) per year: so, it is at an intermediate level. It ranges from 35 mm (1.4 in) in the driest months (January, December) to 65 mm (2.6 in) in the wettest one (August). Here is the average precipitation.
At Port Elizabeth, the sea temperature ranges from 19.5 °C (67 °F) in August, September to 23.5 °C (74 °F) in February, March. Here are the average sea temperatures.
In Port Elizabeth, there are on average around 2810 sunshine hours per year. Here are the average hours of sunshine per day.

Port Elizabeth - Weather by month

Based on the period 1991-2020

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In January, the weather in Port Elizabeth is usually warm. The average temperature is of 21.8 °C (71 °F), with a minimum of 17.2 °C (62.9 °F) and a maximum of 26.4 °C (79.6 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11 °C (52 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31.5 °C (89 °F). However, it reached 37.3 °C (99.1 °F) in January 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 14 hours and 5 minutes. So the days are long.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (13 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 23 °C (73.5 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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In February, the warmest month of the year, the weather in Port Elizabeth is usually warm. The average temperature is of 22.1 °C (72 °F), with a minimum of 17.4 °C (63.3 °F) and a maximum of 26.9 °C (80.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 11.5 °C (52.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 32.5 °C (90.5 °F). However, it reached 40.2 °C (104.4 °F) in February 2020.
Precipitation amounts to 40 mm (1.6 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 8 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 23.5 °C (74.5 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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In March, the weather in Port Elizabeth is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.9 °C (70 °F), with a minimum of 16 °C (60.8 °F) and a maximum of 25.8 °C (78.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10 °C (50 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33 °C (91.5 °F). However, it reached 40.2 °C (104.4 °F) in March 2017.
Precipitation amounts to 55 mm (2.2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 12 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 61% of the time.
The average humidity is 77%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 19 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 23.5 °C (74 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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In April, the weather in Port Elizabeth is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.8 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 13.4 °C (56 °F) and a maximum of 24.3 °C (75.8 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 7 °C (44.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 33.5 °C (92.5 °F). However, it reached 39.3 °C (102.7 °F) in April 1991.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 66% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 17 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22.5 °C (72.5 °F). Therefore, the sea can be considered barely acceptable for swimming.

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In May, the weather in Port Elizabeth is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.1 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 10.8 °C (51.5 °F) and a maximum of 23.3 °C (73.9 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 5 °C (41 °F).
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 36.9 °C (98.4 °F) in May 2007.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 20 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 73%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 21.5 °C (71 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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In June, the weather in Port Elizabeth is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 15.0 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 8 °C (46.4 °F) and a maximum of 21.9 °C (71.5 °F).
On the coldest nights, the temperature usually drops to around 2 °C (36 °F).
On the warmest days, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84.5 °F). However, it reached 32.4 °C (90.3 °F) in June 1996.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 5 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.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 70% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 20.5 °C (69 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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In July, the coldest month of the year, the weather in Port Elizabeth is usually very mild. However, there are remarkable differences between night and day. The average temperature is of 14.6 °C (58 °F), with a minimum of 7.6 °C (45.7 °F) and a maximum of 21.5 °C (70.7 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 1.5 °C (35 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29.5 °C (85 °F). However, it reached 36 °C (96.8 °F) in July 1998.
Precipitation amounts to 45 mm (1.8 in), distributed over 5 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 10 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 72% of the time.
The average humidity is 68%.
The average wind speed is 16 kph (10 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 20 °C (67.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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In August, the weather in Port Elizabeth is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.0 °C (59 °F), with a minimum of 8.8 °C (47.9 °F) and a maximum of 21.2 °C (70.1 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 3.5 °C (38 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 31 °C (87.5 °F). However, it reached 35.2 °C (95.4 °F) in August 2016.
Precipitation amounts to 65 mm (2.6 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 10 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 69% of the time.
The average humidity is 72%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 18 kph (11 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19.5 °C (67 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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In September, the weather in Port Elizabeth is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 15.9 °C (61 °F), with a minimum of 10.4 °C (50.8 °F) and a maximum of 21.3 °C (70.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 4.5 °C (40 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 29 °C (84.5 °F). However, it reached 37.2 °C (99 °F) in September 2000.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 6 days.
The day lasts on average 11 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 7 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (12 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 19.5 °C (67 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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In October, the weather in Port Elizabeth is usually very mild. The average temperature is of 17.4 °C (63 °F), with a minimum of 12.6 °C (54.6 °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 6.5 °C (44 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (87 °F). However, it reached 39.6 °C (103.3 °F) in October 2011.
Precipitation amounts to 60 mm (2.4 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 0 minutes.
There are on average 7.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 58% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 21 kph (13 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 20 °C (68 °F). Therefore, the sea is very cool for swimming.

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In November, the weather in Port Elizabeth is usually warm. The average temperature is of 18.7 °C (66 °F), with a minimum of 14 °C (57.1 °F) and a maximum of 23.5 °C (74.3 °F).
On the coldest nights, which normally occur at the end of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 8 °C (46.5 °F).
On the warmest days, which normally occur at the beginning of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30 °C (86.5 °F). However, it reached 37.5 °C (99.5 °F) in November 2015.
Precipitation amounts to 50 mm (2 in), distributed over 7 days.
The day lasts on average 13 hours and 55 minutes.
There are on average 8.5 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 60% of the time.
The average humidity is 75%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 22 kph (13 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 21 °C (69.5 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.

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In December, the weather in Port Elizabeth is usually warm. The average temperature is of 20.5 °C (69 °F), with a minimum of 15.8 °C (60.4 °F) and a maximum of 25.1 °C (77.3 °F).
On the coldest nights of the month, the temperature usually drops to around 10.5 °C (50.5 °F).
On the warmest days of the month, the temperature usually reaches around 30.5 °C (86.5 °F). However, it reached 38 °C (100.4 °F) in December 2019.
Precipitation amounts to 35 mm (1.4 in), distributed over 5 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.
There are on average 9 hours of sunshine per day. So, the sun shines 62% of the time.
The average humidity is 76%. Hence, the air is normally humid.
The average wind speed is 20 kph (13 mph).
The average sea temperature is of 22 °C (72 °F). Therefore, the sea is cool for swimming.