South African weather for the World Cup
Posted on 20. Mar, 2010 by admin in Explore
Although you may be expecting it to be sweating your face paint off during the World Cup in South Africa, the tournament takes place during the country’s winter (May to July) so it might be a bit cooler than you anticipate. In fact, the weather is set to be just about the perfect for drinking beer and watching the beautiful game, with crisp, sunny days and hardly any wind or rain.
Places around the KwaZulu-Natal coast, which are normally pretty humid, will enjoy much fresher weather while still remaining warm. It may rain a bit on the Western Cape, however, but with the bursts of brilliant sunshine in between we’re not expecting any matches to be rained off. Things can get chilly at night time in South Africa’s winter, however, so make sure you don’t leave your team’s scarf at home.
South African weather overview
With the ocean on three sides and an elevated interior plateau, South Africa is home to a subtropical climate and temperate conditions that are very popular with the country’s foreign visitors. There is very little rainfall here and an abundance of sunshine, but at the same time, temperatures stay below the searing heat of other countries of the same latitude such as Australia.
The average summer temperatures on the interior plateau rarely get above a pleasant 30°C, but during the winter these temperatures can plummet to below freezing point at night time. The coastal regions of South Africa enjoy the warmest weather during the winter season, but even then, there are vast differences between the warm Agulhas currents in the east and the cool Benguela currents of the west.
Summer
The South African summer runs from mid-October to mid-February and brings with it hot, sunny weather with the occasional afternoon thunderstorm. The Western Cape is one of the nicest places to be for South African summer weather, as it enjoys a pleasant and manageable Mediterranean climate.
Autumn (fall)
Autumn in South Africa starts in mid-February and runs until April. This is a time when the South African weather is at its nicest as there is little rain and the country is warm but not oppressive. Cape Town comes into its own in South Africa’s autumn, as the warm days and balmy nights suit the outdoor café-culture down to the ground.
Spring
South Africa’s springtime starts in August and finishes in mid-October. The best place to enjoy the season is in the Cape provinces where the vast plains are covered is a lush and colourful carpet of flowers. Many South Africans travel from all over the country to enjoy this phenomenon in the Northern and Western Cape.
Best time to travel to South Africa
The best time to travel to South Africa in terms of the weather really depends on what you plan to do. The flowers bloom their brightest in August and September, the game viewing hots up in September and October and the best time to spot a whale is between June and October.
Those looking to take part in diving in South Africa should visit between April and September when the water is perfect. Surfing in South Africa is also popular this time of year. River rafting is best during the winter but it can be enjoyed in certain areas all year-round.
Spring and autumn are the best times for hiking in South Africa as the humid weather and thunderstorms of summer can make life harder than necessary up a mountain. The wintertime can also bring a dusting of snow and some unwelcome wet weather.
Those looking to enjoy a spot of bird spotting in South Africa are advised to visit in October and November when the intra-African and palaeoarctic migrants arrive. For the beach life, mid-summer is obviously a popular time, but the northern KwaZulu-Natal beaches stay temperate all year-round.
