Climate averages 1991–2020
Weather in South Africa in May
In May, average daytime highs across the 95 cities listed in South Africa range from 17.6°C in Phuthaditjhaba to 26.4°C in Phalaborwa. Monthly rainfall ranges from 8.6 mm in Mokopane to 98 mm in Paarl.
Long-term climate patterns, not a forecast for a particular trip.
City by city
May in South Africa
| City | Average highHigh / low | Average low | Rainfall mm | Rain days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Johannesburg | 18.4°C5.7°C | 5.7°C | 17 | 2.9 |
| Cape Town | 19.3°C12.1°C | 12.1°C | 67 | 8.4 |
| Durban | 23.5°C16.8°C | 16.8°C | 43 | 5.4 |
| Pretoria | 21.6°C8.7°C | 8.7°C | 15 | 2.6 |
| Soweto | 19.0°C6.6°C | 6.6°C | 18 | 3.1 |
| Gqeberha | 20.8°C14.8°C | 14.8°C | 38 | 6.3 |
| Soshanguve | 22.5°C9.3°C | 9.3°C | 16 | 2.5 |
| Pietermaritzburg | 22.6°C10.1°C | 10.1°C | 29 | 5.1 |
| Evaton | 20.0°C6.8°C | 6.8°C | 17 | 2.9 |
| Benoni | 19.4°C6.5°C | 6.5°C | 15 | 2.5 |
| Bloemfontein | 19.7°C5.9°C | 5.9°C | 20 | 3.2 |
| Thembisa | 19.8°C7.2°C | 7.2°C | 14 | 2.6 |
| East London | 22.9°C15.8°C | 15.8°C | 34 | 5.7 |
| Vereeniging | 20.3°C7.0°C | 7.0°C | 17 | 3.0 |
| Welkom | 20.2°C6.3°C | 6.3°C | 19 | 3.2 |
| Newcastle, South Africa | 20.7°C7.4°C | 7.4°C | 17 | 2.9 |
| Krugersdorp | 18.7°C6.0°C | 6.0°C | 16 | 2.7 |
| Rustenburg | 22.3°C9.2°C | 9.2°C | 17 | 2.2 |
| Emalahleni | 19.4°C6.3°C | 6.3°C | 16 | 2.5 |
| Randburg | 19.6°C6.6°C | 6.6°C | 14 | 2.5 |
| Roodepoort | 18.5°C6.0°C | 6.0°C | 18 | 3.1 |
| Botshabelo | 19.0°C5.4°C | 5.4°C | 21 | 3.4 |
| Brakpan | 19.5°C6.4°C | 6.4°C | 15 | 2.5 |
| Kariega | 22.6°C12.4°C | 12.4°C | 23 | 4.5 |
| Polokwane | 21.7°C10.2°C | 10.2°C | 11 | 2.5 |
| Germiston | 19.4°C6.6°C | 6.6°C | 15 | 2.5 |
| Richards Bay | 24.7°C17.7°C | 17.7°C | 56 | 7.6 |
| Vanderbijlpark | 20.1°C6.6°C | 6.6°C | 18 | 3.1 |
| Paarl | 21.4°C11.1°C | 11.1°C | 98 | 8.3 |
| Centurion | 20.8°C8.1°C | 8.1°C | 15 | 2.6 |
| Klerksdorp | 21.4°C7.2°C | 7.2°C | 18 | 2.7 |
| Somerset West | 20.4°C13.2°C | 13.2°C | 90 | 9.0 |
| Mdantsane | 22.4°C12.9°C | 12.9°C | 25 | 4.6 |
| Middelburg | 20.3°C7.6°C | 7.6°C | 15 | 2.4 |
| George | 19.5°C11.8°C | 11.8°C | 45 | 6.5 |
| Carletonville | 19.9°C7.0°C | 7.0°C | 18 | 2.8 |
| Potchefstroom | 21.4°C7.4°C | 7.4°C | 19 | 2.9 |
| Mthatha | 21.6°C10.6°C | 10.6°C | 27 | 5.0 |
| KwaDukuza | 24.0°C15.7°C | 15.7°C | 44 | 5.2 |
| Westonaria | 19.5°C7.2°C | 7.2°C | 18 | 3.1 |
| Etwatwa | 19.7°C6.9°C | 6.9°C | 15 | 2.5 |
| Vryheid | 21.3°C8.1°C | 8.1°C | 19 | 3.3 |
| Pinetown | 22.8°C13.6°C | 13.6°C | 43 | 5.4 |
| Ladysmith | 21.8°C7.6°C | 7.6°C | 21 | 3.5 |
| eMbalenhle | 19.6°C6.5°C | 6.5°C | 15 | 2.6 |
| Kimberley | 21.6°C7.6°C | 7.6°C | 18 | 3.0 |
| Nigel | 19.7°C6.7°C | 6.7°C | 16 | 2.6 |
| Motherwell | 22.3°C12.6°C | 12.6°C | 23 | 4.5 |
| Mpumalanga | 22.4°C10.4°C | 10.4°C | 33 | 5.0 |
| Bhisho | 21.8°C9.9°C | 9.9°C | 28 | 4.9 |
| Sasolburg | 20.1°C6.7°C | 6.7°C | 18 | 3.1 |
| Randfontein | 18.7°C6.5°C | 6.5°C | 18 | 3.1 |
| Worcester, South Africa | 21.3°C12.2°C | 12.2°C | 39 | 6.2 |
| Ntuzuma | 24.0°C14.1°C | 14.1°C | 43 | 5.4 |
| Virginia | 20.6°C6.8°C | 6.8°C | 19 | 3.2 |
| Brits | 22.7°C9.5°C | 9.5°C | 16 | 2.5 |
| Alberton | 19.6°C6.8°C | 6.8°C | 17 | 2.9 |
| Queenstown | 20.6°C6.9°C | 6.9°C | 14 | 3.4 |
| Kroonstad | 20.2°C6.4°C | 6.4°C | 20 | 3.0 |
| Somaroboro | 21.5°C8.3°C | 8.3°C | 13 | 2.1 |
| Hammanskraal | 23.1°C9.5°C | 9.5°C | 15 | 2.3 |
| Mbombela | 23.8°C10.6°C | 10.6°C | 19 | 3.5 |
| Orkney | 21.5°C7.0°C | 7.0°C | 19 | 3.1 |
| Phalaborwa | 26.4°C14.3°C | 14.3°C | 8.9 | 1.7 |
| Thohoyandou | 23.7°C12.7°C | 12.7°C | 24 | 4.4 |
| Tokoza | 19.7°C6.9°C | 6.9°C | 15 | 2.5 |
| Standerton | 19.5°C6.0°C | 6.0°C | 15 | 2.5 |
| Mokopane | 23.5°C11.2°C | 11.2°C | 8.6 | 1.7 |
| Ermelo | 18.5°C6.3°C | 6.3°C | 15 | 2.7 |
| Stellenbosch | 20.6°C11.4°C | 11.4°C | 90 | 9.0 |
| Kutloanong | 20.7°C6.6°C | 6.6°C | 20 | 3.1 |
| Stilfontein | 21.3°C6.9°C | 6.9°C | 18 | 2.7 |
| Qonce | 22.5°C10.6°C | 10.6°C | 23 | 4.3 |
| Delmas | 20.0°C6.7°C | 6.7°C | 15 | 2.6 |
| Grahamstown | 21.9°C10.1°C | 10.1°C | 22 | 5.0 |
| Bethlehem, South Africa | 18.2°C5.3°C | 5.3°C | 25 | 3.4 |
| Ga-Rankuwa | 22.0°C8.7°C | 8.7°C | 16 | 2.5 |
| Bela Bela | 23.0°C10.0°C | 10.0°C | 13 | 2.2 |
| Midrand | 19.5°C6.7°C | 6.7°C | 14 | 2.5 |
| Louis Trichardt | 23.7°C12.3°C | 12.3°C | 10 | 1.9 |
| Heidelberg, South Africa | 19.9°C6.9°C | 6.9°C | 15 | 2.7 |
| Dundee, South Africa | 20.9°C8.7°C | 8.7°C | 18 | 3.2 |
| Piet Retief | 20.2°C8.5°C | 8.5°C | 18 | 3.3 |
| Phuthaditjhaba | 17.6°C4.3°C | 4.3°C | 25 | 3.4 |
| Atlantis | 19.4°C10.3°C | 10.3°C | 47 | 6.5 |
| Mossel Bay | 20.8°C12.8°C | 12.8°C | 40 | 6.2 |
| Mafikeng | 21.9°C7.9°C | 7.9°C | 18 | 2.3 |
| Odendaalsrus | 20.5°C6.6°C | 6.6°C | 20 | 3.1 |
| Oudtshoorn | 22.2°C9.1°C | 9.1°C | 25 | 4.7 |
| Bethal | 19.0°C5.9°C | 5.9°C | 15 | 2.7 |
| Thaba Nchu | 18.5°C5.1°C | 5.1°C | 21 | 3.4 |
| Bothaville | 21.4°C6.8°C | 6.8°C | 19 | 3.1 |
| Upington | 24.1°C10.8°C | 10.8°C | 12 | 1.8 |
| Parys | 20.8°C7.0°C | 7.0°C | 20 | 3.3 |
| Schweizer-Reneke | 21.5°C7.9°C | 7.9°C | 15 | 2.6 |
A rain day is a local calendar day with at least 1 mm of precipitation.