Johannesburg is in the Southern Hemisphere, and its seasons are the opposite of Europe and North America. If you plan to visit Johannesburg, South Africa, you may wonder what the Johannesburg weather is like throughout the year. The good news is that Johannesburg’s climate is moderate throughout the year. Let’s look at the averages per month before considering Johannesburg’s monthly weather.
South Africa’s location influences its weather.
Johannesburg Weather: Averages by Month
Johannesburg has a subtropical climate, with mild and sunny Winter days and cold Winter nights. On the other hand, the summer days are hot and bright, with thunderstorms in the afternoons. The following table is the monthly breakdown of Johannesburg’s weather:
| Month | Low (℉) | High (℉) | Low (℃) | High (℃) |
| January | 59 | 81 | 15 | 27 |
| February | 57 | 79 | 14 | 26 |
| March | 55 | 77 | 13 | 25 |
| April | 50 | 73 | 10 | 23 |
| May | 41 | 70 | 5 | 21 |
| June | 36 | 64 | 2 | 18 |
| July | 36 | 64 | 2 | 18 |
| August | 41 | 70 | 5 | 21 |
| September | 46 | 75 | 8 | 24 |
| October | 52 | 77 | 11 | 25 |
| November | 55 | 77 | 13 | 25 |
| December | 57 | 79 | 14 | 26 |
Wondering if you should visit Johannesburg or Cape Town – here’s how to choose! Read about Cape Town’s weather and what to wear here.
What to Wear in Johannesburg: By Season and Month
If you wonder what to wear in Johannesburg, you will find some tips to help you pack appropriately for your trip to Johannesburg. Since Johannesburg’s climate is moderate, you will not need heavy Winter clothes, but you will need some medium-weight options to cater for the coldest days in Winter. The best way to ensure you have dressed appropriately for any weather is to layer your clothing to allow you to add or remove items as you feel cold or hot.
Unless you visit Johannesburg for business, you will find that Johannesburg is not a formal city. Therefore, you can easily wear casual or smart casual outfits to most events or restaurants.
If you like visiting high-end restaurants, you may need more formal outfits to meet the dress code requirements.
Johannesburg Weather: Seasonal and Monthly Averages
Here, we look at Johannesburg’s weather on a seasonal and monthly basis to help you plan what to pack and what activities to consider for your visit to Johannesburg.
Johannesburg Weather in Autumn or Fall: March, April, May
Many people love visiting Johannesburg in autumn because the weather is warm and sunny, but not as hot as in the summer. The autumn weather is warm enough to explore the sights and sounds of Johannesburg.
The average daily highs for Johannesburg’s weather during Autumn will start at a high of 77 ℉ (25 ℃) in March and decreases to 70 ℉ (21 ℃) in May. The day temperatures do not change significantly during the year, but the night temperatures would reach 40 ℉ (5 ℃) by the end of May. During Autumn, Johannesburg’s thundershowers decrease, and there may be an occasional brief burst of rain with little effect on the weather.
During Autumn, I usually wear a short-sleeved shirt and long pants. I may also carry a light sweater or jacket in case it becomes cold in the evening. Although open-toed shoes or sandals will be fine during the day, you need closed shoes to keep your feet warm as night falls. For men, the same types of clothing (short-sleeved shirt, long pants, light sweater and closed-toed shoes) will be helpful for an autumn visit to Johannesburg.
As autumn starts, you can comfortably wear a dress or skirt during Autumn with your light sweater at night. However, towards the end of May, your legs may find the weather too chilly when you wear a skirt or dress.
Click here to find out what are the best months to visit South Africa.
Johannesburg Weather in Winter months: June, July and August
The South African Winter is short and lasts from June to August. The average temperatures during the day will be between 64 and 70 ℉ (18 to 21 ℃). You may find one or more days when the temperature drops to 70 ℉ (12 ℃).
The nights can be pretty cold, and you may find an occasional temperature dip below zero. By mid-to-end August, the day temperatures increase, and the days are pleasant enough to spend time outside exploring Johannesburg’s sites. However, nights may still be cold.
Johannesburg does not get much rain during Winter, and you should not need an umbrella.
In terms of what to wear in Johannesburg in Winter, you do not need a thick winter coat.
You may even find that you wear short-sleeved shirts during the warmer winter days and only need long-sleeved shirts for the colder days. You will find a medium-weight sweater and jacket useful for the Johannesburg Winter. Wearing layers will be best as you can remove what you don’t need, depending on the weather. Here are examples of men’s winter clothing for visiting Johannesburg in Winter: a lightweight jacket and a long-sleeve shirt.
Johannesburg Weather in Spring: September, October and November
Spring is the perfect time to visit Johannesburg, as the days are warm and sunny, and the night temperatures are moderate. The Johannesburg Spring officially starts in September, but you may find some days in August warm enough to qualify as spring weather. The average daily temperatures for Johannesburg increases from 70 ℉ (21 ℃) in August to 77 ℉ (25 ℃) in November.
The night temperatures increase from 41 ℉ (5 ℃) in August to 55 ℉ (13 ℃) in November. The rainy season starts in September, but typically you will find more frequent thunderstorms and downpours only towards November.
What to wear during Spring in Johannesburg? Your clothing needs will be similar to Autumn. You will wear short-sleeved shirts with a light sweater or jacket during the day. Layering works well to make sure you cater for both warmer and cooler weather.
Johannesburg Weather in the Summer Months: December, January and February
The South African summer is from December to February. The days can be very warm and sometimes hot and humid.
The average daily temperature in the summer months will increase from 77 ℉ (25 ℃) in November to 81 ℉ (27 ℃) in February. There may be several days during the summer when the temperature may get up to 93 ℉ (34 ℃). During the summer months especially, it is essential to be careful of the hot African sun and wear and replenish sun protection frequently.
Summer is Johannesburg’s rainy season, with the most rainfall occurring during January. The days will be hot, and thundershowers usually happen during the late afternoon. There may be one or more days of consistent rain, but the weather will still be warm and pleasant.
You will need short pants, short-sleeved shirts and sandals to be comfortable during the summer months. You may want to keep a rain jacket or umbrella with you at all times. Here are some good clothing options for men to wear in Johannesburg during Summer: short-sleeved shirts, sandals, umbrellas or rain jackets. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
How to get an accurate Johannesburg weather forecast?
To get the most accurate Johannesburg weather forecast, use these postal codes: 2000 (Johannesburg city centre), 2194 (Rosebank), 2196 (Sandton) or 1627 (Johannesburg International Airport).