Cape Town Monthly Rainfall & Precipitation

This page shows both the average monthly rainfall and the number of rainy days in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. Long-term data from 1990 to 2020 was used to calculate these averages. Now, let's break down all the details for a clearer picture.

On average, Cape Town receives a reasonable amount of rainfall, with an annual precipitation of 686 mm (27 in). Despite this overall moderate level, the city experiences distinct dry season during certain months throughout the year, as illustrated in the precipitation charts below.

Monthly Precipitation Levels

The average number of days each month with precipitation (> 0.2 mm (0.01 in))

Cape Town can be quite wet during June, receiving approximately 126 mm (5 in) of precipitation over 13 rainy days.

In contrast February, experiences much drier conditions, with 19 mm (0.7 in) of rainfall, spread across 4 rainy days.

June, the wettest month, has a maximum daytime temperature of 18°C (64°F). The city receives 175 hours of sunshine in this period. During the driest month February you can expect a temperature of 25°C (77°F). For more detailed insights into the city's temperatures, visit our Cape Town Temperature page.

Cape Town's average annual precipitation is 686 mm (27 in). Let's compare this to some popular worldwide tourist destinations:

Boston, USA, experiences 1238 mm (49 in) of annual precipitation, including significant snowfall during the winter.

Osaka, Japan, experiences 1507 mm (59 in) of rainfall annually, spread across the year with wetter summers.

Melbourne, Australia, has 690 mm (27 in) of rainfall annually, spread fairly evenly throughout the year.

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, receives 1955 mm (77 in) of annual rainfall, with a pronounced wet season from May to November, typical of its tropical monsoon climate.

Precipitation amounts are measured using specific gauges installed at weather stations, collecting both rain and snow and any other type of precipitation. Rainfall is measured directly in millimeters, while that from snow and ice is obtained by melting it. Automated systems often incorporate heaters to make this easier.

Information from these stations is transmitted via Wi-Fi, satellite, GPS, or telephone connections to central monitoring networks. This information is immediately updated and integrated into weather models and forecasts.

• The U.S. has a significant number of thunderstorms every year, with over 14.6 million taking place across the world annually.
• Approximately 70% of lightning bolts strike land rather than oceans.
• A storm named John was the longest-lasting Pacific tropical storm, continuing for 31 days. As it crossed the dateline twice, it changed status from a hurricane to a typhoon and back to a hurricane.

For more detailed information about Cape Town's weather, including sunshine hours, humidity levels, and temperature data, visit our Cape Town Climate page.