August Weather in Cape Town

If you ask a Capetonian about August weather in Cape Town they’ll say ‘it’s wet and miserable’. That's not necessarily so!

But it IS low season, so be sure to ask for Cape town accommodation specials.

We’re so spoilt the rest of the year, that by August we feel as though our 2-3 months of winter have gone on forever and we’re starting to hanker for spring!

But a Cape Town winter is characterised by fierce storms interspersed with clear calm days, which makes it a refreshing time to visit.

Yes, this was taken on a whale watching trip in False Bay in August. Clear, calm, perfect weather :o)

The reality is that June, July and August have much the same temperatures, and August has marginally less rain.

We may still have chilly days –- max temps of 12- 15 deg C if there is snow on the high ground out there -- but the sunny days in between are great.

I’ve been on the beach sometimes towards the end of August.

The rainfall and temperature figures look like this:

Average daily maximum temperature: 18 degrees C (64 degrees F)

Average daily minimum temperature: 8 degrees C (45 degrees F)

Average monthly rainfall 77mm (3 inches)

Days with > 1 mm rain: 14

This is a month of lashing storms interspersed with beautiful still days. The countryside is lush and green, though the vineyards are bare and dormant.

-- BEWARE --

High winds and storms mean there’s still no certainty about getting up Table Mountain! A storm can mean cloud over the mountain for up to a week at a time.

August Weather in Cape Town -- What to pack?

• you'll need a warm, windproof layer
• an umbrella can be useful, but it may get turned inside-out in the high winds
• plan your wardrobe in layers so that you can peel off if the sun gets too hot
• pack something light so that you don’t boil if the weather does turn balmy

August Weather in Cape Town -- What's on? -- WOW, it's busy!

• Stellenbosch Wine Festival –- first week in August
• Cape Town Fashion Week -- first week in August
• Hout Bay Seafood Festival and Snoek Derby – second weekend in August
• Great White Shark Festival -- third weekend in August, in Gansbaai
• Clanwilliam Wildflower Show -- last week in August, in Clanwilliam
• Cape Homemakers Expo -- end of August, beginning of September

Whales are everywhere -– where there’s water, that is! Head for Simonstown or Hermanus and go whale watching .

King proteas are in flower at Kirstenbosch .

Watch out for snow in Ceres!

The spring flowers are in bloom this month up the West Coast all the way to Namaqualand.

And the winter accommodation and restaurant specials are STILL in full swing, so there are great deals to be had!



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