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Cape Town in October: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Planning a trip and want to know what the weather in Cape Town in October will be like? Take a look at our weather guide for Cape Town, based on historical data.
Check flight prices to Cape Town on Avionero:
October

Weather in Cape Town in October 2024

Good Weather
Mild
☀️
Sunny
🌊
Fresh water
Planning a trip to Cape Town in October? You are in luck! The weather is generally good, with an average maximum temperature of +19°C and approximately 12 sunny days. Just be prepared for some rain, as there are usually around 8 rainy days and 25 mm of precipitation. Expect good weather and pack accordingly to enjoy the outdoors. Search flights in one click on Avionero.

Average weather

☀️
+19°C
Avg. max. temperature
0°C
Min.
+33°C
Max.
25 mm
Total precipitation
72%
Avg. humidity
5 m/s
Avg. wind
12 ☀️
Sunny Days
10 ⛅️
Cloudy
8 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Cape Town has good weather in October.

Average temperature in Cape Town in October

Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Cape Town for October based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

Going from a maximum of +27°C during the day to a minimum of +11°C during the night, the temperature in October averages around +22°C.

The average maximum temperature goes up 19% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +22°C to +25°C.

Is Cape Town warm or cold in October?

Cape Town is typically mild in October.

Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +18°C to +19°C. The minimum temperature also goes up from +12°C to +14°C.

Pack a light jacket as it will be warm in the day and cool in the evenings.

Take a look at how October is compared to other months in Cape Town:

Water temperature in Cape Town in October

Water in Cape Town in October is Fresh. It varies from +15°C to +17°C, with an average of +16°C. This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +19°C.

In October, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:

The warmest water temperatures in Cape Town are reached in January, when the average sea temperature rises to +19°C. The coldest water temperatures are in August, with an average of +15°C.

Can you swim in Cape Town in October?

Water temperature (+16°C) in Cape Town in October might be suited for short swims and acclimatized swimmers might find it refreshing.
🦭
Cold
Below +16°C
🏄‍♂️
Fresh
16°C - 21°C
🏊
Comfortable
21°C - 25°C
👙
Warm
25°C - 28°C
🔥
Very warm
+28°C and up
Think of bringing a full-body or shorty wetsuit (3mm-5mm thickness) to provide insulation and maintain body heat.

Climate in Cape Town in October

Cape Town weather looks like this, on average, in October and the surrounding months.
SeptemberOctoberNovember
Avg. temperature
+18°C+19°C+21°C
Min. temperature
+4°C0°C+8°C
Max. temperature
+36°C+33°C+32°C
Rainfall
46 mm25 mm23 mm
Wind
5 m/s5 m/s6 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+15°C+16°C+17°C
Humidity
75%72%71%
Air pressure
1018 HPa1016 HPa1014 HPa
Sunny days
101213
Cloudy days
91010
Rainy days
1287
Snowy days
000

October weather is still as good as in September. It’s getting warmer as October arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +18°C to +19°C during the day. As October arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 46 mm to 25 mm. It feels drier, as humidity decreases from 75% to 72%. The average wind speed doesn’t change much during October, staying around 5 m/s. The good news is there are likely to be more sunny days in October, from 10 to 12.

November brings much the same weather, it remains good.

Wind

Wind speed in Cape Town in October based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The average wind speed is 5 m/s getting up to 10 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.

The average wind speed in Cape Town is gradually increasing during October, going from 3 m/s to 5 m/s over the course of the month.

Rain

Amount of rainfall in mm during October in Cape Town based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
Typically, there is a 16% chance of rain on an average day in October, with total rainfall of approximately 19 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 8 mm, which is considered light rain. On average, there are about 5 rainy days during October, so prepare to bring an umbrella.
Here’s how October is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Cape Town wettest month is June, where a typical day has a 43% chance of precipitation and 101 mm of rainfall per day. January, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 16% chance of precipitation and 12 mm of rainfall per day.

How was the weather last October in Cape Town?

This is the weather in Cape Town in October 2023:
1 October
☀️
+22°C
2 October
☀️
+22°C
3 October
☀️
+22°C
4 October
☀️
+22°C
5 October
☁️
+22°C
6 October
☀️
+19°C
7 October
☀️
+18°C
8 October
☀️
+22°C
9 October
☀️
+23°C
10 October
☀️
+25°C
11 October
☀️
+21°C
12 October
🌧️
+20°C
13 October
☀️
+21°C
14 October
☀️
+26°C
15 October
☀️
+25°C
16 October
☀️
+26°C
17 October
☀️
+22°C
18 October
☀️
+23°C
19 October
☀️
+27°C
20 October
☁️
+21°C
21 October
☀️
+19°C
22 October
☀️
+26°C
23 October
☀️
+21°C
24 October
🌧️
+22°C
25 October
☀️
+23°C
26 October
☀️
+22°C
27 October
☀️
+19°C
28 October
☀️
+19°C
29 October
☀️
+24°C
30 October
☀️
+24°C
31 October
☀️
+25°C
In October 2023 Cape Town had 27 sunny days, 2 cloudy days, and 2 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +22°C, with an absolute maximum of +27°C and a minimum of +18°C. The average humidity was 78%, with a maximum of 100% and a minimum of 46%. The average wind speed was 5 m/s, with a maximum of 14 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in October?

Climate Change over Years

This is how Cape Town climate have been changing during last 43 years period.

The climate in Cape Town in October has not changed much over the last 43 years.

The average temperature was the lowest in 1996 (+18°C) and the highest in 2022 (+22°C). The driest year was 2017 with only 308 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2023 with 1389 mm.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the weather in Cape Town in October:

Is October a good time to visit Cape Town?

October is a really good time to go to Cape Town. The weather is nice so plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring. Check out other good time to visit Cape Town.

Can you sunbathe in Cape Town in October?

October has mild temperatures in Cape Town. Not ideal for sunbathing, but still good for daytime outdoor activities, but plan for cool evenings. Pack a light jacket and shorts!

Can you swim in Cape Town in October?

In general, you can swim in Cape Town in October, if you want to, at an average water temperature of +16°C. But it will feel quite cool, and some precautions are necessary to ensure your comfort and safety.

Is Cape Town rainy in October?

Cape Town is usually dry in October. Plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring.

Is it sunny in Cape Town in October?

The amount of sunny days in Cape Town during October varies; prepare for a mix of clouds and sun.

Other cities in South Africa

Check out the weather for other cities in South Africa.

Monthly weather in Cape Town

Source of the data

For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Cape Town, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2022.

For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.