Cape Town has a Mediterranean-style climate that’s the reverse of most of South Africa’s summer-rainfall regions: it gets its rain mainly in winter, from May through August, driven by cold fronts sweeping up from the Southern Ocean, averaging around 500 mm (roughly 20 inches) a year. Table Mountain and the surrounding peaks funnel and intensify these systems, meaning rainfall can vary sharply between neighborhoods just a few kilometers apart depending on their exposure to the mountain. The city faced a severe water crisis in recent years when several consecutive winters brought well below-average rain, underscoring how closely the region’s water supply tracks a handful of winter storm systems each year. Strong winter cold fronts can also bring damaging wind alongside the rain. Because so much of the year’s total falls in a compressed winter window, radar tracking of each incoming front is a meaningful way to follow the season’s progress. The South African Weather Service operates the national radar network.
Rain in Cape Town by month
Cape Town gets about 489 mm (19.2 in) of rain in an average year. The wettest month is June, with 91 mm (3.6 in), and the driest is February, with 9 mm (0.4 in).
| Month | Average rain | Average temperature |
|---|---|---|
| January | 14 mm (0.5 in) | 20.0 °C (68 °F) |
| February | 9 mm (0.4 in) | 20.3 °C (69 °F) |
| March | 17 mm (0.7 in) | 19.3 °C (67 °F) |
| April | 37 mm (1.5 in) | 17.7 °C (64 °F) |
| May | 51 mm (2.0 in) | 16.5 °C (62 °F) |
| June | 91 mm (3.6 in) | 15.1 °C (59 °F) |
| July | 81 mm (3.2 in) | 14.4 °C (58 °F) |
| August | 76 mm (3.0 in) | 14.3 °C (58 °F) |
| September | 40 mm (1.6 in) | 15.0 °C (59 °F) |
| October | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 16.2 °C (61 °F) |
| November | 30 mm (1.2 in) | 17.4 °C (63 °F) |
| December | 12 mm (0.5 in) | 19.1 °C (66 °F) |
Long-term monthly averages from NASA POWER (MERRA-2 satellite reanalysis). They describe the wider area around Cape Town and can differ slightly from local weather-station records.
Learn more: How Does Rain Radar Work? · Open the full Rain Map
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it raining in Cape Town right now?
The map above shows recent radar observations over Cape Town, Western Cape where coverage is available. Use the map legend and timestamp to interpret the imagery. A blank map over Cape Town can mean no detected precipitation, missing coverage, delayed data, or rain too light for radar to detect.
How often does the Cape Town rain radar update?
Updates depend on the radar provider and local network. Check the timestamp on the map for the latest available frame, and press play to compare recent observations. Radar imagery can lag conditions on the ground.
Can I see if a storm is heading toward Cape Town?
Press play to compare recent radar frames over Western Cape and see the direction of detected rain. This can help you assess approaching showers near Cape Town, but storms can grow or change direction; check your local weather service for forecasts and warnings.
Is this Cape Town rain radar free to use?
Yes, completely free – no account, app download, or sign-up required. It works in any browser on desktop and mobile.