AI-generatedEast London at a glance
- Best time
- Apr – Sep
- Warmest month
- Feb · 26°
- Warmest sea
- Feb · 24.6°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,630 h
- Rain a year
- 831 mm
- Climate
- Subtropical
- Time zone
- UTC+2
- Elevation
- 48 m
Climate in East London
East London has a subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters. February is the warmest month with average highs of 26 °C, while July is the coolest at 21 °C. With around 2,630 hours of sunshine a year, East London is sunny; August is the sunniest month with 7.7 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Good
Best time to visit: April – September
Good forSightseeing & walks
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 19°
- Midday, 13:00: about 22°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 22°
- Evening, 20:00: about 19°
- Night, 23:00: about 17°
05:2818:20
Pleasant evenings; a light layer can help.
Estimated from the average high and low: coolest around sunrise, warmest in mid-afternoon.
Light for photos in October
- Golden hour
- Morning 05:13–06:01 · evening 17:47–18:35
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:03–05:13 · evening 18:35–18:45
Golden hour: the sun between 4° below and 6° above the horizon; blue hour: 6° to 4° below it. Times for the 15th of the month; mountains and clouds shift the light.
What is the weather like in East London in October?
In October, East London is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 20.8 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 78 mm in total. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in East London.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 51 min05:28 – 18:20
- UV index
- 9 · very highclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 1 daydew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 26 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 57 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 1 day30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+2Africa/Johannesburg
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %63 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %49 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Swimwear
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sea temperature in East London
Monthly sea surface temperature with the range of cooler and warmer years.
8 in 10 years: 20.0 – 21.7 °C
Swimming season: All year
- cold
- fresh
- refreshing
- pleasant
- warm
- very warm
The sea temperature in East London ranges from 20.4 °C in August to 24.6 °C in February. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
From April to May the sea is even warmer than the afternoon air. The sea temperature varies from year to year: in February, eight out of ten years were between 22.4 and 26.0 °C.
| Month | Average | Cool year | Warm year | Feels |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 24.0° | 22.4° | 25.2° | pleasant |
| FebruaryFeb | 24.6° | 22.4° | 26.0° | pleasant |
| MarchMar | 24.4° | 22.6° | 25.6° | pleasant |
| AprilApr | 24.0° | 22.7° | 25.2° | pleasant |
| MayMay | 22.9° | 21.4° | 23.9° | refreshing |
| JuneJun | 21.5° | 20.9° | 22.3° | refreshing |
| JulyJul | 20.9° | 20.4° | 21.6° | refreshing |
| AugustAug | 20.4° | 19.6° | 21.0° | refreshing |
| SeptemberSep | 20.4° | 19.7° | 21.2° | refreshing |
| OctoberOct | 20.8° | 20.0° | 21.7° | refreshing |
| NovemberNov | 22.0° | 20.5° | 22.8° | refreshing |
| DecemberDec | 22.8° | 21.4° | 24.1° | refreshing |
Sunshine hours in East London
Average hours of bright sunshine per day, next to the length of the day. Tap a month to select it.
In October, the sun shines for about 6.8 of 12.9 hours of daylight in East London, 53 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: measured at the weather station 9 km away, averages 1991–2020 (WMO climate normals). Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in East London
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 9 · very highStay in the shade around midday; SPF 50, clothing, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in December (UV 11).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 15 min
- Fair skin
- about 20 min
- Light brown skin
- about 25 min
- Olive skin
- about 35 min
Rough guide for unprotected skin at noon under a clear sky; clouds lengthen it, water, sand and snow shorten it. Sunscreen extends the time only partly.
Monthly values: clear-sky noon estimate from the sun's angle, ozone and altitude. UV today: Open-Meteo forecast.
Rain in East London: rainy days and rainfall
A rainy day is a day with at least 1 mm of rain or snow; the amount is what falls in the whole month. Tap a month to select it.
In October, East London has about 11 rainy days with 78 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in East London
How breezy and how cloudy East London is through the year. Tap a month to select it on the whole page.
Wind
Typical daily peak of the wind in km/h: what the afternoon breeze usually reaches, not the gusts.
In October, the wind in East London typically peaks at 26 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Breezy months for windsurfing and kiting
From Beaufort 4 (20 km/h) the daily breeze is usually enough for windsurfing and often for kiting, and here it gets there all year.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 57 % of the sky over East London: variable cloud, with about 6.8 hours of sunshine a day.
Wind: mean daily maximum of the hourly wind 10 m above ground (ERA5, 1996–2025). Gusts are stronger, and the model grid of about 28 km smooths out local effects such as capes and valley winds. Clouds: mean total cloud cover of all layers over day and night (ERA5, 1996–2025). Thin high cloud counts as cover even when the sun still shines through.
Heat and humidity in East London
How often the day gets hot in East London (30 °C and more), and in which months heat and humidity come together. Tap a month to select it.
Heat calendar
- pleasant
- some hot or muggy days
- often muggy
- often hot
- hot and muggy
In October, East London has about 1 hot days, with an average daytime high of 22 °C: pleasant. Heat plays no part this month.
Hot days reach at least 30 °C; a month counts as muggy when the mean dew point reaches 18 °C on at least 15 days. Averages from ERA5 and ERA5-Land, 1996–2025. Muggy nights through the year
Climate through the year
Long-term monthly averages. Tap a month to see its details.
Nights and sleep in East London
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
- Warm 20–24°
- muggy month (10+ muggy days)
PleasantOctober: nights around 16°. Ideal for sleeping, often with the window open. Muggy on about 1 days (dew point 18 °C or more).
The coolest nights are in July (13°), the warmest in February (21°). Tropical nights of 20 °C and more are the rule from January to March; then air conditioning or a fan helps you sleep. Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from April to May and from October to December. It is muggy (dew point 18 °C or more) on about 81 days a year, mostly from December to March.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sea | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 75 | 26° | 20° | 24.0° | 7.1 h | 13 | 93 |
| FebruaryFeb | 78 | 26° | 21° | 24.6° | 7.2 h | 12 | 85 |
| MarchMar | 76 | 25° | 20° | 24.4° | 6.9 h | 12 | 96 |
| AprilApr | 80 | 24° | 18° | 24.0° | 7.0 h | 10 | 92 |
| MayMay | 91 | 23° | 16° | 22.9° | 7.3 h | 5 | 38 |
| JuneJun | 95 | 22° | 14° | 21.5° | 7.5 h | 4 | 39 |
| JulyJul | 93 | 21° | 13° | 20.9° | 7.4 h | 5 | 35 |
| AugustAug | 92 | 21° | 13° | 20.4° | 7.7 h | 6 | 36 |
| SeptemberSep | 86 | 22° | 14° | 20.4° | 7.4 h | 8 | 64 |
| OctoberOct | 77 | 22° | 16° | 20.8° | 6.8 h | 11 | 78 |
| NovemberNov | 77 | 23° | 17° | 22.0° | 7.1 h | 12 | 91 |
| DecemberDec | 73 | 24° | 19° | 22.8° | 6.9 h | 13 | 84 |
Climate averages 1996–2025, not a forecast. Data: Copernicus ERA5 / ERA5-Land via Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0), NOAA OISST, WMO 1991–2020 (NOAA NCEI), GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Sources & licences
33.02° S, 27.91° E · 48 m · Africa/Johannesburg
Best time to visit East London
The best time to visit East London is from April to September. For a beach holiday with the sea above 21 °C, go in February and in April and in November. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable in February and from April to November. Rain is most frequent in March and from November to January; the wettest month is March with 96 mm.
East London through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
East London in spring
Sep – Nov
Excellent
- 22–23 °C by day
- Sea 21 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 31 rainy days in all
East London in summer
Dec – Feb
Good
- 24–26 °C by day
- Sea 24 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 37 rainy days in all
East London in autumn
Mar – May
Excellent
- 23–25 °C by day
- Sea 24 °C
- 7 h of sun a day
- 28 rainy days in all
East London in winter
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 21–22 °C by day
- Sea 21 °C
- 8 h of sun a day
- 14 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in East London for you.
Your best months: May – June, August
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in East London
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
June has the better holiday weather in East London: score 95 against 77. Daytime highs are about the same. The sea is 1 °C warmer in June. June has 7 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in June.
| Month | October | June |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 77 | 95better |
| Day high | 22° | 22° |
| Night low | 16° | 14° |
| Sea | 20.8° | 21.5° |
| Sunshine | 6.8 h | 7.5 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 11 | 4better |
| Rainfall | 78 mm | 39 mmbetter |
| Muggy days | 1 | 0better |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
Feb, Apr, Nov
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Feb, Apr – Nov
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Mar, Nov – Jan
12 or more rainy days
East London month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
75January26° · Sea 24° · 7 h
In January, East London is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 20 °C. The sea averages 24.0 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 93 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, January is a good month for a holiday in East London.
East London in January78February26° · Sea 25° · 7 h
In February, East London is warm: daytime highs average 26 °C, and even at night it stays warm at around 21 °C. The sea averages 24.6 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 85 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, February is a good month for a holiday in East London.
East London in February76March25° · Sea 24° · 7 h
In March, East London is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 20 °C. The sea averages 24.4 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 96 mm in total. The air is often humid and muggy. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in East London.
East London in March80April24° · Sea 24° · 7 h
In April, East London is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 18 °C. The sea averages 24.0 °C – pleasant for swimming. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 92 mm in total. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in East London.
East London in April91May23° · Sea 23° · 7 h
In May, East London is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 22.9 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 5 days, adding up to 38 mm. All in all, May is an excellent month for a holiday in East London.
East London in May95June22° · Sea 22° · 8 h
In June, East London is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 21.5 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 4 days bring 39 mm in total. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in East London.
East London in June93July21° · Sea 21° · 7 h
In July, East London is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 20.9 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 5 days bring 35 mm in total. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in East London.
East London in July92August21° · Sea 20° · 8 h
In August, East London is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sea averages 20.4 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain falls on about 6 days, adding up to 36 mm. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in East London.
East London in August86September22° · Sea 20° · 7 h
In September, East London is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 14 °C. The sea averages 20.4 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 64 mm. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in East London.
East London in September77October22° · Sea 21° · 7 h
In October, East London is warm: daytime highs average 22 °C, and nights cool down to about 16 °C. The sea averages 20.8 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 11 rainy days and 78 mm in total. All in all, October is a good month for a holiday in East London.
East London in October77November23° · Sea 22° · 7 h
In November, East London is warm: daytime highs average 23 °C, and nights cool down to about 17 °C. The sea averages 22.0 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 12 rainy days and 91 mm in total. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in East London.
East London in November73December24° · Sea 23° · 7 h
In December, East London is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 19 °C. The sea averages 22.8 °C – refreshing for a swim. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 84 mm in total. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in East London.
East London in DecemberEast London compared
Put East London side by side with another destination.
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East London vs. Gqeberha
In October Gqeberha has the better holiday weather (score 86 vs. 77). During the day Gqeberha is 1 °C cooler than East London. The sea in Gqeberha is 3 °C cooler. Gqeberha gets one more hour of sunshine a day.
| in October | East London | Gqeberha |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 77 | 86 |
| Daytime high | 22° | 21° |
| Sea | 21° | 18° |
| Sunshine | 7 h | 8 h |
| Rainy days | 11 | 8 |
| Best time | Apr – Sep | All year |
Through the year
South Africa in October: the best places
In October, East London ranks 8 of 10 destinations in this country.
- Orania22°99
- 2Cape Town21°15°99
- 3Stellenbosch21°95
- 4Gqeberha21°18°86
- 5Soweto25°82
- 6Pretoria28°82
- 7Johannesburg25°81
- 8East LondonThis page22°21°77
Planning a trip to East London
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
East London in the school holidays
How the weather suits the usual holiday periods. Dates vary by school and region, so each holiday uses the months it usually falls in.
East London has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 92) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 74).
- 79
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 24 °C by day
- Sea 24 °C
- 7.0 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 92
May half-term
May – Jun
ExcellentBest holidays
- 23 °C by day
- Sea 23 °C
- 7.3 h of sun a day
- 5 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 92
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
Excellent
- 21 °C by day
- Sea 21 °C
- 7.6 h of sun a day
- 5 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 77
October half-term
Oct
Good
- 22 °C by day
- Sea 21 °C
- 6.8 h of sun a day
- 11 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 74
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Good
- 25 °C by day
- Sea 23 °C
- 7.0 h of sun a day
- 13 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 12 h 20 min
- Distance
- 9,790 km
- Time zone
- UTC+2
- Jet lag
- Hardly any (under 3 h)
Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Estimated from the straight-line distance: 30 minutes for take-off and landing plus 830 km/h cruising speed.
Frequently asked questions about East London
When is the best time to visit East London?
The best time to visit East London is from April to September. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
How warm is the sea in East London?
The sea temperature in East London ranges from 20.4 °C in August to 24.6 °C in February. At 20 °C and more, the sea is warm enough for swimming all year round.
Can you swim in East London in October?
Yes. In October the sea averages 20.8 °C – refreshing for a swim.
What is the warmest month in East London?
February is the warmest month, with average highs of 26 °C and nights around 21 °C. July is the coolest month at 21 °C.
When does it rain most in East London?
Rain is most frequent in March and from November to January; the wettest month is March with 96 mm. The driest month is July with 35 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does East London get?
East London gets around 2,630 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is August with 7.7 hours a day; in October there are 6.8 hours a day.
What time zone is East London in?
East London uses the time zone Africa/Johannesburg, at UTC+2 all year.
How long is the flight from London to East London?
A nonstop flight from London to East London takes about 12 h 20 min, for a straight-line distance of about 9,790 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Which school holidays are best for East London?
East London has its best school-holiday weather during May half-term (score 92) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 74). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 79, May half-term 92, Summer holidays 92, October half-term 77, Christmas holidays 74.
Near East London
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like East London
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to East London's – good alternatives.