AI-generatedSoweto at a glance
- Best time
- Apr – Oct
- Warmest month
- Oct · 25°
- Sunshine a year
- 2,530 h
- Rain a year
- 776 mm
- Climate
- Subtropical
- Time zone
- UTC+2
- Elevation
- 1,632 m
Climate in Soweto
Soweto has a subtropical climate with warm summers and mild winters. October is the warmest month with average highs of 25 °C, while June is the coolest at 17 °C. With around 2,530 hours of sunshine a year, Soweto is sunny; September is the sunniest month with 7.9 hours a day.
Holiday weather through the year
Weather in October
Holiday weather in October
Excellent
Best time to visit: April – October
Good forSightseeing & walks
A typical day in October
- Morning, 08:00: about 18°
- Midday, 13:00: about 25°
- Afternoon, 16:00: about 24°
- Evening, 20:00: about 18°
- Night, 23:00: about 15°
05:3418:14
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 05:20–06:05 · evening 17:43–18:29
- Blue hour
- Morning 05:11–05:20 · evening 18:29–18:38
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 Soweto in October?
In October, Soweto is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 69 mm in total. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Soweto.
More details for October
- Daylight
- 12 h 40 min05:34 – 18:14
- UV index
- 12 · extremeclear sky, noon (estimate)All months
- Muggy days
- 0 daysdew point 18 °C or moreAll months
- Wind
- 20 km/haverage daily peakAll months
- Cloud cover
- 38 %on averageAll months
- Hot days
- 3 days30 °C or moreAll months
- Time zone
- UTC+2Africa/Johannesburg
How the score comes together
- Temperatureweight 50 %100 %
- Sunshineweight 20 %73 %
- Few rainy daysweight 30 %57 %
Each factor is rated from 0 to 100 % and weighted for the travel style “City break”.
What to pack in October
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses & sun hat
- Light, breathable clothes
- A jumper for the evenings
- Rain jacket or umbrella
Sunshine hours in Soweto
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 7.4 of 12.7 hours of daylight in Soweto, 58 % of the day.
Sunshine hours: estimated from radiation data (ERA5, 1996–2025) and calibrated against measured station values; no weather station is close enough here. Daylight is the time from sunrise to sunset on the 15th of the month.
UV index in Soweto
How strong the sun is at noon, month by month, and how quickly unprotected skin burns.
- Clear-sky UV in October
- 12 · extremeAvoid the midday sun; SPF 50+, covering clothes, hat and sunglasses.
The sun is strongest in December (UV 13).
Minutes until sunburn in October
- Very fair skin
- about 10 min
- Fair skin
- about 15 min
- Light brown skin
- about 20 min
- Olive skin
- about 25 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 Soweto: 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, Soweto has about 10 rainy days with 69 mm of rain in total.
Wind and clouds in Soweto
How breezy and how cloudy Soweto 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 Soweto typically peaks at 20 km/h during the day: Beaufort 4, moderate breeze.
Clouds
Average share of the sky covered by cloud, day and night.
In October, cloud covers on average 38 % of the sky over Soweto: mostly sunny, with about 7.4 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 Soweto
How often the day gets hot in Soweto (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, Soweto has about 3 hot days, with an average daytime high of 25 °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 Soweto
How warm the nights get in each month, from the mean night-time low. Tap a month for details.
- Cold 0–8°
- Cool 8–15°
- Pleasant 15–20°
CoolOctober: nights around 12°. A duvet at night and a jumper for the evening.
The coolest nights are in July (3°), the warmest in January (15°). Nights are pleasant for sleeping (15 to 20 °C) from December to February. Nights fall below 8 °C on average from May to August, so the room should be heated.
Temperatures through the year
Average daytime high, night-time low and sea temperature per month.
| Month | Score | Day | Night | Sun | Rain days | Rain mm |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JanuaryJan | 65 | 25° | 15° | 6.7 h | 17 | 139 |
| FebruaryFeb | 68 | 25° | 15° | 6.5 h | 15 | 125 |
| MarchMar | 71 | 24° | 13° | 6.2 h | 13 | 87 |
| AprilApr | 82 | 21° | 10° | 6.2 h | 8 | 54 |
| MayMay | 93 | 19° | 7° | 6.8 h | 3 | 22 |
| JuneJun | 87 | 17° | 4° | 7.0 h | 2 | 9 |
| JulyJul | 89 | 17° | 3° | 7.3 h | 1 | 4 |
| AugustAug | 95 | 20° | 6° | 7.5 h | 2 | 9 |
| SeptemberSep | 96 | 24° | 9° | 7.9 h | 3 | 21 |
| OctoberOct | 82 | 25° | 12° | 7.4 h | 10 | 69 |
| NovemberNov | 71 | 25° | 13° | 6.8 h | 14 | 97 |
| DecemberDec | 63 | 25° | 15° | 6.9 h | 19 | 141 |
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
26.27° S, 27.86° E · 1,632 m · Africa/Johannesburg
Best time to visit Soweto
The best time to visit Soweto is from April to October. For sightseeing, day trips and hiking, conditions are most comfortable from April to October. Rain is most frequent from November to March; the wettest month is December with 141 mm.
Soweto through the seasons
How the weather changes over the seasons, with averages for each.
Soweto in spring
Sep – Nov
Excellent
- 24–25 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 27 rainy days in all
Soweto in summer
Dec – Feb
Good
- 25 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 51 rainy days in all
Soweto in autumn
Mar – May
Excellent
- 19–24 °C by day
- 6 h of sun a day
- 24 rainy days in all
Soweto in winter
Jun – Aug
Excellent
- 17–20 °C by day
- 7 h of sun a day
- 4 rainy days in all
Find your perfect month
Tell us what you like and we rate every month in Soweto for you.
Your best months: August – September
Based on the climate averages; tap a month to see its details.
Compare two months in Soweto
Pick two months to see how the weather differs. A tick marks the clearly better value; for temperatures it depends on your plans.
September has the better holiday weather in Soweto: score 96 against 82. In September, days are 1 °C cooler than in October. September has 7 fewer rainy days. The sun shines an hour longer a day in September.
| Month | October | September |
|---|---|---|
| Weather score | 82 | 96better |
| Day high | 25° | 24° |
| Night low | 12° | 9° |
| Sunshine | 7.4 h | 7.9 hbetter |
| Rainy days | 10 | 3better |
| Rainfall | 69 mm | 21 mmbetter |
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Which month for what?
Beach & swimming
No sea nearby
Sea from 21 °C, warm and mostly dry
Sightseeing & hiking
Apr – Oct
15–28 °C and not too much rain
Rainy months
Nov – Mar
12 or more rainy days
Soweto month by month
The typical weather for every month at a glance.
65January25° · 7 h
In January, Soweto is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 17 days, adding up to 139 mm. All in all, January is a good month for a holiday in Soweto.
Soweto in January68February25° · 7 h
In February, Soweto is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 15 days, adding up to 125 mm. All in all, February is a good month for a holiday in Soweto.
Soweto in February71March24° · 6 h
In March, Soweto is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain is frequent, with about 13 rainy days and 87 mm in total. All in all, March is a good month for a holiday in Soweto.
Soweto in March82April21° · 6 h
In April, Soweto is warm: daytime highs average 21 °C, and nights cool down to about 10 °C. Expect around 6 hours of sunshine a day. Rain falls on about 8 days, adding up to 54 mm. All in all, April is an excellent month for a holiday in Soweto.
Soweto in April93May19° · 7 h
In May, Soweto is mild: daytime highs average 19 °C, and nights cool down to about 7 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 22 mm in total. All in all, May is an excellent month for a holiday in Soweto.
Soweto in May87June17° · 7 h
In June, Soweto is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 4 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, June is an excellent month for a holiday in Soweto.
Soweto in June89July17° · 7 h
In July, Soweto is mild: daytime highs average 17 °C, and nights cool down to about 3 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, July is an excellent month for a holiday in Soweto.
Soweto in July95August20° · 8 h
In August, Soweto is mild: daytime highs average 20 °C, and nights cool down to about 6 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. It hardly ever rains. All in all, August is an excellent month for a holiday in Soweto.
Soweto in August96September24° · 8 h
In September, Soweto is warm: daytime highs average 24 °C, and nights cool down to about 9 °C. The sun shines for around 8 hours a day. Rain is rare: about 3 days bring 21 mm in total. All in all, September is an excellent month for a holiday in Soweto.
Soweto in September82October25° · 7 h
In October, Soweto is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 12 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 10 rainy days and 69 mm in total. All in all, October is an excellent month for a holiday in Soweto.
Soweto in October71November25° · 7 h
In November, Soweto is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 13 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. Rain is frequent, with about 14 rainy days and 97 mm in total. All in all, November is a good month for a holiday in Soweto.
Soweto in November63December25° · 7 h
In December, Soweto is warm: daytime highs average 25 °C, and nights cool down to about 15 °C. The sun shines for around 7 hours a day. It rains often – on about 19 days, adding up to 141 mm. All in all, December is a good month for a holiday in Soweto.
Soweto in DecemberSoweto compared
Put Soweto side by side with another destination.
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Soweto vs. Johannesburg
In October the holiday weather in Soweto and Johannesburg is about equally good (score 82 vs. 81). During the day it is about as warm in Johannesburg as in Soweto.
| in October | Soweto | Johannesburg |
|---|---|---|
| Holiday score | 82 | 81 |
| Daytime high | 25° | 25° |
| Sunshine | 7 h | 7 h |
| Rainy days | 10 | 10 |
| Best time | Apr – Oct | Apr – Oct |
Through the year
South Africa in October: the best places
In October, Soweto ranks 5 of 10 destinations in this country.
- Orania22°99
- 2Cape Town21°15°99
- 3Stellenbosch21°95
- 4Gqeberha21°18°86
- 5SowetoThis page25°82
- 6Pretoria28°82
- 7Johannesburg25°81
- 8East London22°21°77
Planning a trip to Soweto
Weather for your travel dates
Pick your arrival and length of stay, and we sum up the weather to expect.
Soweto 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.
Soweto has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 93) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 64).
- 79
Easter holidays
Mar – Apr
Good
- 22 °C by day
- 6.2 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
- 92
May half-term
May – Jun
Excellent
- 19 °C by day
- 6.8 h of sun a day
- 3 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 93
Summer holidays
Jul – Aug
ExcellentBest holidays
- 19 °C by day
- 7.4 h of sun a day
- 1 rainy day a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 82
October half-term
Oct
Excellent
- 25 °C by day
- 7.4 h of sun a day
- 10 rainy days a month
Good for: Sightseeing & walks
- 64
Christmas holidays
Dec – Jan
Good
- 25 °C by day
- 6.8 h of sun a day
- 18 rainy days a month
Keep in mind: Frequent rain
Based on the climate averages 1996–2025.
Getting there
Flying from
- Nonstop flight
- about 11 h 25 min
- Distance
- 9,080 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 Soweto
When is the best time to visit Soweto?
The best time to visit Soweto is from April to October. That is when the holiday weather score, which combines temperature, sea, sunshine and rain, is highest.
What is the warmest month in Soweto?
October is the warmest month, with average highs of 25 °C and nights around 12 °C. June is the coolest month at 17 °C.
When does it rain most in Soweto?
Rain is most frequent from November to March; the wettest month is December with 141 mm. The driest month is July with 4 mm.
How many hours of sunshine does Soweto get?
Soweto gets around 2,530 hours of sunshine a year. The sunniest month is September with 7.9 hours a day; in March there are 6.2 hours a day.
What time zone is Soweto in?
Soweto uses the time zone Africa/Johannesburg, at UTC+2 all year.
How long is the flight from London to Soweto?
A nonstop flight from London to Soweto takes about 11 h 25 min, for a straight-line distance of about 9,080 km. Most routes need a change of planes, which adds time.
Which school holidays are best for Soweto?
Soweto has its best school-holiday weather during the summer holidays (score 93) and its weakest during the Christmas holidays (score 64). Holiday ratings (0–100): Easter holidays 79, May half-term 92, Summer holidays 93, October half-term 82, Christmas holidays 64.
Near Soweto
Other destinations close by.
Places with a climate like Soweto
Destinations whose weather through the year is closest to Soweto's – good alternatives.