Weather in Soweto

Rain is rainy season runs from November to February, inside an annual total of 586 mm. The wettest month is December at 118 mm; the driest is July at 3 mm.

Soweto is in South Africa at 26.3°S. The 2001–2020 NASA POWER daily record describes a Mediterranean pattern: dry summers and wetter winters. January is the warmest month (average 22.1°C, high 28.9°C) and July is the coolest (average 10.5°C, low 2.3°C). On this site the months that score closest to a 22°C day, lighter rain, and moderate humidity are January, September, and December.

Hot and cool months in Soweto

Monthly average highs run from 18.7°C in July to 28.9°C in January. Nights follow the same curve: 2.3°C in July and 15.3°C in January.

Mean high across all twelve months is 25.3°C and mean low is 9.9°C. These are 20-year grid averages, so a city station can read a few degrees warmer or cooler.

When Soweto gets wet

The rainy season in Soweto starts in November and ends in February (November, December, January, and February). December is the core of it at 118 mm. July is the other extreme, with 3 mm.

A rainy day here is a day with at least 1 mm in the NASA POWER series. December averages 19 such days; July averages 0.

The calendar in Soweto

Peak heat arrives in January: 28.9°C by day, 15.3°C at night, and 62% humidity. July is the coolest month, with lows around 2.3°C and highs near 18.7°C. Rainfall is 3 mm. August brings 8 mm and 2 rainy days; temperatures run from 5.0°C to 22.4°C.

September stands apart from the months beside it: 26.9°C / 8.9°C and 14 mm. December is the wettest month — 118 mm and 19 rainy days, with 60% humidity.

Best months to visit Soweto

The three months with the highest comfort score are January, September, and December: January (22.1°C average, 107 mm, 62% humidity); September (17.9°C average, 14 mm, 38% humidity); December (21.9°C average, 118 mm, 60% humidity). Those months sit across the year end, so they are listed in season order rather than January-to-December. The score rewards averages near 22°C, lower rainfall, and humidity near 60%. It is a climate score, not a festival or price calendar.

If you want the rainy season itself — fewer crowds, greener landscape, heavier rain — aim at November–February instead of the score.

How Soweto compares inside South Africa

Johannesburg is about 20 km away: Soweto is about as warm as Johannesburg at the hot peak and 56 mm drier over the year than Johannesburg. Johannesburg’s wettest month is December (127 mm) versus December here.

Pretoria is about 67 km away: Soweto is 2.4°C cooler than Pretoria in its hottest month and a similar annual rainfall (571 mm in Pretoria). Pretoria’s wettest month is January (115 mm) versus December here.

Durban is about 506 km away: Soweto is 2.9°C cooler than Durban in its hottest month and 302 mm drier over the year than Durban. Durban’s wettest month is November (122 mm) versus December here.