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WESTERN CAPE WEATHER & CLIMATE
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| Western Cape Climate |
Cape Town Weather: Overall, the Western Cape climate is typically Mediterranean, with warm, dry
summers and mild, moist winters and low summer rainfall prevail. Near the coast,
summer’s temperature rises from a pleasant low of 15º C to a heart warming 27º C.
Inland temperatures are some 3-5º C higher. Coastal winters see the mercury dropping to a
mild 7º C at night and rising to a comfortable 18º C by day. Away from the beach,
morning wakens to an invigorating 5º C and midday peaks at 22º C. |
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To many, March and April signal idyllic
weather. Summer's heat subsides, the wind settles and autumn casts its brightly coloured
mantle over the vineyards, generating red, burnished vistas spreading from the mountain
tops to the sea. In keeping with its sunny, tranquil character, a temperate climate with
gentle, intermittent precipitation complements the Garden Route's warm summers and mild
winters.
In winter (from May to July), the snow-capped peaks of the Boland and the Cederberg
Mountains and the lush, moist earth evoke an atmosphere conducive to log fires in cosy
taverns. However, with the onset of spring (from August to October), the fast-retreating
winter merges with the summer sun, bringing forth some of the world's most spectacular
wild flower displays.
Visitors not delighted by the endless sunshine may well be literally swept off their feet
by the “Cape Doctor”, a powerful south-easterly wind clearing the Cape air of
pollution (hence the name "Cape Doctor". Though forceful in character, the
“Cape Doctor” visits infrequently, arriving only when the Fairest Cape needs to
freshen up. The wind drapes Table Mountain’s flat-topped summit with a white
"tablecloth" of cloud.
An old Cape Legend: There is a legend about Table
Mountain's tablecloth (the famous white cloud that spills over the mountain when the
south-easterly wind blows in summer). Legend has it that Van Hunks, a pirate in the early
18th century, retired from his eventful life at sea to live on the slopes of Devil's Peak.
(the mountain next to Table Mountain). He spent his days sitting on the mountain, smoking
his pipe. One day a stranger approached him, and a smoking contest ensued which lasted for
days. The smoke clouds built up and a strong wind blew them down towards the town. When
Van Hunks finally won the contest, the stranger revealed himself to be the Devil (hence
Devil's Peak), and the two disappeared in a puff of smoke.
This phenomenon is naturally also supported by a meteorological explanation. The
moisture-laden south-easter blows against Table Mountain from over the False Bay and
rises. At a height of approximately 900 meters the winds reach the colder layers of air
and thick clouds form. These clouds roll over the mountain and down towards the City Bowl.
The characteristic tablecloth forms when the clouds reach the warmer, lower air layers and
dissolve once more. |
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« Western Cape Maps
| South Africa Weather
| Cape Town Travel » |
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Although South Africa's
climate varies across its various regions temperatures are comfortable throughout the
year. The best time to visit for a safari is between May to August, when there is less
rain & less dense vegetation, making animal sightings more frequent ... |
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| Car Hire Cape Town - Hire from
international and local companies, which offer a wide range of cars, from budget to
luxury. For the best deals we recommend you book your car before travelling. |
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