Weather in Cape Town in November

How November compares

November is the 6th warmest month of the year in Cape Town and ranks 54th of 134 destinations we compare for November - see where else is hot in November. Against London's average high of 10.4°C in November, Cape Town is 11.6°C warmer by day and 9.5°C warmer at night.

Daytime and night-time in November

The typical November day in Cape Town peaks at 22.0°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 26.8°C or more. Roughly 1 in 5 days top 25°C and 1 in 59 pass 30°C. Nights average 14.4°C; one night in ten drops to 12.2°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest November day here reached 33.8°C (1994-11-02) and the coldest night 8.6°C (1998-11-07).

Rain in November

Some rain (4-8 rainy days): about 5 days with 1 mm or more, 25 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest November was 2013 with 87 mm, the driest 2003 with 1 mm. Humidity averages 70%.

Sea temperature in November

The sea averages 15.4°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 14.3°C to 16.3°C. For the warmest sea here, come in February (18.4°C).

Sunshine and daylight

Around 8.6 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 13.8 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 05:34 and sets about 19:27 local time in mid-November. Average cloud cover is 38%.

Is November a good time to visit Cape Town?

It is a reasonable choice: warm days. The best months for Cape Town on our scoring are February, January, March; months averaging 25°C or more: Jan, Feb.

Comfortable warmth, with cooler evenings

Cape Town is noticeably warmer than London in November, with daytime highs averaging 11.6°C higher. That makes it a good fit if you prefer walking around in comfortable warmth to planning your day around intense heat. Days reach 25°C about 20% of the time, while 30°C is uncommon, so do not count on hot weather throughout your stay. Pack light daytime clothes, but include trousers and a jumper or light jacket for evenings. The coldest nights can fall to 12°C or below. On warmer days, leave room for a midday break and keep sun protection handy rather than treating the mild average as a guarantee.

Plenty of daylight, with some rain to allow for

November gives you plenty of time outdoors, with about 8.6 hours of sunshine within 13.8 hours of daylight. That is useful for keeping plans flexible rather than squeezing everything into a short afternoon. Rain is a possibility, but about 4 rainy days suggests it need not dominate a typical visit. Bring a light waterproof and leave outdoor plans movable if a wet spell arrives. The sunshine average also leaves room for cloudy periods: this is not a promise of clear skies every day. Choose November for a generally warm, relatively dry trip, while accepting that some days will be better for outdoor plans than others.