Cape Town weather in March
Cape Town in March averages 21°C (69°F), 13 mm of rain and 9.3 hours of sun a day. It is one of the driest months of the year here.
Of the twelve months in Cape Town, March is the fourth warmest, the fourth driest and the fifth sunniest.
- Average temp
- 21°C (69°F)
15–26°C · 59–79°F
- Rainfall
- 13 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- 9.3 h
hours per day
What is Cape Town like in March?
Daytime
Days are warm, typically in the mid-20s°C or above.
Rain
Rain is usually light.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Cape Town in March?
High-factor sun cream
With 9.3 hours of sun a day, burn time is short even in shade.
Sunglasses and a brimmed hat
Midday glare is the part people underpack for, not the heat itself.
A layer for the evening
The day swings about 11°C between its low and its high.
Comfortable walking shoes you can rinse
Dry warm weather is walking weather, and dust gets into everything.
March compared with February and April
March in Cape Town is 1.5°C cooler than February and about as wet as it, which averages 22°C (72°F).
March in Cape Town is 2.6°C warmer than April and 29 mm drier than it, which averages 18°C (64°F).
Daylight in Cape Town in March
On 15 March the sun is up for 12 hours 18 minutes in Cape Town, rising about 06:45 and setting about 19:03 local time.
March ends 1 hour 4 minutes shorter than it begins, so the last week of the month is a different length of day from the first.
That is 2 hours 6 minutes short of December, the longest-lit month here.
Where to stay in Cape Town
Dates are a starting point for March.
Travel guides for Cape Town
What to read before you book.
Cape Town weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How March compares with the rest of the year
March is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 22°C / 71°F | 10 mm |
| February | 22°C / 72°F | 11 mm |
| March | 21°C / 69°F | 13 mm |
| April | 18°C / 64°F | 42 mm |
| May | 15°C / 60°F | 65 mm |
| June | 13°C / 56°F | 97 mm |
| July | 13°C / 55°F | 89 mm |
| August | 13°C / 55°F | 76 mm |
| September | 14°C / 58°F | 47 mm |
| October | 17°C / 62°F | 32 mm |
| November | 19°C / 65°F | 27 mm |
| December | 21°C / 69°F | 13 mm |
Check another month
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FAQs about Cape Town in March
March climate averages for Cape Town, 1991–2020.
Cape Town averages 21°C (69°F) in March, ranging from about 15°C (59°F) at night to 26°C (79°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Barely. March sees only about 13 mm, so rain is unlikely to affect your plans.
Yes. March averages 21°C (69°F) against 18°C (64°F) in April — 2.6°C warmer.
March is 1.5°C cooler than February, and about as wet.
Yes. March falls inside the most comfortable stretch of the year here, November to April, on temperature and rainfall together.
About 9.3 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average — among the brighter months anywhere.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what March is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 12 hours 18 minutes of daylight in mid-March, against 14 hours 24 minutes in December and 9 hours 54 minutes in June.
On 15 March, sunrise is about 06:45 and sunset about 19:03 local time. Both shift across the month — the month ends 1 hour 4 minutes shorter than it starts.
