Cape Town Weather Market Guide

FACT • Cape Town International Airport

Polymarket

Cape Town, South Africa's legislative capital, offers a Mediterranean climate trading environment at the southern tip of Africa. Nestled between Table Mountain and the Atlantic Ocean, the city experiences warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters.

Quick Facts

Station Code	`FACT`
Location	Cape Town, South Africa
Coordinates	33.9648°S, 18.6017°E
Elevation	151 ft (46 m)
Timezone	SAST (Africa/Johannesburg)
NWS Office	South African Weather Service

About FACT Weather Station

Cape Town International Airport (FACT) serves as the primary weather observation station for the Cape Town metropolitan area. Located about 20 kilometers from the city center, the airport sits at 151 feet (46 meters) elevation on the Cape Flats.

Cape Town's position between the cold Benguela Current and the warm Agulhas Current creates unique climatic conditions. The South African Weather Service maintains official observations.

Climate Patterns

Cape Town has a Mediterranean climate (Koppen: Csb) with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. This is similar to coastal California or central Chile.

Summer (December-February) brings highs of 26-28�C (79-82�F) with very little rainfall. Winters (June-August) are mild with highs around 17-18�C (63-64�F) and frequent rain.

The famous Cape Doctor - a strong southeasterly wind - blows during summer, bringing clear skies but sometimes uncomfortable conditions.

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Seasonal Trading Considerations

Summer (December - February): Warm and dry with highs 26-28�C (79-82�F). Cape Doctor winds common. Very little rain.

Autumn (March - May): Gradually cooling. Decreasing winds. Harvest season in wine country.

Winter (June - August): Mild and wet with highs 16-18�C (61-64�F). Cold fronts bring rain from the Atlantic.

Spring (September - November): Warming gradually. Wildflowers bloom. Variable conditions.

Trading Tips for Cape Town

Remember Southern Hemisphere seasons are reversed - Cape Town's summer is December through February.

The Berg Wind - a hot, dry wind from the interior - can rapidly raise temperatures, sometimes by 10�C or more in hours.

Cold fronts from the Atlantic bring winter rain and cooler temperatures.

The Cape Doctor (southeasterly wind) can suppress temperatures along the coast while interior areas heat up.

Data Release Schedule

Typical release times for key data products at FACT. Times shown in UTC.

Data Type	Typical Time (UTC)	Variability
METAR Hourly observations	Hourly at :53	±1 min

6-Hour High/Low Reports

These METARs include 6-hour maximum and minimum temperatures, useful for tracking intraday temperature trends.

00:53 UTC

06:53 UTC

12:53 UTC

18:53 UTC

Note: Times are approximate and may vary. CLI reports are the official resolution source for temperature markets. See NWS Data Guide for more information.

Forecasting Challenges

Berg Wind Events: Hot interior winds can dramatically raise temperatures on short notice.

Mountain Effects: Table Mountain creates significant local weather variations.

Cold Front Timing: Atlantic frontal passages affect temperature forecasts.