Free tools · Measured from space
Heat in City of Cape Town
Summer 2025/26: the ground in City of Cape Town reached about 40 °C on clear mornings. That is the ground (roofs, roads, soil), not the air. Only the summer of 2018/19 was hotter since 2014.
Land surface temperature is how hot the ground itself is: roofs, roads, bare soil and leaves, as a satellite sees them from above. Landsat passes at about 10 in the morning and sees only through clear skies. It is not the air temperature a weather station gives: on a sunny day the ground is often 10 to 20 degrees hotter than the air, and hard, dark, dry surfaces heat up most while trees, grass and water stay cooler.
What it is not: not the afternoon peak, not the night, not the air you feel in the shade, and not a reading at any one house. A month with clouds rests on few clear looks.
Summer 2025/26
- 39.8 °CThe ground, not the airDecember to February, clear mornings
- 2018/19Hottest summer since 201440.8 °C; the coolest was 2019/20, 35.5 °C
Every summer since 1987
Show the numbers
| When or what | Figure |
|---|---|
| Summer 1986 to 87 | 38.0 °C |
| Summer 1988 to 89 | 36.5 °C |
| Summer 1990 to 91 | 34.3 °C |
| Summer 1991 to 92 | 34.0 °C |
| Summer 1992 to 93 | 34.0 °C |
| Summer 1993 to 94 | 33.3 °C |
| Summer 1994 to 95 | 35.7 °C |
| Summer 1996 to 97 | 33.4 °C |
| Summer 1997 to 98 | 36.5 °C |
| Summer 1998 to 99 | 36.0 °C |
| Summer 1999 to 00 | 37.8 °C |
| Summer 2001 to 02 | 39.0 °C |
| Summer 2006 to 07 | 30.1 °C |
| Summer 2011 to 12 | 36.8 °C |
| Summer 2012 to 13 | 39.2 °C |
| Summer 2013 to 14 | 38.3 °C |
| Summer 2014 to 15 | 39.1 °C |
| Summer 2015 to 16 | 39.7 °C |
| Summer 2016 to 17 | 39.5 °C |
| Summer 2017 to 18 | 39.6 °C |
| Summer 2018 to 19 | 40.8 °C |
| Summer 2019 to 20 | 35.5 °C |
| Summer 2020 to 21 | 38.5 °C |
| Summer 2021 to 22 | 39.1 °C |
| Summer 2022 to 23 | 38.0 °C |
| Summer 2023 to 24 | 39.3 °C |
| Summer 2024 to 25 | 38.8 °C |
| Summer 2025 to 26 | 39.8 °C |
The shape of a year
Show the numbers
| When or what | Figure |
|---|---|
| January | 40.3 °C |
| February | 37.7 °C |
| March | 32.7 °C |
| April | 27.6 °C |
| May | 21.5 °C |
| June | 15.6 °C |
| July | 16.5 °C |
| August | 18.3 °C |
| September | 23.6 °C |
| October | 32.2 °C |
| November | 36.1 °C |
| December | 38.7 °C |
Warmest and coolest wards
Each ward’s summers against City of Cape Town’s average, since 2014. Where the ground is mostly roofs, roads and bare earth it reads hotter; where there are trees, grass, gardens or water it reads cooler.
Warmest
Coolest
Every ward
- Ward 105 (Bergsig, Durmonte)+3.4 °C
- Ward 102 (Bonnie Brae, Joostenbergvlakte)+3.1 °C
- Ward 7 (Arauna, Northpine)+3.0 °C
- Ward 13 (Atlas Gardens Business Park, Burgundy Estate)+3.0 °C
- Ward 12 (Roosendal)+2.9 °C
- Ward 111 (Kraaifontein, Belmont Park)+2.8 °C
- Ward 9 (Bellville South, Glenhaven)+2.7 °C
- Ward 11 (Kuilsrivier, Amandelrug)+2.7 °C
- Ward 32 (Atlantis, Beacon Hill)+2.7 °C
- Ward 17 (Blue Downs, Dennemere)+2.6 °C
- Ward 25 (Elsiesriver, Cravenby)+2.6 °C
- Ward 3 (Belgravia, Bellair)+2.4 °C
- Ward 8 (Brackenfell)+2.3 °C
- Ward 16 (Eersterivier, Eersterivier Suid)+2.3 °C
- Ward 10 (Hardekraaltjie, Klipkop)+2.2 °C
- Ward 19 (Alora, Camelot)+2.2 °C
- Ward 42 (Bishop Lavis, Matroosfontein)+2.1 °C
- Ward 81 (Mitchells Plain, Portland)+2.0 °C
- Ward 20 (Delft, The Hague)+1.9 °C
- Ward 22 (Belhar)+1.9 °C
- Ward 103 (De Tuin, Langeberg Ridge)+1.9 °C
- Ward 26 (Beaconvale, Glenlily)+1.8 °C
- Ward 50 (Bonteheuwel)+1.8 °C
- Ward 78 (Colorado Park, New Woodlands)+1.8 °C
- Ward 101 (Kraaifontein East, Wallacedene)+1.8 °C
- Ward 116 (Eastridge)+1.8 °C
- Ward 76 (Lentegeur, Mandalay)+1.7 °C
- Ward 28 (Epping Forest, Goodrail)+1.5 °C
- Ward 47 (Hanover Park, Newfields)+1.4 °C
- Ward 14 (Blackheath, Gaylee)+1.3 °C
- Ward 44 (Heideveld, Vanguard)+1.3 °C
- Ward 94 (Khayelitsha, Ekuphumuleni)+1.3 °C
- Ward 46 (Gatesville, Hatton)+1.2 °C
- Ward 31 (Boquinar Industrial Area, Kalksteenfontein)+1.1 °C
- Ward 39 (Guguletu)+1.1 °C
- Ward 48 (Athlone, Belgravia)+1.1 °C
- Ward 52 (Langa, Bridgetown)+1.1 °C
- Ward 98 (Harare, Ilitha Park)+1.1 °C
- Ward 18 (Mxolisi Phetani (Site C), Mandalay)+0.9 °C
- Ward 30 (Manenberg)+0.9 °C
- Ward 38 (Nyanga)+0.9 °C
- Ward 2 (Parow, Avondale)+0.8 °C
- Ward 41 (Guguletu, Manenberg)+0.8 °C
- Ward 66 (Ottery, Wetton)+0.8 °C
- Ward 112 (Durbanville, Aurora)+0.8 °C
- Ward 117 (Blouberg, Wentworth Village)+0.8 °C
- Ward 23 (Melkbosstrand, Bloubergstrand)+0.7 °C
- Ward 27 (Acacia Park, Glenwood)+0.7 °C
- Ward 49 (Bridgetown, Hazendal)+0.7 °C
- Ward 75 (Westgate, Westridge)+0.7 °C
- Ward 88 (New Woodlands, Crossroads)+0.7 °C
- Ward 89 (Nonqubela (Site B))+0.7 °C
- Ward 106 (Eindhoven, Voorbrug)+0.7 °C
- Ward 36 (Crossroads)+0.6 °C
- Ward 37 (New Crossroads)+0.6 °C
- Ward 40 (Barcelona, Europe)+0.6 °C
- Ward 65 (Parkwood)+0.6 °C
- Ward 91 (Victoria Mxenge (Site B))+0.6 °C
- Ward 51 (Langa)+0.5 °C
- Ward 87 (Mxolisi Phetani (Site C))+0.5 °C
- Ward 108 (Brentwood Park, Silversands)+0.5 °C
- Ward 6 (Wallacedene, Scottsdene)+0.4 °C
- Ward 97 (Mandela Park (Makaya))+0.4 °C
- Ward 115 (Cape Town, City Centre)+0.4 °C
- Ward 21 (Bellville, Amanda Glen)+0.3 °C
- Ward 29 (Avondale, Wesfleur)+0.3 °C
- Ward 79 (Rocklands)+0.3 °C
- Ward 5 (Bothasig, Edgemead)+0.2 °C
- Ward 35 (Klipfontein)+0.2 °C
- Ward 82 (Tafelsig)+0.2 °C
- Ward 56 (Kensington, Maitland)+0.1 °C
- Ward 72 (Elfindale, Heathfield)+0.1 °C
- Ward 107 (Blouberg Rise, Bloubergrant)0.0 °C
- Ward 83 (Strand, Die Vlakte)−0.1 °C
- Ward 114 (Mfuleni)−0.1 °C
- Ward 34 (New Crossroads, Philippi)−0.2 °C
- Ward 60 (Crawford, Lansdowne)−0.2 °C
- Ward 80 (Philippi)−0.2 °C
- Ward 90 (Bellaire, Firgrove)−0.2 °C
- Ward 63 (Diep River, Plumstead)−0.3 °C
- Ward 68 (Lavender Hill, Square Hill)−0.3 °C
- Ward 24 (Delft South)−0.4 °C
- Ward 110 (Cafda Village)−0.4 °C
- Ward 109 (Macassar, Sandvlei)−0.8 °C
- Ward 118 (Electric City)−0.8 °C
- Ward 33 (Sweet Home)−0.9 °C
- Ward 85 (Die Bos, Rusthof)−1.0 °C
- Ward 4 (Joe Slovo Park, Marconi Beam)−1.1 °C
- Ward 55 (Milnerton, Brooklyn)−1.1 °C
- Ward 70 (Blomvlei, De Bron)−1.1 °C
- Ward 86 (Nomzamo, Broadlands Village)−1.2 °C
- Ward 1 (Baronetcy Estate, De Duin)−1.3 °C
- Ward 53 (Maitland Garden Village, Ndabeni)−1.3 °C
- Ward 104 (Du Noon, Racing Park)−1.5 °C
- Ward 92 (Observatory, Salt River)−1.6 °C
- Ward 113 (Flamingo Vlei, Killarney Gardens)−1.6 °C
- Ward 99 (Endlovini, Good Hope)−1.8 °C
- Ward 58 (Wyndover, Harfield Village)−1.9 °C
- Ward 73 (Bergvliet, Deurdrif)−2.1 °C
- Ward 43 (Philippi - Farmland)−2.3 °C
- Ward 45 (Capricorn, Marina Da Gama)−2.4 °C
- Ward 93 (Barnet Molokwana Corner, Sabata Dalindyebo Square (Green Point))−2.4 °C
- Ward 96 (Umrhabulo Triangle (Makhaza))−2.8 °C
- Ward 67 (Grassy Park, Lotus River)−3.1 °C
- Ward 95 (Enkanini, Kuyasa)−3.1 °C
- Ward 57 (Mowbray, Rondebosch)−3.6 °C
- Ward 59 (Claremont, Kenilworth)−3.8 °C
- Ward 77 (Bo-Kaap (Schotschekloof), Gardens)−4.4 °C
- Ward 71 (Dennendal, Fir Grove)−4.6 °C
- Ward 84 (Somerset West, Audas Estate)−4.7 °C
- Ward 15 (Briza, Die Wingerd)−5.4 °C
- Ward 100 (Casablanca, Gordon's Bay)−5.7 °C
- Ward 64 (Fish Hoek, Kalkbaai)−5.9 °C
- Ward 61 (Simon's Town, Da Gama Park)−6.0 °C
- Ward 69 (Capri, Noordhoek)−6.3 °C
- Ward 62 (Belle Ombre, Bishopscourt)−7.3 °C
- Ward 74 (Hout Bay, Harbour Heights)−7.3 °C
- Ward 54 (Bakoven, Bantry Bay)−7.4 °C
Places in each ward: © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Month by month
| Month | Land surface temperature | Clear looks |
|---|---|---|
| October 2026 | 31.2 °C | 3.2 |
| September 2026 | 23.5 °C | 2.8 |
| August 2026 | 20.6 °C | 1.1 |
| July 2026 | 17.4 °C | 0.8 |
| June 2026 | 16.1 °C | 2.9 |
| May 2026 | 21.8 °C | 1.1 |
| April 2026 | 32.4 °C | 0.7 |
| March 2026 | 34.9 °C | 1.6 |
| February 2026 | 39.2 °C | 1.8 |
| January 2026 | 39.7 °C | 3.5 |
| December 2025 | 40.5 °C | 4.7 |
| November 2025 | 40.8 °C | 3.1 |
| October 2025 | 30.6 °C | 1.9 |
| September 2025 | 24.0 °C | 2.6 |
| August 2025 | 19.6 °C | 1.3 |
| July 2025 | 15.8 °C | 2.9 |
| June 2025 | 15.9 °C | 1.0 |
| May 2025 | 21.0 °C | 1.7 |
| April 2025 | 28.3 °C | 2.9 |
| March 2025 | 35.7 °C | 1.6 |
| February 2025 | 37.6 °C | 4.1 |
| January 2025 | 41.2 °C | 3.8 |
| December 2024 | 37.6 °C | 2.0 |
| November 2024 | 35.7 °C | 3.5 |
“Clear looks” is how many times the average 240 m patch of the place was seen through clear sky that month. Under one, part of the place was not seen at all, so the figure leans on the part that was.
Every municipality, ranked · Everything we hold for City of Cape Town
Source
Measured from space by the American Landsat satellites: the ground, not the air.
How we worked this out
Landsat 5 to 2011, Landsat 7 to bridge the gaps, Landsat 8 and 9 from 2013: different satellites pass at slightly different times, so compare summers within the same years first.
What we changed: we kept only the clear land cells (no cloud, cloud shadow, snow or water, with a margin round each cloud), read them at 480 m, and averaged them over each 2026 ward each month; larger places are the sums of their wards.
Landsat imagery courtesy of the U.S. Geological Survey (Landsat Collection 2 surface temperature, through Digital Earth Africa’s copy).
Dataset: land surface temperature by ward, release of 13 November 2026.