The Northern Cape – Climate
Although the Northern Cape Province is mainly semi desert, the western areas of the Northern Cape, including Namaqualand, a small section of the Green Kalahari and Calvinia, Nieuwoudville and Loeriesfontein in the Upper Karoo fall into the winter rainfall area from April to September. Sharing the same climate as Namaqualand, it’s not surprising these two sub regions will give you breathtakingly beautiful explosive displays of wild flowers during spring months from July to October.
The eastern summer rainfall areas experience thunderstorms that resonate across the wide plains and powerful bolts of lightning puncture the earth. The Northern Cape’s weather is typical of desert and semi desert areas. This is a large dry region of fluctuating temperatures and varying topographies. The annual rainfall is sparse, only 50 to 400mm per annum. In January, afternoon temperatures usually range from 34 to 40º C. In 1939 an all time high of 47.8º C was recorded at the Orange River. Summer temperatures often top the 40º C mark.
Winter days are warm. The onset of night bringing dew and frost to supplement the low rainfall of the region. Sutherland in the Karoo is one of the coldest towns in South Africa. It’s average minimum is -6º C. In winter snow often blankets the surrounding mountains. On the whole you can expect to enjoy hot summer days and chilly nights when visiting the Northern Cape, South Africa.
