Port Elizabeth records about 622mm of rain across roughly 72 wet days a year, which is a 20% chance on an average day. November is the wettest month at 52mm (8% of the annual total) and January the driest at 32mm. Local rain type: steady rain. Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) gets moderate, evenly distributed rain. The "Windy City" nickname reflects the bigger weather concern — gusty coastal winds.
Chance of rain on an average day: 20%
Rainfall climatology for Port Elizabeth. The live hour-by-hour answer for today loads at the top of this page from Open-Meteo and refreshes through the day — the figures below describe a typical year, not today.
Last updated: · Live forecast data refreshes hourly.
| Annual rainfall | 622mm |
| Rain days per year | 72 |
| Odds on an average day | 20% |
| Wettest month | November — 52mm over 7 days |
| Driest month | January — 32mm over 5 days |
| Rain type | steady rain |
| Best dry window | February through April offers warm, relatively calm conditions. |
| Worst rain window | June through August brings cooler winter weather with wind. |
November delivers 63% more rain than January (52mm vs 32mm). That gap is the difference between planning around showers and ignoring them.
No single month holds more than 8% of the annual total, so rain in Port Elizabeth is spread through the year — there is no season you can rely on being dry.
Port Elizabeth rain typically comes as discrete showers, so a compact umbrella and a flexible plan are usually enough.
Rain falls on about 7 days in November against 5 in January — the frequency swing matters more for planning than the millimetre totals.
Climate normals. Use them to judge whether today's live forecast at the top of the page is typical or unusual for the season.
| Month | Rainfall | Rain days | Chance on a given day | Highs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 32mm | 5 | 17% | 26°C |
| February | 38mm | 5 | 17% | 26°C |
| March | 48mm | 7 | 23% | 25°C |
| April | 48mm | 7 | 23% | 24°C |
| May | 48mm | 7 | 23% | 22°C |
| June | 38mm | 5 | 17% | 21°C |
| July | 32mm | 5 | 17% | 20°C |
| August | 38mm | 5 | 17% | 20°C |
| September | 42mm | 6 | 20% | 21°C |
| October | 52mm | 7 | 23% | 22°C |
| November | 52mm | 7 | 23% | 24°C |
| December | 42mm | 6 | 20% | 25°C |
Rain probability is the chance that at least 0.2mm falls at your location — not how long it rains. For Port Elizabeth we combine the hourly probability curve, expected volume in millimetres, and the city's own rainfall record into a single umbrella verdict.
| Factor | Weight | What it measures |
|---|---|---|
| Hourly probability | 40% | Peak and sustained chance of measurable rain across the next 24 hours. |
| Expected volume | 30% | Total millimetres, which separates a passing shower from a genuine soaking. |
| Timing & duration | 20% | When rain starts, when it eases, and the longest continuous dry window. |
| Local rain type | 10% | Drizzle, brief showers, thunderstorms or monsoon — each needs different gear. |
Live hourly values come from Open-Meteo and refresh through the day. Monthly rainfall figures are climate normals, so they describe a typical year rather than a forecast.
Port Elizabeth records rain on roughly 72 days a year — about a 20% chance on any given day — totalling around 622mm.
November, with about 52mm over 7 rain days. That is 8% of the entire year's rainfall in a single month.
January is the driest month at 32mm across roughly 5 days. February through April offers warm, relatively calm conditions.
Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) gets moderate, evenly distributed rain. The "Windy City" nickname reflects the bigger weather concern — gusty coastal winds.
No. Probability is the chance that at least 0.2mm of rain falls at your location at some point in the period. Check the expected millimetres alongside it: 40% with 0.4mm is a passing shower, 40% with 12mm is a soaking.