WESTERN CAPE – Residents and businesses in the Western Cape are being urged to use water sparingly after preliminary data confirmed that parts of the south-western region recorded their lowest July rainfall on record, with Cape Town International Airport experiencing its driest July since 1958.
According to the South African Weather Service, the Cape Town International Airport recorded only 14.4 mm of rain, representing approximately 16% of the historical average for the location. This figure surpasses the previous record low of 18.0 mm set in 1987. Several other weather stations in the south-western parts of the province similarly reported their lowest rainfall totals since records began.
The south-western Cape is a designated winter rainfall region, typically receiving the majority of its annual precipitation during June, July, and August. However, below-normal rainfall observed in June persisted into July, culminating in historic lows across multiple monitoring sites.
A spokesperson for the South African Weather Service explained that while severe weather systems in May and early June 2026 significantly improved water storage across many parts of the province, subsequent atmospheric conditions shifted dramatically. A strong, blocking Atlantic high-pressure system situated to the west of the country has driven cold frontal systems further south of the province. This meteorological shift significantly reduced the number of cold fronts making landfall, with only three weak cold fronts moving over the south-western Cape during the entirety of July 2026.
This stands in stark contrast to July 2025, when several cold fronts moved over the Western Cape, resulting in rainfall totals exceeding 100 mm. Consequently, July 2026 has been confirmed as the driest on record for numerous stations in the south-western Cape.
Looking ahead, the seasonal weather forecast indicates a strong signal for continued below-normal rainfall in the south-western Cape throughout the remainder of the winter period. Short-term weather forecasts suggest this dry trend will most likely persist into the first week of August.
Furthermore, the South African Weather Service warned that as El Niño is expected to strengthen further over the coming months, the likelihood of a warmer-than-normal summer over the Western Cape will rise. Given the current uncertainty regarding rainfall during the 2027 winter season, authorities are strongly encouraging the public to adopt water-saving measures and use water sparingly in the coming months to safeguard regional water security.