Live · FACT · reported 1 h 9 min ago
Barometric pressure in Cape Town, South Africa today
30.09inHg
1019.0 hPa (mb)
- 3-hour change
- −0.06 inHg · −2.0 hPa
- 24-hour range
- 30.09 – 30.24 inHg
- Station (absolute) pressure
- 30.00 inHg
- Barometer dial reads
- Change · slightly high
Last 7 days
7-day barometric pressure graph for Cape Town
Hourly sea-level pressure in Cape Town over the last seven days, from weather station FACT.
| Day · inHg | High | Low | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loading the last 7 days | |||
Altimeter setting from FACT (METAR), one report per hour. “Change” is the first to the last report of that day; today is so far.
Cape Town at a glance
How elevation shapes the reading in Cape Town
Cape Town is about 82 ft (25 m) above sea level. That is close to sea level, so the pressure you stand in and the sea-level figure in the forecast are nearly the same.
The reading above is the altimeter setting from Capetown Intl (FACT), 17 km (11 mi) from the city center. It is the station’s measured pressure corrected to sea level, which is the number weather reports, apps and TV forecasts use, so you can compare Cape Town with any other city.
Cape Town elevation and what it means · Sea-level vs station pressure
| Elevation | 82 ft · 25 m |
|---|---|
| Weather station | Capetown Intl (FACT) |
| Station elevation | 157 ft · 48 m |
| Standard air pressure at this elevation | 29.83 inHg · 1010 hPa |
| Air pressure vs sea level | 100% |
| Water boils at | 211.8 °F · 99.9 °C |
| Time zone | Africa/Johannesburg |
Reading the barometer
Is the pressure in Cape Town high or low?
Today’s reading is slightly high. Weather pressure is quoted at sea level, so the same scale works for Cape Town and everywhere else.
- Very low Stormy < 29.50
- Low Clouds, rain 29.50–29.80
- Normal Changeable 29.80–30.20
- High Fair 30.20–30.50
- Very high Dry, clear > 30.50
Frequently asked questions
What is the barometric pressure in Cape Town today?
The live reading at the top of this page is the latest sea-level pressure reported by Capetown Intl (FACT), 17 km (11 mi) from the city center. It updates about every 10 minutes; the graph shows the last 24 hours.
What is normal barometric pressure in Cape Town?
Weather reports for Cape Town use sea-level pressure, so “normal” is the same as anywhere: about 29.92 inHg (1013 hPa), with most days between 29.60 and 30.30 inHg (1002–1026 hPa). Readings above 30.20 inHg are high pressure; below 29.80 inHg is low pressure.
Why does a barometer in Cape Town read lower than the forecast?
Cape Town is close to sea level (about 82 ft), so absolute and sea-level pressure differ by only about 0.09 inHg (3 hPa). A larger gap usually means the barometer needs to be calibrated against the reading on this page.
Where can I see a 7-day barometric pressure graph for Cape Town?
The graph on this page shows the last 7 days of hourly sea-level pressure from FACT, with each day's high and low in the table below it. Its sharpest fall usually marks a front or storm passing through.
Is the pressure in Cape Town rising or falling?
See the trend badge under the reading: it compares the latest report with the one three hours earlier. Falling pressure usually means clouds, wind or rain on the way; rising pressure means clearing and more settled weather.