Live · FAOR · reported 16 min ago
Barometric pressure in Johannesburg, South Africa today
30.18inHg
1022.0 hPa (mb)
- 3-hour change
- +0.03 inHg · +1.0 hPa
- 24-hour range
- 30.06 – 30.21 inHg
- Station (absolute) pressure
- 24.38 inHg
- Barometer dial reads
- Change · slightly high
Johannesburg at a glance
How elevation shapes the reading in Johannesburg
Johannesburg is about 5,797 ft (1,767 m) above sea level. That is high enough that the air pressure you actually stand in is well below the figure in the forecast: about 24.16 inHg (818 hPa) on a standard day, against 29.92 inHg at sea level.
The reading above is the altimeter setting from Johannesburg/Tambo Intl (FAOR), 21 km (13 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 Johannesburg with any other city.
Johannesburg elevation and what it means · Sea-level vs station pressure
| Elevation | 5,797 ft · 1,767 m |
|---|---|
| Weather station | Johannesburg/Tambo Intl (FAOR) |
| Station elevation | 5,525 ft · 1,684 m |
| Standard air pressure at this elevation | 24.16 inHg · 818 hPa |
| Air pressure vs sea level | 81% |
| Water boils at | 201.2 °F · 94.0 °C |
| Time zone | Africa/Johannesburg |
Reading the barometer
Is the pressure in Johannesburg high or low?
Today’s reading is slightly high. Weather pressure is quoted at sea level, so the same scale works for Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg today?
The live reading at the top of this page is the latest sea-level pressure reported by Johannesburg/Tambo Intl (FAOR), 21 km (13 mi) from the city center. It updates about every 10 minutes; the graph shows the last 24 hours.
What is normal barometric pressure in Johannesburg?
Weather reports for Johannesburg 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 Johannesburg read lower than the forecast?
Johannesburg sits at about 5,797 ft (1,767 m). At that height the air above weighs less, so an uncorrected sensor reads around 24.16 inHg (818 hPa) on a standard day. Forecasts correct that to sea level. Set a home barometer to the sea-level value on this page, or use the station pressure line for an uncorrected comparison.
Is the pressure in Johannesburg 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.