When Does Autumn Really Start—and Where’s the Exact Middle of Winter in Potchefstroom?

When Does Autumn Really Start—and Where’s the Exact Middle of Winter in Potchefstroom?

Ask a few Potch locals when autumn dawns and you’ll hear everything from “as soon as the first leaves turn at the university” to “when the morning temps drop below 10 °C.” In reality there are two official clocks you can use:

Way of keeping time	How it’s set	Autumn “start”	Winter “start”	“Middle” of winter
Astronomical (sun‑and‑stars)	March equinox & June solstice	20 March 2025 – 11:00 SAST	21 June 2025 – 04:41 SAST	~6 August (cross‑quarter day Imbolc/Lammas)
Meteorological (calendar & climate)	Whole‑month blocks	1 March	1 June	16 July (halfway between 1 June & 31 Aug)

Why the Two Systems Feel Different in Potchefstroom

1. Latitude & altitudeSitting at 26 °42′ S and roughly 1 350 m above sea‑level, Potchefstroom cools off faster after the equinox than the Cape coast does. Nights routinely slip below 4 °C in June–July, with the coldest average lows (3 °C) showing up in late June. citeturn1view0

2. Rain switches off earlyThe Highveld’s summer thunderstorms shut down by mid‑May; from 18 May to early September Potch averages <0.5 mm of rain in any 31‑day window. Dry air lets daytime warmth escape quickly, sharpening that autumn chill. citeturn1view0

3. Sun‑time mattersOn the shortest day—21 June—Potchefstroom receives just 10 h 28 m of daylight; by 6 August daylight has climbed back to ~11 h 20 m, but overnight minima are still near their annual lows, so the first week of August often feels like the season’s “deep end.” citeturn1view0

Markers Locals Recognise

Sign of the season	Typical date	What you’ll notice
First “jersey mornings” below 10 °C	late April	Steam above the Mooi River & coffee queues get longer.
Drop of the Highveld dew‑point	early May	Air turns crisp; laundry dries faster in the sun.
Boilers & heaters come out	around 1 June	Shopfronts start advertising electric blankets.
Frost on lawns at dawn	late June	NB: wrap citrus trees or pot plants!
“Coldest week” locals talk about	10–20 July	University residences post their lowest thermostat readings.
Glorious clear‑sky days but icy nights	early August	Classic “deep winter” combo: 20 °C at 3 p.m., 0 °C by 3 a.m.
First whiff of smoke from veld‑fires	August winds	Signals the slide toward spring rains.

So, When Is “Real” Winter’s Mid‑Point?

• Weather folk: 16 July (the exact middle of June–August).

• Astronomers & pagans: 6 August (halfway between the solstice and the September equinox).

• Most Potchefstroomers: “Somewhere in the July varsity break, when the grass is brittle and the kettle never cools.”

All three dates are defensible; pick the one that best matches your sunrise routine!

Practical Take‑aways

1. Planting & pruning – Finish pruning roses by early June, but keep tender seedlings under cover until after mid‑August.

2. Home prep – Schedule chimney sweeps and heater servicing before 1 June; the rush starts right after.

3. Photography fans – The clearest skies of the year run June → mid‑September; ideal for Milky Way shots at the Vredefort Dome.

4. Event planners – Outdoor charity runs are safest from cold snaps in late August, when days warm rapidly but rains haven’t returned.

So next time someone complains that “winter arrived early this year,” you’ll have the dates—and the science—to stir the coffee‑shop debate.

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Clothing for Winter

And if its cold outside and you need a jacket, then check out our Clothing and Fashion section by clicking on the Button below, ww have some great places in town that is always ready to delight you:

Clothing and Fashion