FIFA World Cup Soccer; South Africa... in winter?!? (South African climate discussion) (warm, record)
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As you probably guessed, I'm watching some of the World Cup.
I'm surprised they picked the middle of winter to do it, instead of spring or autumn.
I thought Johannesburg was colder in winter than Los Angeles because of high altitude, and it is but...
I found out a bunch of other cool stats about the city:
- winter is the sunniest time of year, with an average of 9 hrs daily sun in June and July
-no month averages less than 8 hrs sun per day
- over 3100 hrs of sun per year
- barely a day per month in winter with precip, on average
- Summer averages top out in the high 70's F, yet winter highs stay 63+ F
As you probably guessed, I'm watching some of the World Cup.
I'm surprised they picked the middle of winter to do it, instead of spring or autumn.
I thought Johannesburg was colder in winter than Los Angeles because of high altitude, and it is but...
I found out a bunch of other cool stats about the city:
- winter is the sunniest time of year, with an average of 9 hrs daily sun in June and July
-no month averages less than 8 hrs sun per day
- over 3100 hrs of sun per year
- barely a day per month in winter with precip, on average
- Summer averages top out in the high 70's F, yet winter highs stay 63+ F
There will be other cities hosting World Cup games, but I don't know yet which ones.
Looks like a pretty nice climate to me. Temperature wise, the ranges are very similar to Sydney with Sydney having marginally warmer autumns and Jo'burg having warmer springs. Jo'burg does have lower minimums though.
Jo'burg has far less precipitation than Sydney and is considerably sunnier.
As you probably guessed, I'm watching some of the World Cup.
I'm surprised they picked the middle of winter to do it, instead of spring or autumn.
I thought Johannesburg was colder in winter than Los Angeles because of high altitude, and it is but...
I found out a bunch of other cool stats about the city:
- winter is the sunniest time of year, with an average of 9 hrs daily sun in June and July
-no month averages less than 8 hrs sun per day
- over 3100 hrs of sun per year
- barely a day per month in winter with precip, on average
- Summer averages top out in the high 70's F, yet winter highs stay 63+ F
There will be other cities hosting World Cup games, but I don't know yet which ones.
Some host cities for South Africa and their average highs for June
Pretoria Average High 19°C (66°F)
Polokwane Average High 20°C (68°F)
Port Elizabeth Average High 20°C (68°F)
Bloemfontein Average High 17°C (63°F)
Johannesburg Average High 16°C (61°F)
Durban Average High 23°C (73°F)
Cape Town Average High 18°C (65°F)
You mentioned that you're suprised they are playing it in winter but if the southern hemisphere is to ever host a World Cup it must be held during our winter.
I've heard this as an argument against Australia's bid for the 2022 World Cup but I thought soccer was a winter sport anyway.
Most football codes are played throughout the winter.
Some host cities for South Africa and their average highs for June
Pretoria Average High 19°C (66°F)
Polokwane Average High 20°C (68°F)
Port Elizabeth Average High 20°C (68°F)
Bloemfontein Average High 17°C (63°F)
Johannesburg Average High 16°C (61°F)
Durban Average High 23°C (73°F)
Cape Town Average High 18°C (65°F)
You mentioned that you're suprised they are playing it in winter but if the southern hemisphere is to ever host a World Cup it must be held during our winter. I've heard this as an argument against Australia's bid for the 2022 World Cup but I thought soccer was a winter sport anyway.
Most football codes are played throughout the winter.
Thanks for finding all the cities and including stats.
Why must it be southern hemishpere winter?
All the Europeans insisting on watching soccer in June and July?
Soccer is a decidedly summer sport in North America and probably Europe too.
I would expect players to be visibly-sweaty after 10 minutes of game play.
Personally, I enjoy heavy-excersize when it's in the high 30's C (95-104 F) if I have a surplus of cold drinks.
(I usually get a few stares, as it's "supposed to be dangerous" )
Regardless,
looks like all of South Africa has lovely winters...
though it will be interesting to see if there are any rain-outs in Cape Town.
(the SW part of South Africa has a Mediterrannean climate )
Australia bidding for World Cup but FIFA troubled by Aussie winters?
Sydney's and Brisbane's winters would be similar to South Africa's.
It'd be funny to hear teams like Cameroon (Africa's most successful team?) drop out, afraid of the cold,
upon hearing some of the games will be held in Adelaide, Melbourne and Canberra.
Last edited by ColdCanadian; 06-12-2010 at 07:57 AM..
Thanks for finding all the cities and including stats.
Why must it be southern hemishpere winter?
All the Europeans insisting on watching soccer in June and July?
Soccer is a decidedly summer sport in North America and probably Europe too.
I would expect players to be visibly-sweaty after 10 minutes of game play.
Personally, I enjoy heavy-excersize when it's in the high 30's C (95-104 F) if I have a surplus of cold drinks.
(I usually get a few stares, as it's "supposed to be dangerous" )
Regardless,
looks like all of South Africa has lovely winters...
though it will be interesting to see if there are any rain-outs in Cape Town.
(the SW part of South Africa has a Mediterrannean climate )
Australia bidding for World Cup but FIFA troubled by Aussie winters?
Sydney's and Brisbane's winters would be similar to South Africa's.
It'd be funny to hear teams like Cameroon (Africa's most successful team?) drop out, afraid of the cold,
upon hearing some of the games will be held in Adelaide, Melbourne and Canberra.
I'm not sure about Europe, but here in Vancouver there are soccer leagues that play in the winter. I've seen teams play out in the rain in January here. I imagine in much in Europe, soccer is so popular it's played all year long. I really have no idea why the World Cup has to be held in summer... might have something to do with television ratings...
I imagine most of those African players play professionally for teams in Europe and elsewhere and so probably wouldn't be as bothered by cold as much as their countrymen/women
I'm not sure about Europe, but here in Vancouver there are soccer leagues that play in the winter.
I've seen teams play out in the rain in January here.
I imagine in much in Europe, soccer is so popular it's played all year long.
I really have no idea why the World Cup has to be held in summer... might have something to do with television ratings...
I imagine most of those African players play professionally for teams in Europe and elsewhere and so probably wouldn't be as bothered by cold as much as their countrymen/women
Soccer outdoors in Vancouver winter?
I would not like being involved in organized outdoor sport
with uniforms of only shorts and t-shirts
during months when avg highs are under 15 C.
Could have to do with scheduling,
if they insist on closing the season immediately with the World Cup, rather than waiting a few weeks.
Ticket sales too; could be easier for people to get time to fly from the northern hemisphere in June/July.
If they had been given some leeway as when to hold the World Cup,
I think August or September would have been nicer, when the days are longer and less chance of frost.
Both August and September in Jo-burg average 10 hrs of sun per day.
I'm still curious if we'll see a major downpour during one of the games.
Soccer outdoors in Vancouver winter?
I would not like being involved in organized outdoor sport
with uniforms of only shorts and t-shirts
during months when avg highs are under 15 C.
Could have to do with scheduling,
if they insist on closing the season immediately with the World Cup, rather than waiting a few weeks.
Ticket sales too; could be easier for people to get time to fly from the northern hemisphere in June/July.
If they had been given some leeway as when to hold the World Cup, I think August or September would have been nicer, when the days are longer and less chance of frost.
Both August and September in Jo-burg average 10 hrs of sun per day.
I'm still curious if we'll see a major downpour during one of the games.
The record low for Johannesburg is -7C according to the BBC website.. -8.2C according to another source. That's pretty darn cold to be playing soccer in........you'd need winter clothing... if they had a cold snap while the tournament was on... the temperature might go under 10C during the day... would be interesting to see how that would affect matches.
Cape Town is also quite windy I hear in addition to relatively wet in winter... and if they have gales coming in off the south Atlantic, that also would affect matches.
Australia bidding for World Cup but FIFA troubled by Aussie winters?
Sydney's and Brisbane's winters would be similar to South Africa's.
It'd be funny to hear teams like Cameroon (Africa's most successful team?) drop out, afraid of the cold,
upon hearing some of the games will be held in Adelaide, Melbourne and Canberra.
compared to the spiritual home of soccer, Europe, our winters are nothing to be afraid of, both (no) sunshine-wise and temp-wise.
compared to the spiritual home of soccer, Europe, our winters are nothing to be afraid of, both (no) sunshine-wise and temp-wise.
Cameroon is near the equator though. (somewhere less than 10, 15 or 20 degrees N?)
Likely the soccer players will probably play in any kind of weather given to them...
but the fans of those countries... it may be a hard sell if the windchills can approach 0 C.
If you lived on the equator,
would you consider travelling to Melbourne mid-winter to watch you favourite team?
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