25/09/2025
Throwback Thursday. As usual this time of the year the South Easter are gusting us with its presence. Let me tell you a bit more about The Cape Doctor.
In Cape Town, the South-Easterly wind is a well-known force of nature. Blowing mainly in the summer months, from about September to March, it sweeps across the Cape Peninsula with great strength. Locals have long called it the Cape Doctor because, despite its sometimes inconvenient gusts, it helps “clean” the city.
The wind originates when high-pressure systems over the South Atlantic meet low pressure over the hot interior of South Africa. Channeled by the mountain ranges, the South-Easter accelerates as it rushes toward Cape Town, often reaching gale force.
One of its most famous effects is the “tablecloth” cloud that forms over Table Mountain, spilling over the cliffs like a white cascade. At the same time, the wind plays an important environmental role: it reduces air pollution, clears away smog, and freshens the city’s atmosphere, giving Cape Town its reputation for clear summer skies after the wind dies down.
Although residents sometimes complain about the strength of the Cape Doctor — toppling umbrellas, making walking difficult, and roughening seas — it is also a vital part of the region’s climate, shaping the natural rhythm of Cape Town life.
