Maputo weather in December

In December, Maputo sees average daytime highs of 29°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 103 mm of rain across 10.3 wet days and about 13.6 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 29°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 29% of the time in December, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 30 min at the start of December to 13 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Maputo's 11th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Maputo's year-round climate.

Daytime high
29°
4th warmest
Overnight low
23°
9th coldest
Rainfall
103 mm
10.3 wet days
Daylight
13 h 36 min
4:57 AM – 6:34 PM
Cloud cover
60%
11th clearest
Wind
15 km/h
4th windiest
Solar energy
6.04 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.6
out of 10

Maputo is capital and chief port of Mozambique.

Density
3,619/km²
people per km²
Founded
1781

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 29°C through the month.

A typical December day in Maputo reaches about 29°C in the afternoon and slips back to 23°C overnight — a 6°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 25°C and 32°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 1°C warmer than November and on par with January.

15°20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12822
22822
32822
42822
52822
62822
72822
82822
92822
102822
112822
122922
132922
142922
152923
162923
172923
182923
192923
202923
212923
222923
232923
242923
252923
262923
272923
282923
292923
302923
312923

How December really feels in Maputo

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

December sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Maputo weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 4th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 23°11511.913.45.2
Feb30° / 24°9510.612.95.2
Mar29° / 23°7310.212.25.7
Apr28° / 21°426.511.47.2
May26° / 19°233.310.78.3
Jun25° / 16°122.510.48.9
Jul24° / 16°112.610.59.0
Aug25° / 17°132.511.18.6
Sep26° / 19°313.811.88.0
Oct27° / 20°516.812.67.1
Nov28° / 21°911013.36.3
Dec29° / 23°10310.313.65.6

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 29% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 19% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 52%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14357
24357
34357
44357
54357
64357
74357
84456
94456
104456
114456
124456
134654
144654
154654
164753
174852
184951
195050
205050
215050
225050
235149
245149
255248
265248
275347
285446
295545
305545
315644

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Maputo gets around 103 mm of rain over 10.3 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 33% and peaks near 35% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
133
233
333
433
533
634
734
834
935
1035
1135
1234
1334
1434
1533
1633
1732
1832
1932
2032
2132
2232
2332
2432
2532
2632
2732
2832
2933
3033
3133

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the muggy band about 41% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 84% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1152242290
2152242300
3152143301
4142044301
5142044301
6031945311
7031846321
8031846331
9021746331
10021746341
11011646351
12011645361
13011645371
14011544391
15011543401
16011442412
17011442422
18011341432
19001340442
20001239453
21001139473
22001138473
23001038483
2400937494
2500937504
2600836524
2700836524
2801736524
2901735534
3001735534
3101735534

Wind in December

Winds average 15 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 15 km/h on the calmest days to 15 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
115light breeze
215light breeze
315light breeze
415light breeze
515light breeze
615light breeze
715light breeze
815light breeze
915light breeze
1015light breeze
1115light breeze
1215light breeze
1315light breeze
1415light breeze
1515light breeze
1615light breeze
1715light breeze
1815light breeze
1915light breeze
2015light breeze
2115light breeze
2215light breeze
2315light breeze
2415light breeze
2515light breeze
2615light breeze
2715light breeze
2815light breeze
2915light breeze
3015light breeze
3115light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 30 min at the start of December to 13 h 36 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 4:54 AM to 5:05 AM, and sunset from 6:25 PM to 6:41 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.54:546:25
213.54:546:25
313.54:546:26
413.54:546:27
513.54:556:27
613.64:556:28
713.64:556:29
813.64:556:29
913.64:556:30
1013.64:566:31
1113.64:566:31
1213.64:566:32
1313.64:566:33
1413.64:576:33
1513.64:576:34
1613.64:576:34
1713.64:586:35
1813.64:586:35
1913.64:596:36
2013.64:596:36
2113.64:596:37
2213.65:006:37
2313.65:006:38
2413.65:016:38
2513.65:016:39
2613.65:026:39
2713.65:026:40
2813.65:036:40
2913.65:046:40
3013.65:046:41
3113.65:056:41

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 6.04 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.47 kWh/m² to a high of 6.07 kWh/m² in January across the year — December's 6.04 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.8Bright
25.8Bright
35.8Bright
45.8Bright
55.8Bright
65.8Bright
75.9Bright
85.9Bright
95.9Bright
105.9Bright
115.9Bright
125.9Bright
136.0Bright
146.0Bright
156.0Intense
166.0Intense
176.1Intense
186.1Intense
196.1Intense
206.1Intense
216.1Intense
226.2Intense
236.2Intense
246.2Intense
256.2Intense
266.2Intense
276.2Intense
286.2Intense
296.2Intense
306.2Intense
316.2Intense
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Maputo

In seasonPeak

In December, Maputo sits inside its cyclone and rainy season season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Maputo sits in the South Indian Ocean cyclone belt; the season peaks January–March.

Maputo's rainy season runs November–March, when most of the year's rain falls.

Cyclone
Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Maputo?

Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

5.6
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
6.9
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Maputo for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Maputo in December

From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In December, Maputo sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 10 days see rain.

light clothessun protectionrain gear

Sea temperature near Maputo in December

The nearest coast averages about 26°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 31 km away) is warmest in February at about 28°C and coldest in August near 22°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

20°22°24°26°28°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb28Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr26Warm
May24Warm
Jun23Refreshing
Jul22Refreshing
Aug22Refreshing
Sep22Refreshing
Oct23Refreshing
Nov24Warm
Dec26Warm

UV index in Maputo in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 12 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Maputo peaks around January 18 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 23 at about 5 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeHighModerateHighVery highExtremeJan 18UV 13Jun 23UV 5
UV index (midday)Level
Jan13Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar11Extreme
Apr7High
May6High
Jun5Moderate
Jul5Moderate
Aug6High
Sep8Very high
Oct9Very high
Nov12Extreme
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Maputo in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Maputo is worst in July — around 42 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 5.2× the cleanest month (January, 8 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModeratePoorModerateGoodJul 1142 µg/m³Jan 178 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb10Good
Mar15Moderate
Apr23Moderate
May35Moderate
Jun41Poor
Jul42Poor
Aug37Poor
Sep30Moderate
Oct19Moderate
Nov13Moderate
Dec11Good
Location & terrain

Where is Maputo?

Maputo sits at 26.0°S, 32.6°E, 70 m above sea level, in Mozambique. The nearest listed city is Matola, 12 km away.

DriekoppiesSchoemansdal

Topography around Maputo

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Maputo.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Maputo has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 71 m around an average of 24 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 71 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 794 m.

The land around Maputo is covered by artificial surfaces (58%) and water (33%) within 3 km, water (37%) and artificial surfaces (29%) within 16 km, and grassland (32%), water (29%) and trees (27%) within 80 km.

3 km
71 m
16 km
71 m
80 km
794 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetlandmangroves
December weather nearby: Matola 12 km · Boane 27 km · Manhiça 67 km · Kamaqhekeza 79 km · Ressano Garcia 83 km · Komatipoort 86 km · Driekoppies 106 km · Schoemansdal 111 km

Mozambique travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type C / F / M
220 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 37% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$627
2025
Happiness
5.3 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
28%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
3.6
per 100k, 2011
Road deaths
30
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Low
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 465
Religion
Catholic 27%Islam 19%Pentecostal 17%Saio/Zione 16%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Maputo (-25.9655°, 32.5832°, elevation 70 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).