Aliwal North weather in December

In December, Aliwal North sees average daytime highs of 29°C and overnight lows near 14°C, with 91 mm of rain across 9.6 wet days and about 13.9 hours of daylight. It is the 2nd-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 28°C in the first days to 30°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 55% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 48 min at the start of December to 14 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Aliwal North's 8th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Aliwal North's year-round climate.

Daytime high
29°
2nd warmest
Overnight low
14°
10th coldest
Rainfall
91 mm
9.6 wet days
Daylight
14 hours
5:10 AM – 7:09 PM
Cloud cover
38%
8th clearest
Wind
13 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
7.82 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.7
out of 10

Aliwal North is town in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

Founded
1849

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

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Highs climb over the month, from about 28°C in the first days to 30°C by the end.

A typical December day in Aliwal North reaches about 29°C in the afternoon and slips back to 14°C overnight — a 15°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 24°C and 34°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 2°C warmer than November and on par with January.

10°20°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12813
22813
32813
42913
52913
62913
72913
82914
92914
102914
112914
122914
132914
142914
152914
162914
173014
183014
193014
203014
213015
223015
233015
243015
253015
263015
273015
283015
293015
303015
313015

How December really feels in Aliwal North

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.

Aliwal North weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 2nd-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan30° / 15°10412.413.85.1
Feb29° / 15°9911.913.15.5
Mar27° / 13°9110.512.26.8
Apr23° / 607.511.37.5
May20° / 26410.57.6
Jun17° / 183.210.16.6
Jul17° / 142.510.26.9
Aug19° / 213.410.97.8
Sep23° / 223.311.88.4
Oct26° / 10°567.212.87.6
Nov28° / 12°738.313.66.9
Dec29° / 14°919.613.95.7

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 55% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 22% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 23%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17327
27327
37327
47327
57327
67327
77426
87426
97426
107525
117525
127624
137723
147723
157723
167822
177921
187921
197921
208020
218020
228020
238020
248020
258119
268119
278119
288119
298119
307921
317921

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Aliwal North gets around 91 mm of rain over 9.6 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 31% and peaks near 35% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
130
231
331
431
532
632
732
831
931
1031
1131
1230
1330
1430
1530
1629
1729
1829
1929
2029
2129
2230
2330
2431
2531
2632
2733
2833
2934
3034
3135

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, December lands in the dry band about 84% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
19280
29181
39091
49091
589101
689101
789101
888111
988111
1088111
1187121
1287121
1387121
1486131
1586131
1684142
1784142
1884142
1983152
2083152
2181163
2281163
2380173
2479183
2578193
2676204
2776204
2875214
2974224
3073225
3172235

Wind in December

Winds average 13 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 12 km/h on the calmest days to 13 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
113light breeze
213light breeze
313light breeze
413light breeze
513light breeze
613light breeze
713light breeze
813light breeze
913light breeze
1013light breeze
1113light breeze
1213light breeze
1313light breeze
1413light breeze
1513light breeze
1613light breeze
1713light breeze
1813light breeze
1913light breeze
2013light breeze
2113light breeze
2213light breeze
2313light breeze
2413light breeze
2513light breeze
2613light breeze
2713light breeze
2813light breeze
2912light breeze
3012light breeze
3112light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 48 min at the start of December to 14 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 5:08 AM to 5:17 AM, and sunset from 6:58 PM to 7:15 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.85:086:58
213.95:086:59
313.95:087:00
413.95:087:01
513.95:087:01
613.95:087:02
713.95:087:03
813.95:087:03
913.95:087:04
1013.95:087:05
1113.95:097:05
1214.05:097:06
1314.05:097:07
1414.05:097:07
1514.05:107:08
1614.05:107:09
1714.05:107:09
1814.05:117:10
1914.05:117:10
2014.05:127:11
2114.05:127:11
2214.05:127:12
2314.05:137:12
2414.05:137:13
2514.05:147:13
2614.05:157:13
2714.05:157:14
2814.05:167:14
2914.05:167:15
3014.05:177:15
3114.05:177:15

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 7.82 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.34 kWh/m² to a high of 7.82 kWh/m² in December across the year — December's 7.82 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

02468151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
17.7Intense
27.7Intense
37.7Intense
47.7Intense
57.7Intense
67.7Intense
77.7Intense
87.8Intense
97.8Intense
107.8Intense
117.8Intense
127.8Intense
137.8Intense
147.8Intense
157.8Intense
167.9Intense
177.9Intense
187.9Intense
197.9Intense
207.9Intense
217.9Intense
227.9Intense
237.9Intense
247.9Intense
257.8Intense
267.8Intense
277.8Intense
287.8Intense
297.8Intense
307.8Intense
317.8Intense
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Aliwal North

In seasonPeak

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

Aliwal North's rainy season runs October–April, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is December a good time to visit Aliwal North?

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

5.7
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
7.3
Beach & pool
1st-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Aliwal North in December

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

In December, Aliwal North sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 14°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: rain gear. About 10 days see rain.

light clothessun protectionrain gear

UV index in Aliwal North in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 14 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Aliwal North peaks around January 14 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 22 at about 4 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highHighModerateHighVery highExtremeJan 14UV 15Jun 22UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan15Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar11Extreme
Apr7Very high
May5High
Jun4Moderate
Jul4Moderate
Aug6High
Sep8Very high
Oct11Extreme
Nov12Extreme
Dec14Extreme

Air quality in Aliwal North 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 Aliwal North is worst in September — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.0× the cleanest month (January, 5 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodSep 1515 µg/m³Jan 156 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan5Good
Feb7Good
Mar8Good
Apr9Good
May11Good
Jun13Moderate
Jul12Moderate
Aug12Moderate
Sep16Moderate
Oct11Good
Nov6Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Aliwal North?

Aliwal North sits at 30.7°S, 26.7°E, 1,325 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Burgersdorp, 50 km away.

Topography around Aliwal North

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Aliwal North has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 112 m around an average of 1,329 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 549 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,497 m.

The land around Aliwal North is covered by grassland (57%) within 3 km, grassland (81%) within 16 km, and grassland (91%) within 80 km.

3 km
112 m
16 km
549 m
80 km
1,497 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Burgersdorp 50 km · Zastron 56 km · Mohale's Hoek 95 km · Quthing 100 km · Mafeteng 109 km · Lady Frere 123 km · Khowa 130 km · Cala 131 km

South Africa travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type C / M / N
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 41% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$6,598
2025
Happiness
5.0 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
68%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
43.7
per 100k, 2022
Road deaths
22.2
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Very high
EF EPI 602
Religion
Christian 86%or other traditional African religions 5%nothing in particular 5%Muslim 2%

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 Aliwal North (-30.6937°, 26.7114°, elevation 1,325 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. 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).