Atlantis weather in December

In December, Atlantis sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 16°C, with 12 mm of rain across 2.9 wet days and about 14.2 hours of daylight. It is the 3rd-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 27°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 70% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 14 h 06 min at the start of December to 14 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Atlantis's 4th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Atlantis's year-round climate.

Daytime high
27°
3rd warmest
Overnight low
16°
10th coldest
Rainfall
12 mm
2.9 wet days
Daylight
14 h 12 min
5:36 AM – 7:49 PM
Cloud cover
27%
4th clearest
Wind
16 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
8.36 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.1
out of 10

Atlantis is town in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Density
2,869/km²
people per km²

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 27°C through the month.

A typical December day in Atlantis reaches about 27°C in the afternoon and slips back to 16°C overnight — a 11°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 23°C and 32°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 2°C warmer than November and about 1°C cooler than January.

10°15°20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12715
22715
32715
42715
52715
62716
72716
82716
92716
102716
112716
122716
132716
142716
152716
162716
172716
182716
192716
202716
212716
222816
232816
242816
252816
262816
272816
282817
292817
302817
312817

Atlantis weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 3rd-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 17°102.2147.4
Feb29° / 17°101.913.27.3
Mar27° / 16°112.212.38.1
Apr24° / 13°324.211.28.1
May21° / 10°476.510.37.3
Jun18° / 769.49.86.3
Jul18° / 698.2106.3
Aug18° / 598.510.86.4
Sep20° / 10°366.311.87.0
Oct23° / 12°244.112.88.1
Nov25° / 14°214.113.78.2
Dec27° / 16°122.914.28.1

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 70% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 14% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 16%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18317
28317
38317
48317
58317
68218
78218
88218
98218
108218
118218
128218
138218
148218
158218
168218
178218
188317
198218
208218
218317
228317
238416
248416
258614
268614
278614
288713
298812
308812
318812

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Atlantis gets around 12 mm of rain over 2.9 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 9% and peaks near 10% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
17
27
37
47
57
67
77
87
97
108
118
128
138
149
159
169
1710
1810
1910
2010
2110
2210
2310
2410
2510
2610
2710
2810
299
309
319

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 45% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
1623440
2603550
3593650
4563860
5553960
6534070
7524170
8514180
9504280
10494390
11474390
124644100
134544100
144445110
154445110
164345120
174246120
184246130
194145130
204145140
214045140
224045150
233945160
243845160
253745170
263745180
273645190
283545191
293445201
303445211
313344211

Wind in December

Winds average 16 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 16 km/h on the calmest days to 17 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
117light breeze
217light breeze
317light breeze
416light breeze
516light breeze
616light breeze
716light breeze
816light breeze
916light breeze
1016light breeze
1116light breeze
1216light breeze
1316light breeze
1416light breeze
1516light breeze
1616light breeze
1716light breeze
1816light breeze
1916light breeze
2016light breeze
2116light breeze
2216light breeze
2316light breeze
2416light breeze
2516light breeze
2616light breeze
2716light breeze
2816light breeze
2916light breeze
3017light breeze
3117light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 14 h 06 min at the start of December to 14 h 12 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 5:34 AM to 5:43 AM, and sunset from 7:38 PM to 7:55 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
114.15:347:38
214.15:347:39
314.15:347:39
414.15:347:40
514.15:347:41
614.15:347:42
714.15:347:43
814.25:347:43
914.25:347:44
1014.25:347:45
1114.25:347:45
1214.25:357:46
1314.25:357:47
1414.25:357:47
1514.25:357:48
1614.25:367:49
1714.25:367:49
1814.25:367:50
1914.25:377:50
2014.25:377:51
2114.25:387:51
2214.25:387:52
2314.25:397:52
2414.25:397:53
2514.25:407:53
2614.25:407:54
2714.25:417:54
2814.25:417:54
2914.25:427:55
3014.25:437:55
3114.25:437:55

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 8.36 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.53 kWh/m² to a high of 8.37 kWh/m² in January across the year — December's 8.36 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

02468151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
18.3Intense
28.3Intense
38.3Intense
48.3Intense
58.3Intense
68.3Intense
78.3Intense
88.4Intense
98.4Intense
108.4Intense
118.4Intense
128.4Intense
138.4Intense
148.4Intense
158.4Intense
168.4Intense
178.4Intense
188.4Intense
198.4Intense
208.4Intense
218.4Intense
228.4Intense
238.4Intense
248.4Intense
258.4Intense
268.4Intense
278.4Intense
288.4Intense
298.4Intense
308.4Intense
318.4Intense
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Atlantis?

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

8.1
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
8.4
Beach & pool
4th-best month of the year

December is one of the better times to visit Atlantis for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Atlantis in December

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

In December, Atlantis sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 16°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection.

light clothessun protection

Sea temperature near Atlantis in December

The nearest coast averages about 16°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea offshore is warmest in February at about 17°C and coldest in July near 14°C.

The water stays below 20°C all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.

12°14°16°18°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcool
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan17Cool
Feb17Cool
Mar16Cool
Apr15Cool
May15Bracing
Jun15Bracing
Jul14Bracing
Aug14Bracing
Sep15Bracing
Oct15Bracing
Nov16Cool
Dec16Cool

UV index in Atlantis 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 Atlantis peaks around January 13 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 20 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 11 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highModerateExtremeJan 13UV 13Jun 20UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan13Extreme
Feb10Very high
Mar10Very high
Apr6High
May4Moderate
Jun3Moderate
Jul3Moderate
Aug4Moderate
Sep6High
Oct10Very high
Nov11Extreme
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Atlantis 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 Atlantis is worst in May — around 52 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 3.4× the cleanest month (December, 15 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorModerateMay 2152 µg/m³Dec 1516 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan20Moderate
Feb19Moderate
Mar28Moderate
Apr41Poor
May52Poor
Jun50Poor
Jul47Poor
Aug41Poor
Sep33Moderate
Oct29Moderate
Nov18Moderate
Dec15Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Atlantis?

Atlantis sits at 33.6°S, 18.5°E, 178 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Malmesbury, 25 km away.

Topography around Atlantis

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Atlantis has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 92 m around an average of 173 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 557 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,042 m.

The land around Atlantis is covered by shrubs (50%) and artificial surfaces (25%) within 3 km, shrubs (37%) and cropland (24%) within 16 km, and water (30%) and cropland (29%) within 80 km.

3 km
92 m
16 km
557 m
80 km
2,042 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Malmesbury 25 km · Durbanville 33 km · Kraaifontein 38 km · Cape Town 40 km · Rondebosch 44 km · Athlone 45 km · Kuils River 47 km · Lansdowne 47 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 Atlantis (-33.5667°, 18.4834°, elevation 178 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. 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).