Durban weather in December

In December, Durban sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 20°C, with 94 mm of rain across 13.1 wet days and about 13.9 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 25°C in the first days to 26°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 19% of the time in December, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 48 min at the start of December to 13 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Durban's 11th-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Durban's year-round climate.

Daytime high
26°
4th warmest
Overnight low
20°
9th coldest
Rainfall
94 mm
13.1 wet days
Daylight
13 h 54 min
4:55 AM – 6:49 PM
Cloud cover
68%
11th clearest
Wind
14 km/h
3rd windiest
Solar energy
5.73 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.1
out of 10

Durban is city in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Density
14,776/km²
people per km²
Founded
1835

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 25°C in the first days to 26°C by the end.

A typical December day in Durban reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 20°C overnight — a 6°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 22°C and 29°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 1°C warmer than November and about 1°C cooler than January.

15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12519
22519
32519
42519
52520
62520
72520
82520
92520
102520
112520
122520
132620
142620
152620
162620
172620
182620
192621
202621
212621
222621
232621
242621
252621
262621
272621
282621
292621
302721
312721

Durban 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
Jan27° / 21°911313.76.0
Feb27° / 22°8411.313.16.1
Mar27° / 21°9011.412.26.5
Apr25° / 19°748.611.37.3
May24° / 16°435.410.58.2
Jun23° / 14°284.610.18.4
Jul22° / 13°424.710.38.2
Aug23° / 14°345.910.97.9
Sep23° / 16°608.611.87.2
Oct23° / 17°9012.512.76.4
Nov24° / 19°9613.413.56.2
Dec26° / 20°9413.113.96.1

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 19% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 17% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 64%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13268
23367
33367
43367
53466
63466
73367
83466
93466
103466
113466
123565
133565
143664
153664
163664
173664
183664
193664
203763
213862
223862
233763
243763
253862
263862
273862
283862
293961
303961
314060

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Durban gets around 94 mm of rain over 13.1 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 42% and peaks near 45% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
143
244
344
444
544
645
745
845
945
1044
1144
1243
1343
1442
1542
1641
1741
1841
1940
2040
2140
2240
2340
2441
2541
2641
2742
2842
2943
3043
3143

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 47% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 65% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
131435408
231335418
321235428
421235429
521135439
6210354410
7110344510
819344610
919334711
1018324711
1118314812
1218304913
1317294913
1417284914
1517275015
1617275016
1717265017
1816255018
1916245020
2006235021
2105225122
2205224923
2305214925
2405204926
2505204827
2605194828
2704184829
2804184730
2904174731
3004174732
3104174732

Wind in December

Winds average 14 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 14 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
1614light breeze
1714light breeze
1814light breeze
1914light breeze
2014light breeze
2114light breeze
2214light breeze
2314light breeze
2414light breeze
2514light breeze
2614light breeze
2714light breeze
2814light breeze
2914light breeze
3014light breeze
3114light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 48 min at the start of December to 13 h 54 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 4:52 AM to 5:02 AM, and sunset from 6:39 PM to 6:56 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.84:526:39
213.84:526:40
313.84:526:41
413.84:526:41
513.84:526:42
613.84:526:43
713.84:536:44
813.94:536:44
913.94:536:45
1013.94:536:46
1113.94:536:46
1213.94:546:47
1313.94:546:48
1413.94:546:48
1513.94:546:49
1613.94:556:49
1713.94:556:50
1813.94:556:50
1913.94:566:51
2013.94:566:52
2113.94:576:52
2213.94:576:53
2313.94:586:53
2413.94:586:53
2513.94:596:54
2613.94:596:54
2713.95:006:55
2813.95:006:55
2913.95:016:55
3013.95:026:56
3113.95:026:56

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 5.73 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.16 kWh/m² to a high of 5.78 kWh/m² in January across the year — December's 5.73 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.5Bright
25.6Bright
35.6Bright
45.6Bright
55.6Bright
65.6Bright
75.6Bright
85.6Bright
95.6Bright
105.6Bright
115.7Bright
125.7Bright
135.7Bright
145.7Bright
155.7Bright
165.8Bright
175.8Bright
185.8Bright
195.8Bright
205.8Bright
215.8Bright
225.8Bright
235.8Bright
245.8Bright
255.8Bright
265.8Bright
275.8Bright
285.9Bright
295.9Bright
305.9Bright
315.9Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Durban

In seasonPeak

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

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

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

Is December a good time to visit Durban?

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

6.1
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
5.8
Beach & pool
9th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Durban for sightseeing.

What to pack for Durban in December

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

In December, Durban sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 20°C. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 13 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Durban in December

The nearest coast averages about 24°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 26°C and coldest in August near 21°C.

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

20°22°24°26°28°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan25Warm
Feb26Warm
Mar26Warm
Apr25Warm
May24Refreshing
Jun22Refreshing
Jul22Refreshing
Aug21Refreshing
Sep21Refreshing
Oct22Refreshing
Nov23Refreshing
Dec24Warm

UV index in Durban 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 Durban peaks around January 16 at about 13 (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.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeHighModerateHighExtremeExtremeJan 16UV 13Jun 22UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan13Extreme
Feb12Extreme
Mar10Extreme
Apr6High
May5Moderate
Jun4Moderate
Jul4Moderate
Aug5High
Sep6High
Oct10Extreme
Nov10Very high
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Durban 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 Durban is worst in July — around 148 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 6.1× the cleanest month (January, 24 µg/m³).

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

0306090120150JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorUnhealthyPoorModerateJul 11147 µg/m³Jan 1625 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan24Moderate
Feb31Moderate
Mar50Poor
Apr77Unhealthy
May126Unhealthy
Jun144Unhealthy
Jul148Unhealthy
Aug116Unhealthy
Sep88Unhealthy
Oct57Unhealthy
Nov41Poor
Dec30Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Durban?

Durban sits at 29.9°S, 31.0°E, 21 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Pinetown, 14 km away.

Topography around Durban

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Durban has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 110 m around an average of 9 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 442 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,547 m.

The land around Durban is covered by water (42%) and artificial surfaces (39%) within 3 km, water (49%), trees (24%) and artificial surfaces (23%) within 16 km, and trees (34%), water (32%) and grassland (20%) within 80 km.

3 km
110 m
16 km
442 m
80 km
1,547 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Pinetown 14 km · Ntuzuma 15 km · Folweni 26 km · Tongaat 33 km · Mpumalanga 38 km · Ballitoville 40 km · eMkhomazi 45 km · Shakaskraal 49 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 Durban (-29.8579°, 31.0292°, elevation 21 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).