Durban in Summer
In summer (December, January and February), Durban sees average daytime highs around 27°C and overnight lows near 21°C, with 269 mm of rain over about 37 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the wettest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 25°C in early December to 27°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 24% of the time across summer, and the air most often feels muggy.
Summer is Durban's weakest season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Durban's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 27°C
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 21°C
- Rainfall
- 269 mm
- 37 wet days
- Avg wind
- 14 km/h
- Travel score
- 6.1
- weakest season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Durban in Summer
Over the season highs climb from about 25°C in early December to 27°C by late February.
A typical summer day in Durban reaches about 27°C and drops to 21°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
Durban weather by month
How the three summer months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 27° / 21° | 91 | 13 | 13.7 | 6.0 |
| Feb | 27° / 22° | 84 | 11.3 | 13.1 | 6.1 |
| Mar | 27° / 21° | 90 | 11.4 | 12.2 | 6.5 |
| Apr | 25° / 19° | 74 | 8.6 | 11.3 | 7.3 |
| May | 24° / 16° | 43 | 5.4 | 10.5 | 8.2 |
| Jun | 23° / 14° | 28 | 4.6 | 10.1 | 8.4 |
| Jul | 22° / 13° | 42 | 4.7 | 10.3 | 8.2 |
| Aug | 23° / 14° | 34 | 5.9 | 10.9 | 7.9 |
| Sep | 23° / 16° | 60 | 8.6 | 11.8 | 7.2 |
| Oct | 23° / 17° | 90 | 12.5 | 12.7 | 6.4 |
| Nov | 24° / 19° | 96 | 13.4 | 13.5 | 6.2 |
| Dec | 26° / 20° | 94 | 13.1 | 13.9 | 6.1 |
Cloud cover in Summer
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 24% of the time across summer.
Chance of precipitation in Summer
Durban gets around 269 mm of rain over 37 wet days across summer. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Summer
Most of summer feels muggy — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Summer
Winds average 14 km/h across summer.
Sunrise & sunset in Summer
Daylight runs from about 13 h 48 min in early December to 12 h 42 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Summer
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across summer, about 5.7 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Durban
In summer, Durban overlaps 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.
Is summer a good time to visit Durban?
Our two travel scores rate summer for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
summer is a reasonable time to visit Durban for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Durban in Summer
From summer's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In summer, Durban sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 21°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 37 days see rain.
Sea temperature near Durban in Summer
The nearest coast averages about 25°C across summer — 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea temperature (°C) | 25 | 26 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 |
| Comfort | Warm | Warm | Warm | Warm | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Refreshing | Warm |
| Sea temperature (°C) | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 25 | Warm |
| Feb | 26 | Warm |
| Mar | 26 | Warm |
| Apr | 25 | Warm |
| May | 24 | Refreshing |
| Jun | 22 | Refreshing |
| Jul | 22 | Refreshing |
| Aug | 21 | Refreshing |
| Sep | 21 | Refreshing |
| Oct | 22 | Refreshing |
| Nov | 23 | Refreshing |
| Dec | 24 | Warm |
UV index in Durban in Summer
Clear-sky midday UV across summer averages 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.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 13 | 12 | 10 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 12 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | High | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | High | High | Extreme | Very high | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 13 | Extreme |
| Feb | 12 | Extreme |
| Mar | 10 | Extreme |
| Apr | 6 | High |
| May | 5 | Moderate |
| Jun | 4 | Moderate |
| Jul | 4 | Moderate |
| Aug | 5 | High |
| Sep | 6 | High |
| Oct | 10 | Extreme |
| Nov | 10 | Very high |
| Dec | 12 | Extreme |
Air quality in Durban in Summer
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where summer 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).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 24 | 31 | 50 | 77 | 126 | 144 | 148 | 116 | 88 | 57 | 41 | 30 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Poor | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Unhealthy | Poor | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24 | Moderate |
| Feb | 31 | Moderate |
| Mar | 50 | Poor |
| Apr | 77 | Unhealthy |
| May | 126 | Unhealthy |
| Jun | 144 | Unhealthy |
| Jul | 148 | Unhealthy |
| Aug | 116 | Unhealthy |
| Sep | 88 | Unhealthy |
| Oct | 57 | Unhealthy |
| Nov | 41 | Poor |
| Dec | 30 | Moderate |
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.
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
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.