Empuluzu weather in December

In December, Empuluzu sees average daytime highs of 24°C and overnight lows near 14°C, with 151 mm of rain across 19.5 wet days and about 13.6 hours of daylight. It is the 3rd-warmest and 1st-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 24°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 18% of the time in December, and the air most often feels comfortable.

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 Empuluzu's 12th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Empuluzu's year-round climate.

Daytime high
24°
3rd warmest
Overnight low
14°
10th coldest
Rainfall
151 mm
19.5 wet days
Daylight
13 h 36 min
5:04 AM – 6:42 PM
Cloud cover
68%
12th clearest
Wind
8 km/h
8th windiest
Solar energy
5.99 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.4
out of 10

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 24°C through the month.

A typical December day in Empuluzu reaches about 24°C in the afternoon and slips back to 14°C overnight — a 10°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 19°C and 29°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 1°C warmer than November and on par with January.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12413
22413
32413
42413
52413
62414
72414
82414
92414
102414
112414
122414
132414
142414
152414
162414
172414
182414
192514
202514
212514
222515
232515
242515
252515
262515
272515
282515
292515
302515
312515

Empuluzu weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 3rd-warmest and 1st-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan25° / 15°1471813.55.7
Feb25° / 15°11313.912.96.1
Mar24° / 13°10313.412.26.6
Apr22° / 11°458.411.47.1
May20° / 183.310.78.0
Jun18° / 91.510.47.9
Jul18° / 81.510.57.8
Aug20° / 143.211.18.0
Sep23° / 326.211.87.8
Oct23° / 11°8113.812.66.3
Nov23° / 13°12718.413.35.5
Dec24° / 14°15119.513.65.4

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 18% of the time in December, the cloudiest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 17% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 65%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13367
23268
33268
43268
53169
63169
73169
83169
93169
103169
113169
123268
133268
143367
153466
163466
173565
183565
193565
203664
213664
223763
233763
243763
253862
263862
273862
283961
293961
304159
314258

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Empuluzu gets around 151 mm of rain over 19.5 wet days in December, the wettest month. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 63% and peaks near 65% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%80%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
163
263
364
464
564
664
765
865
965
1065
1165
1265
1365
1465
1564
1664
1763
1863
1963
2062
2162
2262
2362
2462
2562
2662
2762
2861
2961
3061
3160

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, December lands in the comfortable band about 54% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
1325315
2305515
3295615
4285715
5275716
6265816
7255817
8236017
9226018
10216019
11206020
12196021
13186022
14185923
15175825
16165826
17155728
18145630
19135631
20135433
21125335
22115336
23115138
24115039
25114940
26114841
27114742
28114742
29114643
30114543
31124543

Wind in December

Winds average 8 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 7 km/h on the calmest days to 8 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
18calm
28calm
38calm
48calm
58calm
68calm
78calm
88calm
98calm
108calm
118calm
128calm
138calm
148calm
158calm
168calm
178calm
188calm
198calm
208calm
218calm
228calm
238calm
248calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

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 5:01 AM to 5:11 AM, and sunset from 6:33 PM to 6:49 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.55:016:33
213.55:016:33
313.65:016:34
413.65:016:35
513.65:016:35
613.65:016:36
713.65:016:37
813.65:026:37
913.65:026:38
1013.65:026:39
1113.65:026:39
1213.65:036:40
1313.65:036:41
1413.65:036:41
1513.65:046:42
1613.65:046:42
1713.65:046:43
1813.65:056:43
1913.65:056:44
2013.65:056:44
2113.65:066:45
2213.75:066:45
2313.65:076:46
2413.65:076:46
2513.65:086:47
2613.65:086:47
2713.65:096:48
2813.65:096:48
2913.65:106:48
3013.65:116:49
3113.65:116:49

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 5.99 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.78 kWh/m² to a high of 5.99 kWh/m² in December across the year — December's 5.99 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
75.8Bright
85.8Bright
95.8Bright
105.9Bright
115.9Bright
125.9Bright
135.9Bright
145.9Bright
156.0Bright
166.0Bright
176.0Intense
186.0Intense
196.1Intense
206.1Intense
216.1Intense
226.1Intense
236.1Intense
246.1Intense
256.1Intense
266.1Intense
276.1Intense
286.1Intense
296.1Intense
306.1Intense
316.2Intense
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Empuluzu

In seasonPeak

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

Empuluzu's rainy season runs October–March, 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 Empuluzu?

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

5.4
Sightseeing
12th-best month of the year
4.6
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Empuluzu for sightseeing.

What to pack for Empuluzu in December

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

In December, Empuluzu sees daytime highs around 24°C and nights near 14°C. Pack rain gear. Worth having: light clothes and sun protection. About 20 days see rain.

rain gearlight clothessun protection

UV index in Empuluzu 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 Empuluzu peaks around January 12 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 21 at about 5 (high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highHighVery highExtremeJan 12UV 14Jun 21UV 5
UV index (midday)Level
Jan14Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar12Extreme
Apr8Very high
May6High
Jun5High
Jul5High
Aug7Very high
Sep9Very high
Oct10Very high
Nov12Extreme
Dec14Extreme

Air quality in Empuluzu 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 Empuluzu is worst in November — around 46 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 2.5× the cleanest month (December, 18 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateModeratePoorModeratePoorModerateNov 1543 µg/m³Dec 2219 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan22Moderate
Feb21Moderate
Mar28Moderate
Apr36Poor
May31Moderate
Jun35Moderate
Jul40Poor
Aug41Poor
Sep33Moderate
Oct26Moderate
Nov46Poor
Dec18Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Empuluzu?

Empuluzu sits at 26.3°S, 30.8°E, 1,432 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Redhill, 7.0 km away.

Topography around Empuluzu

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Empuluzu has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 250 m around an average of 1,405 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 543 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,755 m.

The land around Empuluzu is covered by grassland (71%) within 3 km, grassland (64%) and trees (29%) within 16 km, and grassland (55%) and trees (30%) within 80 km.

3 km
250 m
16 km
543 m
80 km
1,755 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
December weather nearby: Redhill 7.0 km · Fernie 10 km · Lukwatini 28 km · Nhlazatje 29 km · Mbabane 36 km · Lobamba 46 km · Barberton 64 km · Manzini 64 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 Empuluzu (-26.305°, 30.7736°, elevation 1,432 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).