Eshowe weather in December

In December, Eshowe sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 20°C, with 91 mm of rain across 13.1 wet days and about 13.8 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-warmest and 4th-wettest month of the year here.

Highs climb over the month, from about 27°C in the first days to 29°C by the end. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 22% of the time in December, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 42 min at the start of December to 13 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Eshowe's 11th-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Eshowe's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
4th warmest
Overnight low
20°
9th coldest
Rainfall
91 mm
13.1 wet days
Daylight
13 h 48 min
4:55 AM – 6:45 PM
Cloud cover
66%
11th clearest
Wind
13 km/h
3rd windiest
Solar energy
5.81 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.4
out of 10

Eshowe is town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Founded
1880

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 27°C in the first days to 29°C by the end.

A typical December day in Eshowe reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 20°C overnight — a 8°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 23°C and 34°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 2°C warmer than November and about 1°C cooler than January.

15°20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12719
22719
32719
42819
52819
62819
72820
82820
92820
102820
112820
122820
132820
142820
152820
162820
172820
182920
192920
202920
212921
222921
232921
242921
252921
262921
272921
282921
292921
302921
312921

Eshowe weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 4th-warmest and 4th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 21°10613.613.64.8
Feb30° / 21°9412.3134.9
Mar29° / 20°8911.912.25.5
Apr27° / 18°638.811.36.9
May26° / 15°415.610.68.0
Jun24° / 13°254.510.28.6
Jul24° / 12°395.110.38.5
Aug25° / 14°295.8118.1
Sep25° / 16°527.911.87.3
Oct26° / 17°7912.212.76.4
Nov27° / 19°9213.213.45.9
Dec28° / 20°9113.113.85.4

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 22% 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 61%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13466
23466
33565
43565
53466
63565
73565
83664
93664
103664
113763
123763
133862
143961
153961
163961
174060
184060
194060
204159
214159
224258
234258
244258
254258
264357
274258
284357
294456
304456
314456

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Eshowe gets around 91 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 43% and peaks near 44% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
142
243
343
443
544
644
744
844
944
1044
1144
1244
1343
1443
1543
1643
1742
1842
1942
2042
2142
2241
2341
2442
2542
2642
2742
2842
2942
3042
3142

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 49% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 62% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
131340376
231240386
321240397
421140407
521140417
611039428
71939438
81938448
91837459
101836469
110736489
1207344910
1307335010
1406325210
1506315211
1606305212
1705295412
1805285413
1905275414
2005265415
2104265416
2204255417
2304245418
2404245319
2503235519
2603235420
2703225421
2803225322
2903225223
3002225224
3102215324

Wind in December

Winds average 13 km/h in December.

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

051015151015202531
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
2913light breeze
3013light breeze
3113light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 42 min at the start of December to 13 h 48 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 4:53 AM to 5:03 AM, and sunset from 6:35 PM to 6:52 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.74:536:35
213.74:536:36
313.74:536:37
413.74:536:37
513.84:536:38
613.84:536:39
713.84:536:40
813.84:536:40
913.84:536:41
1013.84:546:42
1113.84:546:42
1213.84:546:43
1313.84:546:44
1413.84:556:44
1513.84:556:45
1613.84:556:45
1713.84:566:46
1813.84:566:46
1913.84:566:47
2013.84:576:47
2113.84:576:48
2213.84:586:48
2313.84:586:49
2413.84:596:49
2513.84:596:50
2613.85:006:50
2713.85:006:51
2813.85:016:51
2913.85:016:51
3013.85:026:52
3113.85:036:52

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 5.81 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.19 kWh/m² to a high of 5.89 kWh/m² in January across the year — December's 5.81 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.6Bright
25.6Bright
35.6Bright
45.6Bright
55.6Bright
65.6Bright
75.6Bright
85.6Bright
95.7Bright
105.7Bright
115.7Bright
125.7Bright
135.8Bright
145.8Bright
155.8Bright
165.8Bright
175.9Bright
185.9Bright
195.9Bright
205.9Bright
215.9Bright
226.0Bright
236.0Bright
246.0Bright
256.0Bright
266.0Bright
276.0Intense
286.0Intense
296.0Intense
306.0Intense
316.0Intense
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Eshowe

In seasonPeak

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

Eshowe 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 Eshowe?

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

5.4
Sightseeing
10th-best month of the year
6.3
Beach & pool
10th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Eshowe in December

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

In December, Eshowe sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 20°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 13 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Eshowe 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 at the nearest coast (about 31 km away) 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
Mar25Warm
Apr24Warm
May23Refreshing
Jun22Refreshing
Jul21Refreshing
Aug21Refreshing
Sep21Refreshing
Oct22Refreshing
Nov23Refreshing
Dec24Refreshing

UV index in Eshowe 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 Eshowe peaks around February 9 at about 12 (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.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeHighModerateHighVery highExtremeExtremeFeb 9UV 12Jun 22UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan12Extreme
Feb12Extreme
Mar11Extreme
Apr6High
May5High
Jun4Moderate
Jul4Moderate
Aug6High
Sep7High
Oct10Extreme
Nov10Very high
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Eshowe 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 Eshowe is worst in July — around 43 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 5.5× the cleanest month (January, 8 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModeratePoorModerateGoodJul 1442 µg/m³Jan 198 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb9Good
Mar13Moderate
Apr20Moderate
May33Moderate
Jun40Poor
Jul43Poor
Aug35Poor
Sep29Moderate
Oct18Moderate
Nov14Moderate
Dec11Good
Location & terrain

Where is Eshowe?

Eshowe sits at 28.9°S, 31.5°E, 539 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Mandeni, 29 km away.

Topography around Eshowe

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Eshowe has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 204 m around an average of 495 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 829 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,787 m.

The land around Eshowe is covered by trees (59%) within 3 km, grassland (42%) and trees (41%) within 16 km, and trees (33%), grassland (31%) and water (21%) within 80 km.

3 km
204 m
16 km
829 m
80 km
1,787 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
December weather nearby: Mandeni 29 km · eSikhaleni 42 km · Empangeni 44 km · KwaDukuza 52 km · Richards Bay 56 km · Ulundi 62 km · Shakaskraal 67 km · Ballitoville 77 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 Eshowe (-28.8865°, 31.4699°, elevation 539 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).