Hermanus weather in December

In December, Hermanus sees average daytime highs of 21°C and overnight lows near 17°C, with 24 mm of rain across 5.1 wet days and about 14.3 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 21°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 55% of the time in December, and the air most often feels comfortable.

Daylight stretches from about 14 h 06 min at the start of December to 14 h 18 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Hermanus's 3rd-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Hermanus's year-round climate.

Daytime high
21°
4th warmest
Overnight low
17°
9th coldest
Rainfall
24 mm
5.1 wet days
Daylight
14 h 18 min
5:31 AM – 7:48 PM
Cloud cover
39%
3rd clearest
Wind
20 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
7.76 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.6
out of 10

Hermanus is town in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Density
2,329/km²
people per km²
Founded
1891

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 21°C through the month.

A typical December day in Hermanus reaches about 21°C in the afternoon and slips back to 17°C overnight — a 4°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 19°C and 24°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 2°C warmer than November and about 1°C cooler than January.

10°15°20°25°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12016
22017
32017
42117
52117
62117
72117
82117
92117
102117
112117
122117
132117
142117
152117
162117
172117
182118
192118
202118
212118
222118
232118
242118
252118
262118
272218
282218
292218
302218
312218

Hermanus weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 4th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan22° / 18°224.9147.9
Feb22° / 19°215.313.37.9
Mar21° / 18°275.912.37.5
Apr20° / 16°426.411.26.9
May18° / 14°528.210.26.3
Jun16° / 12°8410.29.75.3
Jul16° / 12°859.79.95.1
Aug16° / 12°7310.510.75.0
Sep16° / 13°488.411.85.5
Oct18° / 14°407.112.96.4
Nov19° / 16°386.413.86.9
Dec21° / 17°245.114.37.6

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 55% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 27%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17327
27327
37228
47228
57228
67228
77129
87129
97129
107129
117129
127129
137129
147228
157228
167228
177228
187228
197327
207327
217228
227327
237327
247327
257426
267426
277426
287525
297525
307525
317525

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Hermanus gets around 24 mm of rain over 5.1 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 16% and peaks near 18% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
117
216
315
415
515
615
715
815
915
1015
1115
1215
1315
1415
1515
1616
1716
1817
1917
2017
2118
2218
2318
2418
2518
2618
2718
2818
2918
3018
3118

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 40% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
13745170
23645190
33445201
43345211
53245231
63045241
72944251
82944261
92844271
102743282
112642292
122642312
132541322
142540332
152540342
162439342
172439352
182438362
192338362
202338372
212337372
222237383
232237393
242137393
252036403
262036414
271935424
281935425
291834435
301734435
311733446

Wind in December

Winds average 20 km/h in December, the windiest month of the year.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 20 km/h on the calmest days to 20 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
120breezy
220breezy
320breezy
420breezy
520breezy
620breezy
720breezy
820breezy
920breezy
1020breezy
1120breezy
1220breezy
1320breezy
1420light breeze
1520light breeze
1620light breeze
1720light breeze
1820light breeze
1920light breeze
2020light breeze
2120light breeze
2220light breeze
2320light breeze
2420light breeze
2520light breeze
2620light breeze
2720light breeze
2820light breeze
2920light breeze
3020light breeze
3120light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 14 h 06 min at the start of December to 14 h 18 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 5:29 AM to 5:38 AM, and sunset from 7:37 PM to 7:54 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
114.15:297:37
214.15:297:38
314.25:297:39
414.25:297:39
514.25:297:40
614.25:297:41
714.25:297:42
814.25:297:42
914.25:297:43
1014.25:297:44
1114.35:297:45
1214.35:297:45
1314.35:307:46
1414.35:307:47
1514.35:307:47
1614.35:317:48
1714.35:317:49
1814.35:317:49
1914.35:327:50
2014.35:327:50
2114.35:327:51
2214.35:337:51
2314.35:337:52
2414.35:347:52
2514.35:347:52
2614.35:357:53
2714.35:367:53
2814.35:367:54
2914.35:377:54
3014.35:377:54
3114.35:387:54

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 7.76 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.44 kWh/m² to a high of 7.76 kWh/m² in December across the year — December's 7.76 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

02468151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
17.7Intense
27.7Intense
37.7Intense
47.7Intense
57.7Intense
67.8Intense
77.8Intense
87.8Intense
97.8Intense
107.8Intense
117.8Intense
127.8Intense
137.8Intense
147.8Intense
157.8Intense
167.8Intense
177.8Intense
187.8Intense
197.8Intense
207.8Intense
217.8Intense
227.8Intense
237.8Intense
247.8Intense
257.8Intense
267.8Intense
277.8Intense
287.8Intense
297.8Intense
307.8Intense
317.8Intense
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Hermanus?

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

7.6
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
4.6
Beach & pool
4th-best month of the year

December is one of the better times to visit Hermanus for general sightseeing.

What to pack for Hermanus in December

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

In December, Hermanus sees daytime highs around 21°C and nights near 17°C. Pack sun protection. About 5 days see rain.

sun protection

Sea temperature near Hermanus in December

The nearest coast averages about 19°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 January at about 19°C and coldest in July near 15°C.

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

14°16°18°20°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshing
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan19Cool
Feb19Cool
Mar18Cool
Apr16Cool
May16Cool
Jun16Cool
Jul15Bracing
Aug15Bracing
Sep15Cool
Oct16Cool
Nov17Cool
Dec19Cool

UV index in Hermanus 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 Hermanus 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 10 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highModerateExtremeJan 13UV 13Jun 20UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan13Extreme
Feb10Very high
Mar9Very high
Apr6High
May3Moderate
Jun3Moderate
Jul3Moderate
Aug4Moderate
Sep6High
Oct10Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Hermanus 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 Hermanus is worst in June — around 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.6× the cleanest month (November, 7 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodGoodModerateGoodJun 1718 µg/m³Nov 177 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan11Good
Feb8Good
Mar12Moderate
Apr11Good
May16Moderate
Jun18Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug15Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct9Good
Nov7Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Hermanus?

Hermanus sits at 34.4°S, 19.2°E, 27 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Gansbaai, 21 km away.

Topography around Hermanus

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Hermanus has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 314 m around an average of 50 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,155 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,973 m.

The land around Hermanus is covered by water (37%), grassland (20%) and artificial surfaces (20%) within 3 km, water (49%) and grassland (24%) within 16 km, and water (37%) and grassland (28%) within 80 km.

3 km
314 m
16 km
1,155 m
80 km
1,973 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Gansbaai 21 km · Caledon 27 km · Grabouw 36 km · Somerset West 53 km · Franschhoek 57 km · Le Roux 60 km · Stellenbosch 64 km · Kuils River 72 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 Hermanus (-34.4187°, 19.2345°, elevation 27 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).