Phalaborwa weather in December
In December, Phalaborwa sees average daytime highs of 32°C and overnight lows near 22°C, with 93 mm of rain across 9.8 wet days and about 13.5 hours of daylight. It is the 3rd-warmest and 2nd-wettest month of the year here.
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 32°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 28% of the time in December, and the air most often feels humid.
Daylight stretches from about 13 h 24 min at the start of December to 13 h 30 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Phalaborwa's 12th-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Phalaborwa's year-round climate.
- Daytime high
- 32°
- 3rd warmest
- Overnight low
- 22°
- 10th coldest
- Rainfall
- 93 mm
- 9.8 wet days
- Daylight
- 13 h 30 min
- 5:07 AM – 6:36 PM
- Cloud cover
- 62%
- 12th clearest
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- 6th windiest
- Solar energy
- 5.98 kWh/m²
- Travel score
- 4.2
- out of 10
Phalaborwa is town in South Africa.
- Founded
- 1957
Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.
Temperature in December
Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 32°C through the month.
A typical December day in Phalaborwa reaches about 32°C in the afternoon and slips back to 22°C overnight — a 10°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 26°C and 37°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs on par with November and on par with January.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg high (°C) | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 |
| Avg low (°C) | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 21 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 | 22 |
| Avg high (°C) | Avg low (°C) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 | 21 |
| 2 | 31 | 21 |
| 3 | 31 | 21 |
| 4 | 31 | 21 |
| 5 | 31 | 21 |
| 6 | 31 | 21 |
| 7 | 31 | 21 |
| 8 | 31 | 21 |
| 9 | 31 | 21 |
| 10 | 31 | 21 |
| 11 | 31 | 21 |
| 12 | 31 | 21 |
| 13 | 31 | 21 |
| 14 | 31 | 21 |
| 15 | 31 | 21 |
| 16 | 32 | 22 |
| 17 | 32 | 22 |
| 18 | 32 | 22 |
| 19 | 32 | 22 |
| 20 | 32 | 22 |
| 21 | 32 | 22 |
| 22 | 32 | 22 |
| 23 | 32 | 22 |
| 24 | 32 | 22 |
| 25 | 32 | 22 |
| 26 | 32 | 22 |
| 27 | 32 | 22 |
| 28 | 32 | 22 |
| 29 | 32 | 22 |
| 30 | 32 | 22 |
| 31 | 32 | 22 |
How December really feels in Phalaborwa
Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 19 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.
The story in December is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
Phalaborwa weather by month
How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 3rd-warmest and 2nd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 32° / 22° | 94 | 9.4 | 13.3 | 4.2 |
| Feb | 32° / 22° | 68 | 8 | 12.8 | 4.3 |
| Mar | 31° / 21° | 43 | 6.4 | 12.2 | 5.0 |
| Apr | 29° / 19° | 21 | 3.8 | 11.5 | 6.4 |
| May | 28° / 15° | 9 | 1.7 | 10.9 | 8.1 |
| Jun | 26° / 13° | 4 | 0.8 | 10.6 | 8.9 |
| Jul | 25° / 12° | 5 | 0.6 | 10.7 | 9.0 |
| Aug | 27° / 14° | 4 | 1 | 11.2 | 8.4 |
| Sep | 29° / 17° | 11 | 2 | 11.9 | 6.8 |
| Oct | 30° / 19° | 24 | 4 | 12.6 | 5.8 |
| Nov | 31° / 20° | 62 | 7.9 | 13.2 | 4.7 |
| Dec | 32° / 22° | 93 | 9.8 | 13.5 | 4.2 |
Cloud cover in December
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 28% of the time in December, the cloudiest month of the year.
Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 54%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clearer (%) | 40 | 41 | 40 | 40 | 42 | 41 | 41 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 42 | 43 | 45 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 48 | 50 | 50 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 52 | 52 |
| Cloudier (%) | 60 | 59 | 60 | 60 | 58 | 59 | 59 | 59 | 58 | 57 | 58 | 57 | 55 | 55 | 54 | 53 | 52 | 52 | 50 | 50 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 51 | 50 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 49 | 48 | 48 |
| Clearer (%) | Cloudier (%) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40 | 60 |
| 2 | 41 | 59 |
| 3 | 40 | 60 |
| 4 | 40 | 60 |
| 5 | 42 | 58 |
| 6 | 41 | 59 |
| 7 | 41 | 59 |
| 8 | 41 | 59 |
| 9 | 42 | 58 |
| 10 | 43 | 57 |
| 11 | 42 | 58 |
| 12 | 43 | 57 |
| 13 | 45 | 55 |
| 14 | 45 | 55 |
| 15 | 46 | 54 |
| 16 | 47 | 53 |
| 17 | 48 | 52 |
| 18 | 48 | 52 |
| 19 | 50 | 50 |
| 20 | 50 | 50 |
| 21 | 49 | 51 |
| 22 | 49 | 51 |
| 23 | 49 | 51 |
| 24 | 49 | 51 |
| 25 | 50 | 50 |
| 26 | 51 | 49 |
| 27 | 51 | 49 |
| 28 | 51 | 49 |
| 29 | 51 | 49 |
| 30 | 52 | 48 |
| 31 | 52 | 48 |
Chance of precipitation in December
Phalaborwa gets around 93 mm of rain over 9.8 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 31% and peaks near 32% on the wettest days.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain chance (%) | 28 | 28 | 28 | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 32 | 31 | 31 | 31 |
| Rain chance (%) | |
|---|---|
| 1 | 28 |
| 2 | 28 |
| 3 | 28 |
| 4 | 28 |
| 5 | 29 |
| 6 | 29 |
| 7 | 30 |
| 8 | 30 |
| 9 | 31 |
| 10 | 31 |
| 11 | 31 |
| 12 | 32 |
| 13 | 32 |
| 14 | 32 |
| 15 | 32 |
| 16 | 32 |
| 17 | 32 |
| 18 | 32 |
| 19 | 32 |
| 20 | 32 |
| 21 | 32 |
| 22 | 32 |
| 23 | 32 |
| 24 | 32 |
| 25 | 32 |
| 26 | 32 |
| 27 | 32 |
| 28 | 32 |
| 29 | 31 |
| 30 | 31 |
| 31 | 31 |
Humidity in December
Most of December feels humid — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
By dew point, December lands in the humid band about 38% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 46% of them.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry (%) | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Comfortable (%) | 21 | 21 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 17 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 11 | 11 | 11 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 7 |
| Humid (%) | 37 | 38 | 38 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 39 | 39 | 39 | 38 | 37 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 34 | 34 | 33 | 33 | 33 |
| Muggy (%) | 29 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 35 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 37 | 37 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 |
| Oppressive (%) | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 11 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 14 | 13 |
| Dry (%) | Comfortable (%) | Humid (%) | Muggy (%) | Oppressive (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | 21 | 37 | 29 | 5 |
| 2 | 7 | 21 | 38 | 29 | 5 |
| 3 | 7 | 20 | 38 | 30 | 5 |
| 4 | 6 | 20 | 39 | 30 | 5 |
| 5 | 6 | 19 | 39 | 31 | 5 |
| 6 | 6 | 18 | 39 | 31 | 5 |
| 7 | 5 | 18 | 40 | 32 | 6 |
| 8 | 5 | 17 | 40 | 33 | 6 |
| 9 | 4 | 16 | 40 | 33 | 6 |
| 10 | 3 | 16 | 40 | 34 | 7 |
| 11 | 3 | 15 | 40 | 35 | 7 |
| 12 | 3 | 15 | 40 | 35 | 7 |
| 13 | 2 | 15 | 40 | 35 | 8 |
| 14 | 2 | 14 | 40 | 35 | 8 |
| 15 | 2 | 14 | 40 | 36 | 9 |
| 16 | 1 | 14 | 40 | 36 | 9 |
| 17 | 1 | 13 | 40 | 36 | 10 |
| 18 | 1 | 13 | 40 | 36 | 10 |
| 19 | 1 | 12 | 39 | 37 | 11 |
| 20 | 1 | 12 | 39 | 37 | 11 |
| 21 | 0 | 11 | 39 | 37 | 12 |
| 22 | 0 | 11 | 38 | 38 | 13 |
| 23 | 0 | 11 | 37 | 39 | 13 |
| 24 | 0 | 10 | 37 | 40 | 13 |
| 25 | 0 | 10 | 36 | 41 | 14 |
| 26 | 0 | 9 | 35 | 42 | 14 |
| 27 | 0 | 9 | 34 | 43 | 14 |
| 28 | 0 | 8 | 34 | 44 | 14 |
| 29 | 0 | 8 | 33 | 45 | 14 |
| 30 | 0 | 7 | 33 | 46 | 14 |
| 31 | 0 | 7 | 33 | 47 | 13 |
Wind in December
Winds average 12 km/h in December.
Across December, daily wind ranges from about 12 km/h on the calmest days to 12 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wind speed (km/h) | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Feels | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | calm | calm | calm | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze | light breeze |
| Wind speed (km/h) | Feels | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 | light breeze |
| 2 | 12 | light breeze |
| 3 | 12 | light breeze |
| 4 | 12 | light breeze |
| 5 | 12 | light breeze |
| 6 | 12 | light breeze |
| 7 | 12 | light breeze |
| 8 | 12 | light breeze |
| 9 | 12 | light breeze |
| 10 | 12 | light breeze |
| 11 | 12 | light breeze |
| 12 | 12 | light breeze |
| 13 | 12 | light breeze |
| 14 | 12 | light breeze |
| 15 | 12 | light breeze |
| 16 | 12 | light breeze |
| 17 | 12 | light breeze |
| 18 | 12 | light breeze |
| 19 | 12 | light breeze |
| 20 | 12 | light breeze |
| 21 | 12 | calm |
| 22 | 12 | calm |
| 23 | 12 | calm |
| 24 | 12 | light breeze |
| 25 | 12 | light breeze |
| 26 | 12 | light breeze |
| 27 | 12 | light breeze |
| 28 | 12 | light breeze |
| 29 | 12 | light breeze |
| 30 | 12 | light breeze |
| 31 | 12 | light breeze |
Sunrise & sunset in December
Daylight runs from about 13 h 24 min at the start of December to 13 h 30 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 5:04 AM to 5:15 AM, and sunset from 6:26 PM to 6:42 PM.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 13.4 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 13.4 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 | 13.5 |
| Sunrise (AM) | 5:04 | 5:04 | 5:04 | 5:04 | 5:04 | 5:05 | 5:05 | 5:05 | 5:05 | 5:06 | 5:06 | 5:06 | 5:06 | 5:07 | 5:07 | 5:07 | 5:08 | 5:08 | 5:09 | 5:09 | 5:10 | 5:10 | 5:10 | 5:11 | 5:11 | 5:12 | 5:13 | 5:13 | 5:14 | 5:14 | 5:15 |
| Sunset (PM) | 6:26 | 6:27 | 6:28 | 6:28 | 6:29 | 6:30 | 6:30 | 6:31 | 6:32 | 6:32 | 6:33 | 6:33 | 6:34 | 6:35 | 6:35 | 6:36 | 6:36 | 6:37 | 6:37 | 6:38 | 6:38 | 6:39 | 6:39 | 6:40 | 6:40 | 6:41 | 6:41 | 6:41 | 6:42 | 6:42 | 6:42 |
| Daylight (h) | Sunrise (AM) | Sunset (PM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13.4 | 5:04 | 6:26 |
| 2 | 13.4 | 5:04 | 6:27 |
| 3 | 13.4 | 5:04 | 6:28 |
| 4 | 13.4 | 5:04 | 6:28 |
| 5 | 13.4 | 5:04 | 6:29 |
| 6 | 13.4 | 5:05 | 6:30 |
| 7 | 13.4 | 5:05 | 6:30 |
| 8 | 13.4 | 5:05 | 6:31 |
| 9 | 13.4 | 5:05 | 6:32 |
| 10 | 13.4 | 5:06 | 6:32 |
| 11 | 13.5 | 5:06 | 6:33 |
| 12 | 13.5 | 5:06 | 6:33 |
| 13 | 13.5 | 5:06 | 6:34 |
| 14 | 13.5 | 5:07 | 6:35 |
| 15 | 13.5 | 5:07 | 6:35 |
| 16 | 13.5 | 5:07 | 6:36 |
| 17 | 13.5 | 5:08 | 6:36 |
| 18 | 13.5 | 5:08 | 6:37 |
| 19 | 13.5 | 5:09 | 6:37 |
| 20 | 13.5 | 5:09 | 6:38 |
| 21 | 13.5 | 5:10 | 6:38 |
| 22 | 13.5 | 5:10 | 6:39 |
| 23 | 13.5 | 5:10 | 6:39 |
| 24 | 13.5 | 5:11 | 6:40 |
| 25 | 13.5 | 5:11 | 6:40 |
| 26 | 13.5 | 5:12 | 6:41 |
| 27 | 13.5 | 5:13 | 6:41 |
| 28 | 13.5 | 5:13 | 6:41 |
| 29 | 13.5 | 5:14 | 6:42 |
| 30 | 13.5 | 5:14 | 6:42 |
| 31 | 13.5 | 5:15 | 6:42 |
Solar energy in December
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 5.98 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.
For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.76 kWh/m² to a high of 5.98 kWh/m² in December across the year — December's 5.98 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.8 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 5.9 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.1 | 6.1 |
| Level | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Bright | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense | Intense |
| Solar energy (kWh/m²) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5.8 | Bright |
| 2 | 5.8 | Bright |
| 3 | 5.8 | Bright |
| 4 | 5.8 | Bright |
| 5 | 5.8 | Bright |
| 6 | 5.8 | Bright |
| 7 | 5.9 | Bright |
| 8 | 5.9 | Bright |
| 9 | 5.9 | Bright |
| 10 | 5.9 | Bright |
| 11 | 5.9 | Bright |
| 12 | 5.9 | Bright |
| 13 | 5.9 | Bright |
| 14 | 5.9 | Bright |
| 15 | 5.9 | Bright |
| 16 | 6.0 | Bright |
| 17 | 6.0 | Bright |
| 18 | 6.0 | Intense |
| 19 | 6.0 | Intense |
| 20 | 6.0 | Intense |
| 21 | 6.0 | Intense |
| 22 | 6.0 | Intense |
| 23 | 6.1 | Intense |
| 24 | 6.1 | Intense |
| 25 | 6.1 | Intense |
| 26 | 6.1 | Intense |
| 27 | 6.1 | Intense |
| 28 | 6.1 | Intense |
| 29 | 6.1 | Intense |
| 30 | 6.1 | Intense |
| 31 | 6.1 | Intense |
Is December a good time to visit Phalaborwa?
Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).
December is a reasonable time to visit Phalaborwa for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Phalaborwa in December
From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In December, Phalaborwa sees daytime highs around 32°C and nights near 22°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 10 days see rain.
UV index in Phalaborwa in December
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 Phalaborwa peaks around January 20 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 20 at about 5 (high).
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) | 14 | 13 | 12 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 12 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | High | High | High | Very high | Very high | Very high | Extreme | Extreme |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 14 | Extreme |
| Feb | 13 | Extreme |
| Mar | 12 | Extreme |
| Apr | 8 | Very high |
| May | 6 | High |
| Jun | 5 | High |
| Jul | 5 | High |
| Aug | 7 | Very high |
| Sep | 8 | Very high |
| Oct | 10 | Very high |
| Nov | 12 | Extreme |
| Dec | 12 | Extreme |
Air quality in Phalaborwa in December
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Phalaborwa is worst in September — around 16 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.5× the cleanest month (January, 7 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) | 7 | 8 | 8 | 11 | 15 | 13 | 15 | 13 | 16 | 12 | 9 | 7 |
| Level | Good | Good | Good | Good | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Good | Good | Good |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 7 | Good |
| Feb | 8 | Good |
| Mar | 8 | Good |
| Apr | 11 | Good |
| May | 15 | Moderate |
| Jun | 13 | Moderate |
| Jul | 15 | Moderate |
| Aug | 13 | Moderate |
| Sep | 16 | Moderate |
| Oct | 12 | Good |
| Nov | 9 | Good |
| Dec | 7 | Good |
Where is Phalaborwa?
Phalaborwa sits at 23.9°S, 31.1°E, 435 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Acornhoek, 72 km away.
Topography around Phalaborwa
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Phalaborwa.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Phalaborwa has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 257 m around an average of 426 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 788 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,179 m.
The land around Phalaborwa is covered by trees (39%) and shrubs (27%) within 3 km, shrubs (64%) within 16 km, and shrubs (65%) and grassland (21%) 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 Phalaborwa (-23.943°, 31.1411°, elevation 435 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).