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

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

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.

15°20°25°30°35°40°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13121
23121
33121
43121
53121
63121
73121
83121
93121
103121
113121
123121
133121
143121
153121
163222
173222
183222
193222
203222
213222
223222
233222
243222
253222
263222
273222
283222
293222
303222
313222

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.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
19
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

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.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan32° / 22°949.413.34.2
Feb32° / 22°68812.84.3
Mar31° / 21°436.412.25.0
Apr29° / 19°213.811.56.4
May28° / 15°91.710.98.1
Jun26° / 13°40.810.68.9
Jul25° / 12°50.610.79.0
Aug27° / 14°4111.28.4
Sep29° / 17°11211.96.8
Oct30° / 19°24412.65.8
Nov31° / 20°627.913.24.7
Dec32° / 22°939.813.54.2

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

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.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
14060
24159
34060
44060
54258
64159
74159
84159
94258
104357
114258
124357
134555
144555
154654
164753
174852
184852
195050
205050
214951
224951
234951
244951
255050
265149
275149
285149
295149
305248
315248

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

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.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
128
228
328
428
529
629
730
830
931
1031
1131
1232
1332
1432
1532
1632
1732
1832
1932
2032
2132
2232
2332
2432
2532
2632
2732
2832
2931
3031
3131

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
172137295
272138295
372038305
462039305
561939315
661839315
751840326
851740336
941640336
1031640347
1131540357
1231540357
1321540358
1421440358
1521440369
1611440369
17113403610
18113403610
19112393711
20112393711
21011393712
22011383813
23011373913
24010374013
25010364114
2609354214
2709344314
2808344414
2908334514
3007334614
3107334713

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.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
112light breeze
212light breeze
312light breeze
412light breeze
512light breeze
612light breeze
712light breeze
812light breeze
912light breeze
1012light breeze
1112light breeze
1212light breeze
1312light breeze
1412light breeze
1512light breeze
1612light breeze
1712light breeze
1812light breeze
1912light breeze
2012light breeze
2112calm
2212calm
2312calm
2412light breeze
2512light breeze
2612light breeze
2712light breeze
2812light breeze
2912light breeze
3012light breeze
3112light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

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.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.45:046:26
213.45:046:27
313.45:046:28
413.45:046:28
513.45:046:29
613.45:056:30
713.45:056:30
813.45:056:31
913.45:056:32
1013.45:066:32
1113.55:066:33
1213.55:066:33
1313.55:066:34
1413.55:076:35
1513.55:076:35
1613.55:076:36
1713.55:086:36
1813.55:086:37
1913.55:096:37
2013.55:096:38
2113.55:106:38
2213.55:106:39
2313.55:106:39
2413.55:116:40
2513.55:116:40
2613.55:126:41
2713.55:136:41
2813.55:136:41
2913.55:146:42
3013.55:146:42
3113.55:156:42

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

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.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.8Bright
25.8Bright
35.8Bright
45.8Bright
55.8Bright
65.8Bright
75.9Bright
85.9Bright
95.9Bright
105.9Bright
115.9Bright
125.9Bright
135.9Bright
145.9Bright
155.9Bright
166.0Bright
176.0Bright
186.0Intense
196.0Intense
206.0Intense
216.0Intense
226.0Intense
236.1Intense
246.1Intense
256.1Intense
266.1Intense
276.1Intense
286.1Intense
296.1Intense
306.1Intense
316.1Intense
Planning a trip in December

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).

4.2
Sightseeing
11th-best month of the year
6.5
Beach & pool
12th-best month of the year

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.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

UV index in Phalaborwa 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 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.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highHighVery highExtremeJan 20UV 14Jun 20UV 5
UV index (midday)Level
Jan14Extreme
Feb13Extreme
Mar12Extreme
Apr8Very high
May6High
Jun5High
Jul5High
Aug7Very high
Sep8Very high
Oct10Very high
Nov12Extreme
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Phalaborwa 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 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).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodSep 1516 µg/m³Jan 147 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb8Good
Mar8Good
Apr11Good
May15Moderate
Jun13Moderate
Jul15Moderate
Aug13Moderate
Sep16Moderate
Oct12Good
Nov9Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

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.

3 km
257 m
16 km
788 m
80 km
2,179 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Acornhoek 72 km · Giyani 83 km · Nkowakowa 87 km · Thulamahashi 87 km · Mafemani 94 km · Dwarsloop 95 km · Tzaneen 100 km · Duiwelskloof 106 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 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).