Port Shepstone weather in December

In December, Port Shepstone sees average daytime highs of 24°C and overnight lows near 21°C, with 94 mm of rain across 13.3 wet days and about 14 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-warmest and 4th-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 21% of the time in December, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 48 min at the start of December to 14 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Port Shepstone's 11th-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Port Shepstone's year-round climate.

Daytime high
24°
4th warmest
Overnight low
21°
9th coldest
Rainfall
94 mm
13.3 wet days
Daylight
14 hours
4:55 AM – 6:54 PM
Cloud cover
68%
11th clearest
Wind
20 km/h
3rd windiest
Solar energy
5.98 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.3
out of 10

Port Shepstone is town.

Founded
1867

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 24°C through the month.

A typical December day in Port Shepstone reaches about 24°C in the afternoon and slips back to 21°C overnight — a 3°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 22°C and 26°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 1°C warmer than November and about 1°C cooler than January.

15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12320
22320
32320
42420
52420
62420
72420
82420
92420
102420
112421
122421
132421
142421
152421
162421
172421
182421
192421
202421
212521
222521
232521
242521
252521
262521
272522
282522
292522
302522
312522

Port Shepstone 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
Jan25° / 22°9813.213.86.2
Feb26° / 23°8311.713.16.2
Mar25° / 22°9811.812.26.6
Apr24° / 20°869.711.37.2
May23° / 18°455.810.58.0
Jun22° / 16°354.9108.0
Jul21° / 15°394.910.27.8
Aug21° / 16°42610.97.5
Sep21° / 17°638.711.86.8
Oct22° / 18°9313.212.86.1
Nov23° / 19°9813.213.66.1
Dec24° / 21°9413.3146.3

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 21% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 16% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 64%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13565
23565
33466
43565
53466
63466
73565
83565
93565
103565
113664
123664
133664
143664
153763
163763
173763
183763
193763
203763
213763
223763
233763
243763
253763
263763
273763
283763
293862
303862
313862

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Port Shepstone gets around 94 mm of rain over 13.3 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 46% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
145
246
346
446
546
646
745
845
944
1044
1143
1242
1342
1441
1541
1641
1741
1841
1941
2041
2141
2241
2341
2441
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 46% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 63% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
141437396
241337407
331337417
431237427
521136437
621136448
721035458
811035469
91934469
1019334710
1119324710
1219314811
1318304812
1418294813
1518284815
1618274816
1717264817
1817264818
1917254820
2017244821
2116234723
2216224724
2316214725
2405214627
2505204628
2605204529
2705194531
2805194532
2905184432
3005184433
3105184433

Wind in December

Winds average 20 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 19 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
120light breeze
220light breeze
320light breeze
420light breeze
520light breeze
620light breeze
720light breeze
820light breeze
920light breeze
1020light breeze
1120light breeze
1220light breeze
1320light breeze
1420light breeze
1520light breeze
1620light breeze
1720light breeze
1820light breeze
1919light breeze
2019light breeze
2119light breeze
2219light breeze
2319light breeze
2419light breeze
2519light breeze
2619light breeze
2719light breeze
2819light breeze
2919light breeze
3019light breeze
3119light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 48 min at the start of December to 14 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 12 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 4:53 AM to 5:02 AM, and sunset from 6:43 PM to 7:00 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.84:536:43
213.94:536:44
313.94:536:45
413.94:536:46
513.94:536:46
613.94:536:47
713.94:536:48
813.94:536:49
913.94:536:49
1013.94:536:50
1114.04:546:51
1214.04:546:51
1314.04:546:52
1414.04:546:53
1514.04:556:53
1614.04:556:54
1714.04:556:54
1814.04:566:55
1914.04:566:55
2014.04:566:56
2114.04:576:56
2214.04:576:57
2314.04:586:57
2414.04:586:58
2514.04:596:58
2614.04:596:59
2714.05:006:59
2814.05:016:59
2914.05:017:00
3014.05:027:00
3114.05:027:00

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 3.08 kWh/m² to a high of 5.98 kWh/m² in January across the year — December's 5.98 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.9Bright
25.9Bright
35.9Bright
45.9Bright
55.9Bright
65.9Bright
75.9Bright
85.9Bright
95.9Bright
105.9Bright
115.9Bright
126.0Bright
136.0Bright
146.0Bright
156.0Bright
166.0Intense
176.0Intense
186.0Intense
196.0Intense
206.0Intense
216.0Intense
226.0Intense
236.0Intense
246.0Intense
256.0Intense
266.0Intense
276.0Intense
286.0Intense
296.1Intense
306.1Intense
316.1Intense
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Port Shepstone

In seasonPeak

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

Port Shepstone 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 Port Shepstone?

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

6.3
Sightseeing
8th-best month of the year
5.4
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Port Shepstone for sightseeing.

What to pack for Port Shepstone in December

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

In December, Port Shepstone sees daytime highs around 24°C and nights near 21°C. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 13 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Port Shepstone 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 17 km away) is warmest in February at about 26°C and coldest in August near 22°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

20°22°24°26°28°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan26Warm
Feb26Warm
Mar26Warm
Apr25Warm
May24Warm
Jun23Refreshing
Jul22Refreshing
Aug22Refreshing
Sep22Refreshing
Oct22Refreshing
Nov23Refreshing
Dec24Warm

UV index in Port Shepstone 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 Port Shepstone peaks around January 16 at about 13 (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.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highHighModerateHighExtremeJan 16UV 13Jun 22UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan14Extreme
Feb11Extreme
Mar10Very high
Apr6High
May5Moderate
Jun4Moderate
Jul4Moderate
Aug5High
Sep5High
Oct10Extreme
Nov10Extreme
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Port Shepstone 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 Port Shepstone is worst in July — around 47 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 4.3× the cleanest month (January, 11 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModeratePoorModerateJul 1546 µg/m³Jan 2111 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan11Good
Feb12Good
Mar18Moderate
Apr24Moderate
May39Poor
Jun43Poor
Jul47Poor
Aug40Poor
Sep30Moderate
Oct22Moderate
Nov15Moderate
Dec13Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Port Shepstone?

Port Shepstone sits at 30.7°S, 30.5°E, 36 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Ga-Malakhe, 14 km away.

Topography around Port Shepstone

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Port Shepstone has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 134 m around an average of 28 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 520 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,912 m.

The land around Port Shepstone is covered by water (45%) and trees (30%) within 3 km, water (48%), trees (24%) and grassland (20%) within 16 km, and grassland (35%), water (32%) and trees (27%) within 80 km.

3 km
134 m
16 km
520 m
80 km
1,912 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Ga-Malakhe 14 km · Margate 16 km · eMuziwezinto 52 km · Scottburgh 58 km · eMkhomazi 68 km · Clydesdale 70 km · Folweni 90 km · Richmond 98 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 Port Shepstone (-30.7414°, 30.455°, elevation 36 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).