Shakaskraal weather in December

In December, Shakaskraal sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 21°C, with 103 mm of rain across 13.8 wet days and about 13.9 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 25% 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 13 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Shakaskraal's 11th-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Shakaskraal's year-round climate.

Daytime high
26°
4th warmest
Overnight low
21°
9th coldest
Rainfall
103 mm
13.8 wet days
Daylight
13 h 54 min
4:55 AM – 6:48 PM
Cloud cover
63%
11th clearest
Wind
17 km/h
4th windiest
Solar energy
5.97 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.1
out of 10

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month.

A typical December day in Shakaskraal reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 21°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 22°C and 29°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)
12520
22520
32520
42520
52520
62520
72520
82521
92521
102521
112521
122521
132521
142521
152621
162621
172621
182621
192621
202621
212621
222621
232622
242622
252622
262622
272622
282622
292622
302622
312622

Shakaskraal weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 4th-warmest and 3rd-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan27° / 22°10413.713.76.1
Feb27° / 23°9312.213.16.1
Mar26° / 22°9711.912.26.6
Apr25° / 20°849.611.37.2
May24° / 18°556.310.58.1
Jun22° / 16°355.410.18.1
Jul22° / 15°53610.37.9
Aug22° / 16°406.610.97.7
Sep23° / 17°729.811.87.0
Oct23° / 18°10213.412.76.3
Nov24° / 20°10914.113.56.1
Dec26° / 21°10313.813.96.1

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 25% 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 57%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
13763
23763
33862
43862
53862
63763
73862
83862
93961
103961
114159
124159
134258
144258
154258
164357
174357
184456
194456
204456
214654
224654
234654
244753
254753
264753
274852
284852
294951
304852
314852

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Shakaskraal gets around 103 mm of rain over 13.8 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 45% and peaks near 47% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
146
246
347
447
547
647
747
847
947
1047
1147
1246
1346
1445
1545
1644
1744
1844
1943
2043
2143
2243
2342
2442
2542
2643
2743
2843
2943
3043
3143

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 48% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 70% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1311324510
2211314510
3210314611
4210314611
519314712
618314712
718304813
817304913
917294914
1016294915
1116285015
1206275116
1306265117
1405265118
1505255020
1605245021
1705235022
1804225123
1904215124
2004205026
2104204927
2203194928
2303184930
2403184831
2503174732
2603174733
2703164634
2802164635
2902164536
3002164537
3102164437

Wind in December

Winds average 17 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 17 km/h on the calmest days to 18 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
118light breeze
218light breeze
317light breeze
417light breeze
517light breeze
617light breeze
717light breeze
817light breeze
917light breeze
1017light breeze
1117light breeze
1217light breeze
1317light breeze
1417light breeze
1517light breeze
1617light breeze
1717light breeze
1817light breeze
1917light breeze
2017light breeze
2117light breeze
2217light breeze
2317light breeze
2417light breeze
2517light breeze
2617light breeze
2717light breeze
2817light breeze
2917light breeze
3017light breeze
3117light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 48 min at the start of December to 13 h 54 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 4:52 AM to 5:02 AM, and sunset from 6:37 PM to 6:54 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.84:526:37
213.84:526:38
313.84:526:39
413.84:526:40
513.84:536:40
613.84:536:41
713.84:536:42
813.84:536:43
913.84:536:43
1013.84:536:44
1113.94:546:45
1213.94:546:45
1313.94:546:46
1413.94:546:46
1513.94:556:47
1613.94:556:48
1713.94:556:48
1813.94:566:49
1913.94:566:49
2013.94:576:50
2113.94:576:50
2213.94:576:51
2313.94:586:51
2413.94:586:52
2513.94:596:52
2613.94:596:53
2713.95:006:53
2813.95:016:53
2913.95:016:54
3013.95:026:54
3113.95:026:54

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 5.97 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.16 kWh/m² to a high of 6.01 kWh/m² in January across the year — December's 5.97 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
75.8Bright
85.8Bright
95.8Bright
105.8Bright
115.9Bright
125.9Bright
135.9Bright
145.9Bright
156.0Bright
166.0Bright
176.0Intense
186.0Intense
196.0Intense
206.1Intense
216.1Intense
226.1Intense
236.1Intense
246.1Intense
256.1Intense
266.1Intense
276.1Intense
286.1Intense
296.1Intense
306.1Intense
316.1Intense
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Shakaskraal

In seasonPeak

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

Shakaskraal 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 Shakaskraal?

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

6.1
Sightseeing
9th-best month of the year
5.7
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Shakaskraal for sightseeing.

What to pack for Shakaskraal in December

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

In December, Shakaskraal sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 21°C. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 14 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Shakaskraal 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 18 km away) is warmest in February at about 25°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°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan25Warm
Feb25Warm
Mar25Warm
Apr24Warm
May23Refreshing
Jun22Refreshing
Jul21Refreshing
Aug21Refreshing
Sep21Refreshing
Oct22Refreshing
Nov23Refreshing
Dec24Refreshing

UV index in Shakaskraal 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 Shakaskraal peaks around January 15 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 highExtremeJan 15UV 12Jun 22UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan12Extreme
Feb12Extreme
Mar10Extreme
Apr6High
May5Moderate
Jun4Moderate
Jul4Moderate
Aug5High
Sep6High
Oct10Extreme
Nov10Very high
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Shakaskraal 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 Shakaskraal 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 Shakaskraal?

Shakaskraal sits at 29.4°S, 31.2°E, 36 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Ballitoville, 10 km away.

Topography around Shakaskraal

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Shakaskraal has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 197 m around an average of 59 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 596 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,533 m.

The land around Shakaskraal is covered by trees (36%), grassland (32%) and cropland (23%) within 3 km, water (28%), trees (27%) and grassland (22%) within 16 km, and trees (35%), water (29%) and grassland (21%) within 80 km.

3 km
197 m
16 km
596 m
80 km
1,533 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Ballitoville 10 km · KwaDukuza 15 km · Tongaat 17 km · Mandeni 39 km · Ntuzuma 41 km · Durban 49 km · Pinetown 52 km · Eshowe 67 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 Shakaskraal (-29.4493°, 31.2153°, 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).