Stellenbosch weather in December

In December, Stellenbosch sees average daytime highs of 23°C and overnight lows near 16°C, with 24 mm of rain across 4.2 wet days and about 14.2 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-warmest and 9th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 23°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 64% 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 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Stellenbosch's 4th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Stellenbosch's year-round climate.

Daytime high
23°
4th warmest
Overnight low
16°
9th coldest
Rainfall
24 mm
4.2 wet days
Daylight
14 h 12 min
5:33 AM – 7:48 PM
Cloud cover
31%
4th clearest
Wind
16 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
8.15 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.4
out of 10

Stellenbosch is town in the Western Cape, South Africa.

Density
11,678/km²
people per km²
Founded
1679

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 23°C through the month.

A typical December day in Stellenbosch reaches about 23°C in the afternoon and slips back to 16°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 19°C and 27°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 2°C warmer than November and about 1°C cooler than January.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12215
22215
32215
42315
52315
62315
72315
82316
92316
102316
112316
122316
132316
142316
152316
162316
172316
182316
192316
202316
212316
222316
232316
242316
252416
262416
272416
282417
292417
302417
312417

Stellenbosch weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 4th-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan24° / 17°213.4148.8
Feb25° / 17°183.213.38.7
Mar24° / 16°213.512.38.6
Apr21° / 14°565.711.27.4
May19° / 12°90910.36.4
Jun16° / 10°138119.85.1
Jul16° / 12210.3105.1
Aug16° / 10510.910.75.1
Sep17° / 11°688.811.85.8
Oct19° / 12°456.612.96.9
Nov21° / 14°415.813.87.5
Dec23° / 16°244.214.28.4

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 64% 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 20%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18020
28020
38020
48020
57921
67921
77921
87921
97921
107822
117822
127822
137822
147822
157921
167822
177822
187822
197921
207921
218020
228020
238119
248119
258218
268317
278317
288416
298416
308515
318515

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Stellenbosch gets around 24 mm of rain over 4.2 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 13% and peaks near 14% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
113
212
312
412
512
612
712
812
912
1013
1113
1213
1313
1413
1513
1614
1714
1814
1914
2014
2114
2214
2314
2414
2513
2613
2713
2813
2913
3013
3112

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 49% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)
1524350
2514450
3494560
4474670
5464770
6444880
7434890
8424990
94149100
104050110
113950110
123850120
133751120
143750130
153650140
163551140
173550150
183550160
193449160
203449170
213449170
223349180
233249180
243249190
253149200
263049210
272949210
282949220
292849230
302849231
312749231

Wind in December

Winds average 16 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 16 km/h on the calmest days to 16 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
116light breeze
216light breeze
316light breeze
416light breeze
516light breeze
616light breeze
716light breeze
816light breeze
916light breeze
1016light breeze
1116light breeze
1216light breeze
1316light breeze
1416light breeze
1516light breeze
1616light breeze
1716light breeze
1816light breeze
1916light breeze
2016light breeze
2116light breeze
2216light breeze
2316light breeze
2416light breeze
2516light breeze
2616light breeze
2716light breeze
2816light breeze
2916light breeze
3016light breeze
3116light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 14 h 06 min at the start of December to 14 h 12 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 5:31 AM to 5:41 AM, and sunset from 7:37 PM to 7:55 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
114.15:317:37
214.15:317:38
314.15:317:39
414.15:317:40
514.25:317:40
614.25:317:41
714.25:317:42
814.25:327:43
914.25:327:43
1014.25:327:44
1114.25:327:45
1214.25:327:46
1314.25:327:46
1414.25:337:47
1514.25:337:48
1614.25:337:48
1714.35:347:49
1814.35:347:49
1914.35:347:50
2014.35:357:50
2114.35:357:51
2214.35:367:51
2314.35:367:52
2414.35:377:52
2514.35:377:53
2614.35:387:53
2714.35:387:53
2814.25:397:54
2914.25:397:54
3014.25:407:54
3114.25:417:55

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 8.15 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.47 kWh/m² to a high of 8.15 kWh/m² in December across the year — December's 8.15 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

02468151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
18.1Intense
28.1Intense
38.1Intense
48.1Intense
58.1Intense
68.1Intense
78.1Intense
88.1Intense
98.1Intense
108.2Intense
118.2Intense
128.2Intense
138.2Intense
148.2Intense
158.2Intense
168.2Intense
178.2Intense
188.2Intense
198.2Intense
208.2Intense
218.2Intense
228.2Intense
238.2Intense
248.2Intense
258.2Intense
268.2Intense
278.2Intense
288.2Intense
298.2Intense
308.2Intense
318.2Intense
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Stellenbosch

In seasonPeak

None of Stellenbosch's seasonal hazards are active in December. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Stellenbosch's rainy season runs May–September, when most of the year's rain falls.

Rainy season
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Stellenbosch?

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

8.4
Sightseeing
4th-best month of the year
6.5
Beach & pool
4th-best month of the year

December is one of the better times to visit Stellenbosch for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Stellenbosch in December

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

In December, Stellenbosch sees daytime highs around 23°C and nights near 16°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes. About 4 days see rain.

sun protectionlight clothes

Sea temperature near Stellenbosch in December

The nearest coast averages about 18°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 21 km away) 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°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcool
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan19Cool
Feb18Cool
Mar17Cool
Apr16Cool
May16Cool
Jun15Cool
Jul15Bracing
Aug15Bracing
Sep15Cool
Oct16Cool
Nov17Cool
Dec18Cool

UV index in Stellenbosch 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 Stellenbosch 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 11 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 Stellenbosch 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 Stellenbosch is worst in May — around 52 µg/m³ PM2.5 (poor), about 3.4× the cleanest month (December, 15 µg/m³).

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

0204060JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModeratePoorModerateMay 2152 µg/m³Dec 1516 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan20Moderate
Feb19Moderate
Mar28Moderate
Apr41Poor
May52Poor
Jun50Poor
Jul47Poor
Aug41Poor
Sep33Moderate
Oct29Moderate
Nov18Moderate
Dec15Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Stellenbosch?

Stellenbosch sits at 33.9°S, 18.9°E, 122 m above sea level, in South Africa. The nearest listed city is Kuils River, 15 km away.

Topography around Stellenbosch

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Stellenbosch has large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 605 m around an average of 167 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,612 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,073 m.

The land around Stellenbosch is covered by artificial surfaces (29%), grassland (28%) and trees (26%) within 3 km, grassland (45%) and trees (22%) within 16 km, and water (34%) and grassland (25%) within 80 km.

3 km
605 m
16 km
1,612 m
80 km
2,073 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
December weather nearby: Kuils River 15 km · Kraaifontein 17 km · Somerset West 17 km · Le Roux 22 km · Durbanville 23 km · Franschhoek 23 km · Paarl 24 km · Grabouw 28 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 Stellenbosch (-33.9346°, 18.8668°, elevation 122 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).