KwaZulu-Natal · South Africa
Durban in December
In December, Durban averages a daytime high of 27 °C and a night-time low of 20 °C, with about 115 mm of rain over the month. It falls outside Durban's most comfortable months, April to September.
- Average high
- 27 °C
- Average low
- 20 °C
- Rain in the month
- 115 mm
- Daylight on 15 Dec
- 14 h
- Comfortable month
- No
- Places to stay
- 128
When to go
How December compares with the rest of the year in Durban
December is tied for the 4th warmest month in Durban by average daytime high; across the year the highs run from 23 °C to 28 °C and the lows from 11 °C to 21 °C. By day, December is 1 °C warmer than November, and January is 1 °C warmer than December.
December brings 115 mm of rain, more than the monthly average of 82 mm (985 mm a year); it is the 4th wettest month.
On 15 December the sun is up for about 14 h, against 10 h 10 min at the shortest and 14 h at the longest point of the year (calculated from the latitude, sunrise to sunset).
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 28 °C | 21 °C | 138 mm | |
| February | 28 °C | 21 °C | 129 mm | |
| March | 28 °C | 20 °C | 106 mm | |
| April | 27 °C | 17 °C | 68 mm | Yes |
| May | 25 °C | 14 °C | 42 mm | Yes |
| June | 24 °C | 12 °C | 29 mm | Yes |
| July | 23 °C | 11 °C | 28 mm | Yes |
| August | 24 °C | 13 °C | 38 mm | Yes |
| September | 24 °C | 15 °C | 76 mm | Yes |
| October | 25 °C | 17 °C | 98 mm | |
| November | 26 °C | 18 °C | 119 mm | |
| December | 27 °C | 20 °C | 115 mm |
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
When to go
Is December a good time to visit Durban?
Not by the measure used here: about 115 mm of rain is 80 mm or more. The comfortable months in Durban are April to September; the nearest are September, before, and April, after.
The measure is about weather for a city stay only; it says nothing about events, school holidays or prices.
Public holidays in South Africa in December
Nationwide public holidays; shops and offices may close on these dates.
Where to stay
Where to stay in Durban
This guide lists 128 places to stay in Durban, hotels recorded in Wikidata. By straight-line distance from the centre: under 1 km, 4; 1–3 km, 22; 3–10 km, 38; 10 km or more, 64.
Sources: climate from CRU TS v4.10 (Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia; Open Database License), 1991–2020 averages; day length calculated from the latitude; public holidays from the OpenHolidays API (ODbL); places to stay from each operator's own public pages and Wikidata. How this guide is made.