For those searching for an ideal December holiday with excellent weather, Cape Town is a perfect choice. Average maximum temperatures are +22°C. Expect about 16 sunny days, making it the perfect place to enjoy the sunshine. It's worth noting that there may be some rainfall, with an average of 15 mm of precipitation over 6 rainy days. So, take your sunglasses, a beach towel, and great walking shoes, as it looks like amazing weather. Search flightsin one click on Avionero.
Average weather
☀️
+22°C
Avg. max. temperature
+11°C
Min.
+34°C
Max.
15 mm
Total precipitation
71%
Avg. humidity
6 m/s
Avg. wind
16 ☀️
Sunny Days
8 ⛅️
Cloudy
6 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Cape Town has great weather in December.
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Average temperature in Cape Town in December
Here are the expected maximum, average and minimum temperatures in Cape Town for December based on the historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The temperature in December is +25°C on average, with a range between a maximum of +30°C during the day and a minimum of +15°C at night.
The average maximum temperature goes up 13% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +23°C to +25°C.
Is Cape Town warm or cold in December?
Cape Town is typically mild in December.
Maximum temperatures go up compared to the previous month from +21°C to +22°C. The minimum temperature also goes up from +15°C to +17°C.
Pack a light jacket as it will be warm in the day and cool in the evenings.
December is one of the warmest months in Cape Town, here is the comparison with other months:
Water temperature in Cape Town in December
Water in Cape Town in December is Fresh. It varies from +17°C to +20°C, with an average of +18°C.This is almost similar to the air temperature, which averages +22°C.
In December, water temperatures are average relative to the rest of the year:
The warmest water temperatures in Cape Town are reached in January, when the average sea temperature rises to +19°C. The coldest water temperatures are in August, with an average of +15°C.
Can you swim in Cape Town in December?
Water temperature (+18°C) in Cape Town in December might be suited for short swims and acclimatized swimmers might find it refreshing.
🦭
Cold
Below +16°C
🏄♂️
Fresh
16°C - 21°C
🏊
Comfortable
21°C - 25°C
👙
Warm
25°C - 28°C
🔥
Very warm
+28°C and up
Think of bringing a full-body or shorty wetsuit (3mm-5mm thickness) to provide insulation and maintain body heat.
Climate in Cape Town in December
Cape Town weather looks like this, on average, in December and the surrounding months.
November
December
January
Avg. temperature
+21°C
+22°C
+23°C
Min. temperature
+8°C
+11°C
+1°C
Max. temperature
+32°C
+34°C
+36°C
Rainfall
23 mm
15 mm
12 mm
Wind
6 m/s
6 m/s
6 m/s
Avg. water temperature
+17°C
+18°C
+19°C
Humidity
71%
71%
71%
Air pressure
1014 HPa
1013 HPa
1012 HPa
Sunny days
13
16
18
Cloudy days
10
8
8
Rainy days
7
6
5
Snowy days
0
0
0
December often has better weather than November.It’s getting warmer as December arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +21°C to +22°C during the day.As December arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 23 mm to 15 mm.Humidity levels don’t change as the month goes on, averaging around 71%.The average wind speed doesn’t change much during December, staying around 6 m/s.The good news is there are likely to be more sunny days in December, from 13 to 16.
January brings much the same weather, it remains great.
Wind speed in Cape Town in December based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
The average wind speed is 7 m/s getting up to 10 m/s which is a medium breeze. You can feel it, especially getting out of the water.
The average wind speed in Cape Town is gradually increasing during December, going from 4 m/s to 7 m/s over the course of the month.
Rain
Amount of rainfall in mm during December in Cape Town based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data
A chance of rain on a typical day in December stands at 6%, leading to total precipitation of around 8 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 4 mm, which is considered light rain.Cape Town is amazing in December with as little as 2 rainy days on average, so plan adventures in the great outdoors.
Here’s how December is compared with other months in the amount of precipitation, total mm:
Cape Town wettest month is June, where a typical day has a 43% chance of precipitation and 101 mm of rainfall per day. January, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 16% chance of precipitation and 12 mm of rainfall per day.
How was the weather last December in Cape Town?
This is the weather in Cape Town in December 2024:
1 December
☀️
+23°C
2 December
☀️
+23°C
3 December
☀️
+24°C
4 December
☀️
+23°C
5 December
☀️
+22°C
6 December
☀️
+30°C
7 December
☀️
+25°C
8 December
☁️
+25°C
9 December
☀️
+23°C
10 December
☀️
+25°C
11 December
☀️
+25°C
12 December
☁️
+20°C
13 December
☀️
+23°C
14 December
☀️
+22°C
15 December
☀️
+23°C
16 December
☀️
+25°C
17 December
☀️
+24°C
18 December
☀️
+23°C
19 December
☀️
+24°C
20 December
☀️
+24°C
21 December
☀️
+26°C
22 December
☀️
+25°C
23 December
☀️
+24°C
24 December
☀️
+25°C
25 December
☀️
+24°C
26 December
☀️
+26°C
27 December
☀️
+29°C
28 December
☀️
+29°C
29 December
☀️
+27°C
30 December
☀️
+26°C
31 December
☀️
+25°C
In December 2024 Cape Town had 29 sunny days, 2 cloudy days, and 0 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +25°C, with an absolute maximum of +30°C and a minimum of +20°C. The average humidity was 75%, with a maximum of 96% and a minimum of 49%. The average wind speed was 7 m/s, with a maximum of 14 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in December?
Climate Change over Years
This is how Cape Town climate have been changing during last 43 years period.
The climate in Cape Town in December has not changed much over the last 43 years.
The average temperature was the lowest in 1996 (+18°C) and the highest in 2022 (+22°C). The driest year was 2017 with only 308 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2023 with 1389 mm.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about the weather in Cape Town in December:
Is December a good time to visit Cape Town?
Yes, December is a great time to go to Cape Town, the weather couldn’t be better. Be ready to get outside, explore and enjoy. Check what other months that are a good time to visit Cape Town.
Can you sunbathe in Cape Town in December?
December has mild temperatures in Cape Town. Not ideal for sunbathing, but still good for daytime outdoor activities, but plan for cool evenings. Pack a light jacket and shorts!
Can you swim in Cape Town in December?
In general, you can swim in Cape Town in December, if you want to, at an average water temperature of +18°C. But it will feel quite cool, and some precautions are necessary to ensure your comfort and safety.
Is Cape Town rainy in December?
Cape Town is usually dry in December. Plan your packing around outdoor activities and exploring.
Is it sunny in Cape Town in December?
The amount of sunny days in Cape Town during December varies; prepare for a mix of clouds and sun.
Other cities in South Africa
Check out the weather for other cities in South Africa.
For this page, we’ve looked at the typical weather in Cape Town, based on historical hourly weather data from January 1, 1979, to December 31, 2023.
For past dates, we show actual recorded data at the location at that time. Forecasts are based on recorded weather during that day of the year, averaged over the total years for which we have records (unless stated otherwise). The daily temperature is the highest recorded temperature in the shadow during that day.
