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Cape Town in December: Weather, Average temperature and Climate

Planning a trip and want to know what the weather in Cape Town in December will be like? Take a look at our weather guide for Cape Town, based on historical data.
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December

Weather in Cape Town in December 2024

Great Weather
Mild
☀️
Sunny
December is an ideal time to visit Cape Town if you're seeking a destination with brilliant weather. Anticipate average maximum temperatures of +72°F and about 17 sunny days, ensuring you'll have ample opportunities to soak up the sunshine. It's worth noting, though, that there may be some rainfall, with approximately 15 mm of precipitation over an average of 2 rainy days. So, prepare your sunglasses, a beach towel, and great walking shoes, as it's most likely going to be amazing weather. Search flights in one click on Avionero.

Average weather

☀️
+72°F
Avg. max. temperature
+52°F
Min.
+93°F
Max.
15 mm
Total precipitation
70%
Avg. humidity
5 m/s
Avg. wind
17 ☀️
Sunny Days
12 ⛅️
Cloudy
2 🌦
Rainy
Our opinion: Cape Town has great weather in December.

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 +77°F on average, with a range between a maximum of +84°F during the day and a minimum of +57°F at night.

The average maximum temperature goes down 7% by the end of the month, compared with the beginning of the month, from +81°F to +79°F.

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 +70°F to +72°F. The minimum temperature also goes up from +59°F to +63°F.

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:

Climate in Cape Town in December

Cape Town weather looks like this, on average, in December and the surrounding months.
NovemberDecemberJanuary
Avg. temperature
+70°F+72°F+73°F
Min. temperature
+46°F+52°F+34°F
Max. temperature
+90°F+93°F+97°F
Rainfall
22 mm15 mm12 mm
Wind
5 m/s5 m/s6 m/s
Humidity
70%70%71%
Air pressure
1014 HPa1012 HPa1012 HPa
Sunny days
141719
Cloudy days
141211
Rainy days
221
Snowy days
000

December weather is still as great as in November. It’s getting warmer as December arrives. The average maximum temperature goes up from +70°F to +72°F during the day. As December arrives, the amount of rainfall goes down. On average, the rainfall volume decreases from 22 mm to 15 mm. Humidity levels don’t change as the month goes on, averaging around 70%. The average wind speed doesn’t change much during December, staying around 5 m/s. The good news is there are likely to be more sunny days in December, from 14 to 17.

January brings much the same weather, it remains great.

Wind

Wind speed in Cape Town in December based on historical data.
Last Year
Historical Data

The average wind speed is 6 m/s getting up to 9 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 8 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 23%, leading to total precipitation of around 63 mm. The maximum amount of rainfall per day is around 30 mm, which is moderate rain. On average, there are about 7 rainy days during December, so prepare to bring an umbrella.
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 27% chance of precipitation and 94 mm of rainfall per day. January, on the other hand, is the driest month with a mere 3% 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 2023:
1 December
☁️
+80°F
2 December
☁️
+69°F
3 December
☀️
+70°F
4 December
☀️
+72°F
5 December
☀️
+74°F
6 December
☀️
+75°F
7 December
☀️
+76°F
8 December
☀️
+85°F
9 December
☀️
+75°F
10 December
☀️
+80°F
11 December
☀️
+82°F
12 December
🌧️
+82°F
13 December
☀️
+76°F
14 December
☁️
+80°F
15 December
☀️
+82°F
16 December
🌧️
+74°F
17 December
☀️
+76°F
18 December
☀️
+78°F
19 December
☀️
+73°F
20 December
☀️
+73°F
21 December
☀️
+84°F
22 December
☀️
+80°F
23 December
☀️
+72°F
24 December
☁️
+74°F
25 December
☀️
+71°F
26 December
☀️
+81°F
27 December
☀️
+78°F
28 December
☀️
+78°F
29 December
☀️
+71°F
30 December
☀️
+78°F
31 December
☀️
+79°F
In December 2023 Cape Town had 25 sunny days, 4 cloudy days, and 2 rainy days. The average maximum temperature was +77°F, with an absolute maximum of +84°F and a minimum of +68°F. The average humidity was 66%, with a maximum of 92% and a minimum of 25%. The average wind speed was 6 m/s, with a maximum of 13 m/s and a minimum of 0 m/s.
Are you planning a trip in December?

Climate Change Over the Years

This is how Cape Town climate has changed over the last 43 years.

The climate in Cape Town in December has not changed that much over the last 43 years.

The average temperature was the lowest in 1982 (+74°F) and the highest in 2012 (+85°F). The driest year was 1979 with only 1 mm of rainfall, and the wettest year was 2022 with 79 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!

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.

Monthly weather in Cape Town

Source of the data

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, 2022.

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.