Durban, South Africa Climate & Monthly Averages
The climate of Durban
8 months of the year in Durban land in the band most people call comfortable - highs between 18°C and 27°C with rain on fewer than twelve days. The exceptions sit at either end: February at 81°F (27°C) and July at 72°F (22°C).
Climate quick facts
- Hottest month: February - highs near 81°F (27°C)
- Coldest month: July - highs near 72°F (22°C)
- Decade extremes (2015-2024): 97°F (36°C) high · 46°F (8°C) low
- Wettest month: April (10 rainy days) · Sunniest: January (11.0 h sun/day)
- Climate type: humid subtropical
- Annual swing: 7°C between the average warmest and coolest month · day to night: 6°C
- Average humidity: 74%
Temperatures through the year
February is the warm end of the year, averaging 81°F (27°C) by day and 72°F (22°C) overnight. July sits at the other end of the year: 72°F (22°C) by day, 56°F (13°C) at night. January is the brightest month at 11.0 hours of sun a day, against an annual average of 9.6.
Rain, sun and snow
Days and nights are about 6°C apart on average - narrower than about 88% of the cities we track. April is the wettest month at 4.5 inches (115 mm) over 10 days; June is the driest. Between the average February and the average July lie 7°C, a narrower spread than about 81% of the cities we track. Across the gridded 2015-2024 daily record, the highest daily maximum for this location was 97°F (36°C) and the lowest daily minimum 46°F (8°C).
How Durban compares
- Durban sits close to the middle of our dataset on most measures: 70°F (21°C) as an annual average, 38.1 inches (968 mm) of precipitation and 9.6 hours of sun a day.
Ranked against every city in our dataset, each measured on the same ten-year window.
Monthly climate table
| Month | High | Low | Rain days | Precipitation | Sunshine | Daylight | Wet-day chance | Humidity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 81° | 71° | 12 | 3.9 in | 11.0 h/day | 13.9 h | 39% | 77% |
| February | 81° | 72° | 10 | 4.1 in | 10.0 h/day | 13.2 h | 37% | 78% |
| March | 81° | 70° | 11 | 3.7 in | 10.0 h/day | 12.3 h | 36% | 78% |
| April | 77° | 66° | 10 | 4.5 in | 9.0 h/day | 11.4 h | 34% | 77% |
| May | 75° | 62° | 6 | 3.5 in | 9.3 h/day | 10.6 h | 18% | 74% |
| June | 73° | 58° | 5 | 0.9 in | 9.6 h/day | 10.2 h | 16% | 67% |
| July | 72° | 56° | 5 | 1.5 in | 9.3 h/day | 10.4 h | 17% | 65% |
| August | 72° | 58° | 7 | 1.4 in | 9.2 h/day | 11.1 h | 23% | 70% |
| September | 73° | 62° | 9 | 3.0 in | 8.9 h/day | 12.0 h | 31% | 76% |
| October | 74° | 64° | 12 | 4.2 in | 9.4 h/day | 12.9 h | 38% | 76% |
| November | 76° | 66° | 13 | 3.5 in | 9.6 h/day | 13.7 h | 43% | 77% |
| December | 79° | 70° | 14 | 3.9 in | 9.9 h/day | 14.1 h | 44% | 78% |
Durban month by month
Average high and low for each month, with the bar showing where it sits in Durban's year (left is the coldest night, right is the warmest afternoon).
January
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 11.0 h
- Daylight
- 13.9 h
February
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 13.2 h
March
- Rain
- 11 days
- Sunshine
- 10.0 h
- Daylight
- 12.3 h
April
- Rain
- 10 days
- Sunshine
- 9.0 h
- Daylight
- 11.4 h
May
- Rain
- 6 days
- Sunshine
- 9.3 h
- Daylight
- 10.6 h
June
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 9.6 h
- Daylight
- 10.2 h
July
- Rain
- 5 days
- Sunshine
- 9.3 h
- Daylight
- 10.4 h
August
- Rain
- 7 days
- Sunshine
- 9.2 h
- Daylight
- 11.1 h
September
- Rain
- 9 days
- Sunshine
- 8.9 h
- Daylight
- 12.0 h
October
- Rain
- 12 days
- Sunshine
- 9.4 h
- Daylight
- 12.9 h
November
- Rain
- 13 days
- Sunshine
- 9.6 h
- Daylight
- 13.7 h
December
- Rain
- 14 days
- Sunshine
- 9.9 h
- Daylight
- 14.1 h
Warmer places to go, by month: January · February · March · April · May · June · July · August · September · October · November · December
Seasons in Durban
Spring (September through November)
Through spring, Durban settles into easy warmth: 74°F (24°C) by day, 64°F (18°C) after dark, and rain falls on around 34 of the 90 days.
Summer (December through February)
Summer in Durban settles into easy warmth, with daytime highs averaging 80°F (27°C) and nights around 71°F (22°C); rain falls on around 36 of the 90 days. Daylight is generous - around 10.3 hours of sun a day.
Fall (March through May)
Fall is pleasantly warm here - highs near 78°F (25°C), nights near 66°F (19°C), and expect showers on roughly 27 days across the season.
Winter (June through August)
Winter in Durban settles into easy warmth, with daytime highs averaging 72°F (22°C) and nights around 57°F (14°C); rain comes on about 17 days over the three months.
Climate questions, answered
How cold does Durban get in winter?
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How much do temperatures drop at night in Durban?
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Best time to visit Durban
Aim for May to August if you get the choice: warm days, manageable rainfall and plenty of daylight line up, and highs average 73°F (23°C) against roughly 6 wet days a month. For the same question asked the other way round, see where else is warm in May.
Pack for Durban with light clothing for the warm months and a compact umbrella or rain shell. Note the gap between afternoon and night: February pairs 81°F (27°C) with 72°F (22°C).
Durban temperature records (2015-2024)
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need the precipitation in other units? The mm-to-inches rainfall converter handles it.