Durban, South Africa Climate & Monthly Averages
Durban has a humid subtropical climate. February is the hottest month, averaging 81° by day; July is the coldest at 72°.
Rain, not cold, divides the year in 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).
The wet-and-dry rhythm at a glance
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.
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).
More climate facts for Durban
- 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%
Choosing the right part of the year in Durban
Choose dates by rain, not just temperature
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.
What the humidity changes
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).
Warm all year: the monthly rain pattern
Each card shows the average high and low. The bar places that month between Durban's coldest night and 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
Looking for warmer alternatives? Browse warm places by month, or compare Durban's coolest part of the year: July, August, June.
Monthly temperature and rain 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% |
How Durban compares for rain and warmth
- 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.
These comparisons use the same ten-year window for every city in the dataset.
How the calendar changes in warm-weather 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.
Questions about heat and rain in Durban
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Durban temperature extremes in the 2015–2024 dataset
Derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, 2015–2024. Official station records may differ. Need another precipitation unit? Use the rainfall converter.