Cape Town weather in December
Cape Town in December averages 21°C (69°F), 13 mm of rain and 10.9 hours of sun a day. It is one of the driest months of the year here.
Of the twelve months in Cape Town, December is the third warmest, the third driest and the second sunniest.
- Average temp
- 21°C (69°F)
16–26°C · 60–79°F
- Rainfall
- 13 mm
Not much rain
- Sunshine
- 10.9 h
hours per day
What is Cape Town like in December?
Daytime
Days are warm, typically in the mid-20s°C or above.
Rain
Rain is usually light.
Evening
Evenings are cooler. A layer helps after sunset.
What should I pack for Cape Town in December?
High-factor sun cream
With 10.9 hours of sun a day, burn time is short even in shade.
Sunglasses and a brimmed hat
Midday glare is the part people underpack for, not the heat itself.
A layer for the evening
The day swings about 10°C between its low and its high.
Comfortable walking shoes you can rinse
Dry warm weather is walking weather, and dust gets into everything.
December compared with November and January
December in Cape Town is 2.2°C warmer than November and 14 mm drier than it, which averages 19°C (65°F).
December in Cape Town is 1°C cooler than January and about as wet as it, which averages 22°C (71°F).
Daylight in Cape Town in December
On 15 December the sun is up for 14 hours 24 minutes in Cape Town, rising about 05:29 and setting about 19:53 local time.
No month in Cape Town has more daylight than December.
Where to stay in Cape Town
Dates are a starting point for December.
Travel guides for Cape Town
What to read before you book.
Cape Town weather by month
TemperatureRainfall
How December compares with the rest of the year
December is highlighted. Every other month links to its own page.
| Month | Average | Rainfall |
|---|---|---|
| January | 22°C / 71°F | 10 mm |
| February | 22°C / 72°F | 11 mm |
| March | 21°C / 69°F | 13 mm |
| April | 18°C / 64°F | 42 mm |
| May | 15°C / 60°F | 65 mm |
| June | 13°C / 56°F | 97 mm |
| July | 13°C / 55°F | 89 mm |
| August | 13°C / 55°F | 76 mm |
| September | 14°C / 58°F | 47 mm |
| October | 17°C / 62°F | 32 mm |
| November | 19°C / 65°F | 27 mm |
| December | 21°C / 69°F | 13 mm |
Check another month
This is the month you are reading. Change either side to look at another.
FAQs about Cape Town in December
December climate averages for Cape Town, 1991–2020.
Cape Town averages 21°C (69°F) in December, ranging from about 16°C (60°F) at night to 26°C (79°F) in the afternoon. That is a 1991–2020 average, so an individual week can run either side of it.
Barely. December sees only about 13 mm, so rain is unlikely to affect your plans.
No. December averages 21°C (69°F) against 22°C (71°F) in January — 1°C cooler.
December is 2.2°C warmer than November, and 14 mm drier.
Yes. December falls inside the most comfortable stretch of the year here, November to April, on temperature and rainfall together.
About 10.9 hours of sun a day on the 1991–2020 average — among the brighter months anywhere.
This page does not show today's weather. It is a 1991–2020 climate normal from Meteostat — a long-run average of what December is usually like, which is what you want when booking months ahead. For today or the coming week, check a live forecast.
About 14 hours 24 minutes of daylight in mid-December, the most of any month in Cape Town.
On 15 December, sunrise is about 05:29 and sunset about 19:53 local time. Both shift across the month.
