Hermanus

Western Cape Weather in December

Average temperatures, rainfall, sunshine and the best places to visit in Western Cape, South Africa in December.

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Cape Town Knysna Stellenbosch Hermanus

Planning a journey to Western Cape, South Africa this December and curious over the weather conditions to await? Your essential details are found on this page, answering your query:

What to Expect in Western Cape in December

Western Cape, South Africa is a region in South Africa. In December, Western Cape experiences a range of weather conditions, with temperatures that range from pleasant to very warm and precipitation levels ranging from low to moderate.

Temperatures

Based on our climate data spanning from 1990-2020, the average maximum temperature is pleasant in Paternoster at 20°C (68°F) to very warm in Merweville at 32°C (90°F). Nighttime temperatures generally drop to 16°C (61°F) in Merweville and 17°C (63°F) in Paternoster.

To explore the conditions in Western Cape, South Africa in more detail, check the map below.

Precipitation

In December, precipitation varies across different areas. From low rainfall in Paternoster with an average of 8.5 mm (0.3 in) to moderate rainfall in Natureʼs Valley with 57 mm (2.2 in).

Average sunshine

Many locations offer abundant sunshine during this month. For instance, Cape Town enjoys approximately 334 hours of sunlight, ideal for those seeking sunny weather.

Explore Western Cape by month

Pick a month to see the average temperature, rainfall and sunshine in Western Cape — and find the best time to visit. (based on Cape Town)

January25°C (77°F) February25°C (77°F) March24°C (75°F) April22°C (72°F) May20°C (68°F) June18°C (64°F) This monthJuly17°C (63°F) August17°C (63°F) September18°C (64°F) October20°C (68°F) November22°C (72°F) December24°C (75°F)
Best Time to Visit Western Cape →

Best Places to Visit in Western Cape in December

Click on a destination dot for more details. Toggle the map to compare temperatures or precipitation across Western Cape.

Conditions Temperatures Precipitation
perfect weather
pleasant
tolerable
unpleasant
poor

Perfect weather is subjective. On this map perfect weather has been defined with temperatures between 20°C (68°F) and 29°C (84°F) and not too much precipitation (less than 90 mm (3.5 in) a month).

Popular Destinations in Western Cape

What is the weather like in December for some of the most popular destinations in Western Cape, South Africa?

Temperature range in Western Cape (December)

Precipitation variation in Western Cape (December)

Cape Town

In December Cape Town generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 24°C (75°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 16°C (61°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
22°C (72°F)
24°C (75°F)
25°C (77°F)
Min temperature
15°C (59°F)
16°C (61°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly sun hours
310 hours
334 hours
338 hours
Monthly rainfall
37 mm (1.5 in)
22 mm (0.9 in)
20 mm (0.8 in)
Monthly rainy days
5 days
6 days
5 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Cape Town →

Knysna

In December Knysna generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 23°C (73°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 17°C (63°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly sun hours
320 hours
345 hours
320 hours
Monthly rainfall
72 mm (2.8 in)
51 mm (2 in)
52 mm (2 in)
Monthly rainy days
11 days
11 days
10 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Knysna →

Stellenbosch

In December Stellenbosch generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 26°C (79°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 15°C (59°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
24°C (75°F)
26°C (79°F)
28°C (82°F)
Min temperature
13°C (55°F)
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
Monthly sun hours
310 hours
334 hours
338 hours
Monthly rainfall
46 mm (1.8 in)
28 mm (1.1 in)
25 mm (1 in)
Monthly rainy days
5 days
6 days
5 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Stellenbosch →

Hermanus

In December Hermanus generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 23°C (73°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 17°C (63°F) and low monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly rainfall
45 mm (1.8 in)
30 mm (1.2 in)
28 mm (1.1 in)
Monthly rainy days
7 days
6 days
6 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Hermanus →

Plettenberg Bay

In December Plettenberg Bay generally has high temperatures with maximum daytime temperatures around 23°C (73°F), minimum nighttime temperatures around 17°C (63°F) and moderate monthly rainfall. So on average the conditions are perfect that month.

« November
December
January »
November
December
January
Max temperature
21°C (70°F)
23°C (73°F)
24°C (75°F)
Min temperature
15°C (59°F)
17°C (63°F)
18°C (64°F)
Monthly sun hours
320 hours
345 hours
320 hours
Monthly rainfall
70 mm (2.8 in)
51 mm (2 in)
51 mm (2 in)
Monthly rainy days
10 days
10 days
10 days
Weather conditions
perfect
perfect
perfect
Climate in Plettenberg Bay →

Is your destination not in the list? Have a look at all destinations in Western Cape, in South Africa.

In our records: South Africa December extremes

Notable December records observed across cities in South Africa in our climate database (1976 – 2026). Historic readings can vary in quality, so treat these as illustrative.

  • In our records, the warmest December day in South Africa reached 44°C (111°F) in Kruger National Park on December 13, 2024.

Popular cities in December

Day & night temperatures, rainfall and average weather in Western Cape in December.

City Weather Day temp Night temp Rainfall
Cape Town 24°C (75°F) 16°C (61°F) 22 mm (0.9 in)
Knysna 23°C (73°F) 17°C (63°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Stellenbosch 26°C (79°F) 15°C (59°F) 28 mm (1.1 in)
Hermanus 23°C (73°F) 17°C (63°F) 30 mm (1.2 in)
Plettenberg Bay 23°C (73°F) 17°C (63°F) 51 mm (2 in)
Bloubergstrand 25°C (77°F) 16°C (61°F) 17 mm (0.7 in)

Western Cape weather in December: frequently asked questions

What is the weather like in Western Cape, South Africa in December?

In December, Western Cape, South Africa generally has perfect weather conditions. Cape Town sees daytime temperatures near 24°C (75°F), with nights cooling to roughly 16°C (61°F).

What is the average temperature in Western Cape, South Africa in December?

In Cape Town, the average daytime high in December is 24°C (75°F), while nighttime temperatures drop to around 16°C (61°F).

Does Western Cape, South Africa get a lot of rain in December?

Not particularly. Cape Town averages just 22 mm (0.9 in) of rain in December, making it a mostly dry month for Western Cape, South Africa.

Is December a Good Time to Visit Western Cape, South Africa?

We consider December to be one of the best times to travel to Western Cape, South Africa. Typically, the climate in Cape Town is perfect.

Generally speaking, the best visiting conditions can be found in January, February, March, April, May, October, November and December offering mostly perfect weather in Cape Town. The weather in July, on the other hand, tends to be unpleasant.

Interested in more climate information?

We have much more information about the climate in Western Cape.

Weather and climate has detailed information for every country in the world. Are you going to South Africa? Get detailed historical weather averages for many cities in South Africa.

Not sure yet where to go? We now have a tool which recommends destinations that suit your ideal travel conditions. Find out where to go with our weather planner.

Bucket list

Need travel inspiration? Check out our bucket list articles and be inspired.

Whale watching at Hermanus

One of the best destinations in the world to spot whales is Hermanus in South Africa. Often the whales can be found off the coast between June and December. The peak is in September and November.
Paraglide at the Western Cape

In summer months (December to March) it is warm, sunny and dry in Cape Town. For many, this is the ideal time to visit and paraglide at the Cape.

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