Durban weather by month & the best time to visit
South Africa · major coastal city · semi-arid climate
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The best time to visit Durban is June — its sunniest month (Sunshine Score 90/100), with May and July close behind. Durban averages about 2,503 hours of sunshine a year. Daytime highs around 23°C / 73°F and roughly 19 mm of rain in June.
When is the best time to visit Durban?
For sunshine, the best time to visit Durban is June, then May and July. The dullest month is January (77/100, 92 mm of rain). The full month-by-month picture is in the table below.
How sunny is Durban?
Durban gets a lot of sun: around 2,503 hours a year. Conditions barely change through the year — only 13 Sunshine Score points separate June from January. It ranks #20 of 21 destinations in South Africa for annual sunshine, below the national median of 2,871 hours. The year's 698 mm of rain spreads fairly evenly across the months, with no pronounced dry season.
Sunshine Score by month
| Month | Score | Day high | Night low | Rain | UV | Sea |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 77 | 27° / 81°F | 22° / 72°F | 92 mm | 11 | 25° / 77°F |
| February | 80 | 28° / 82°F | 22° / 72°F | 73 mm | 10 | 25° / 77°F |
| March | 81 | 27° / 81°F | 21° / 70°F | 71 mm | 9 | 25° / 77°F |
| April | 84 | 25° / 77°F | 19° / 66°F | 51 mm | 6 | 24° / 75°F |
| May | 89 | 24° / 75°F | 17° / 63°F | 26 mm | 4 | 24° / 75°F |
| June | 90 | 23° / 73°F | 15° / 59°F | 19 mm | 3 | 22° / 72°F |
| July | 88 | 22° / 72°F | 15° / 59°F | 29 mm | 3 | 22° / 72°F |
| August | 88 | 23° / 73°F | 15° / 59°F | 28 mm | 4 | 21° / 70°F |
| September | 84 | 24° / 75°F | 17° / 63°F | 50 mm | 6 | 21° / 70°F |
| October | 79 | 24° / 75°F | 18° / 64°F | 77 mm | 7 | 22° / 72°F |
| November | 77 | 25° / 77°F | 19° / 66°F | 93 mm | 9 | 23° / 73°F |
| December | 77 | 26° / 79°F | 21° / 70°F | 89 mm | 10 | 25° / 77°F |
Sea temperature in Durban by month
The sea off Durban is warmest in January at around 25°C / 77°F, and coolest in August at 21°C / 70°F. The water sits at a comfortable 21°C or warmer roughly all year round. Month-by-month sea-surface temperatures are in the Sea column of the table above.
Nearest destinations
Head-to-head
How Durban compares month by month: Durban vs Johannesburg · Durban vs Maputo · Durban vs Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) · Durban vs Gaborone · all comparisons
Durban: questions and answers
What kind of destination is Durban?
Durban is a major coastal city in South Africa with a semi-arid climate — the sea reaches 25°C at its warmest and is swimmable (21°C+) year-round.
How many hours of sunshine does Durban get a year?
Durban gets about 2,503 hours of sunshine a year, at its best around June.
When is the best time to visit Durban?
The sunniest time to visit Durban is June, when the Sunshine Score peaks at 90/100 (with May and July close behind). Expect daytime highs around 23°C / 73°F.
What is the least sunny month in Durban?
January is the least sunny month in Durban, scoring 77/100 with about 92 mm of rain.
What is the sea temperature in Durban?
The sea in Durban ranges from about 21°C (August) to 25°C (January). Month-by-month sea temperatures are on this page.
How strong is the sun in Durban?
The typical midday UV index in Durban peaks around 11 (extreme) in January, easing to about 3 (moderate) in June. Month-by-month midday UV values are in the UV column of the table on this page.
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