Climate Insights for Durban

The climate in Durban is warm and mild. The average annual temperature is 22°C and approximately 957mm of precipitation falls per year. Durban receives a notable amount of rainfall throughout the year, including during its driest month. Durban is in the Southern Hemisphere. The seasons are reversed — summer runs from December to February, while winter falls between June and August. The summer months are: March, February, January. The coldest months are July, August, June, when temperatures can drop to 16°C.

Durban has relatively stable temperatures year-round, staying within a 10°C range. The warmest month is March, when average highs reach 26°C and the mean temperature sits around 24°C. July is the coolest month, with minimum temperatures around 16°C and an average of 18°C. Daily temperature variation is modest, with an average difference of 4°C between highs and lows. The sharpest temperature change occurs between April and May, with a 2°C shift in average temperatures.

Durban is a moderately rainy area, receiving approximately 957mm of precipitation annually, which averages out to around 80mm per month. The wettest month is July, averaging 143mm of rainfall. October and March also tend to see above-average precipitation. The driest month is June, with just 37mm. That's 107mm less than July, the wettest month. Precipitation varies noticeably between seasons, with the second half (July to December) of the year generally seeing more rainfall.

Durban is relatively calm, with an average annual wind speed of 6km/h. For context, sustained winds below 12km/h are generally light, while anything above 25km/h is considered strong. The windiest month is December, averaging 6km/h, though still comfortable for most outdoor activities. The calmest conditions occur in May, with average winds dropping to 5km/h, making it an ideal period for wind-sensitive activities. Wind conditions are fairly consistent throughout the year, varying by only 1km/h between the calmest and windiest months.

It is currently winter in Durban, which began on June 21, 2026. Durban is in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are reversed — spring starts in September, summer in December, autumn in March, and winter in June. The warmest period peaks in March at around 26°C, while the coldest stretch bottoms out in July near 16°C. Spring is next, beginning on September 23, 2026 — 53 days from now.

The best time to visit Durban is during January, February, March, April, May, June, August, September, November and December, when the weather is most comfortable for travellers. During these months, average temperatures hover around 22°C with modest rainfall averaging 71mm per month. By contrast, July can be quite cold with temperatures dropping to 16°C. Despite being the best months overall, some rain is still likely — pack a waterproof layer and plan a mix of indoor and outdoor activities.

The table below shows monthly climate averages for Durban based on historical weather data. Min and max temperatures represent typical overnight lows and afternoon highs for each month, shown in degrees Celsius (°C). Precipitation is measured in millimetres (mm) and indicates the average total rainfall per month. Wind speed is the average sustained speed in kilometres per hour (km/h). All values are based on averages from over 10 years of historical weather data. The current month is highlighted for quick reference.