Weather in Durban

February is the warmest month (average 25.0°C, high 25.8°C) and July is the coolest (average 20.0°C, low 18.7°C). That 5.0°C swing in monthly averages is the first thing to plan around in Durban.

Rain is wet season runs from October to January, inside an annual total of 887 mm. The wettest month is November at 122 mm; the driest is June at 27 mm. Durban is in South Africa at 29.9°S. The 2001–2020 NASA POWER daily record describes a Mediterranean pattern: dry summers and wetter winters. On this site the months that score closest to a 22°C day, lighter rain, and moderate humidity are May, June, and August.

Best months to visit Durban

The three months with the highest comfort score are May, June, and August: May (22.2°C average, 40 mm, 73% humidity); June (20.8°C average, 27 mm, 69% humidity); August (20.0°C average, 36 mm, 74% humidity). They fall in calendar order. The score rewards averages near 22°C, lower rainfall, and humidity near 60%. It is a climate score, not a festival or price calendar.

If you want the wet season itself — fewer crowds, greener landscape, heavier rain — aim at October–January instead of the score.

How warm Durban gets

The heat peaks in February, when the typical afternoon is 25.8°C. The opposite pole is July, when mornings average 18.7°C.

Mean high across all twelve months is 23.3°C and mean low is 21.2°C. These are 20-year grid averages, so a city station can read a few degrees warmer or cooler.

When Durban gets wet

The wet season in Durban starts in October and ends in January (October, November, December, and January). November is the core of it at 122 mm. June is the other extreme, with 27 mm.

A rainy day here is a day with at least 1 mm in the NASA POWER series. November averages 16 such days; June averages 4.

The calendar in Durban

Peak heat arrives in February: 25.8°C by day, 24.2°C at night, and 81% humidity. June is the driest month, averaging only 27 mm across 4 rainy days. Highs sit near 22.1°C.

The year bottoms out in July. Plan for 18.7°C at night and 21.2°C in the afternoon. November is the wettest month — 122 mm and 16 rainy days, with 82% humidity.

How Durban compares inside South Africa

Johannesburg is about 501 km away: Durban is 3.2°C warmer than Johannesburg in its hottest month and 245 mm wetter over the year than Johannesburg. Johannesburg’s wettest month is December (127 mm) versus November here.

Soweto is about 506 km away: Durban is 2.9°C warmer than Soweto in its hottest month and 302 mm wetter over the year than Soweto. Soweto’s wettest month is December (118 mm) versus November here.

Pretoria is about 536 km away: Durban is 0.5°C warmer than Pretoria in its hottest month and 316 mm wetter over the year than Pretoria. Pretoria’s wettest month is January (115 mm) versus November here.