Durban sits on the east coast of South Africa, on the warm Indian Ocean in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, on a low, subtropical coastal plain at approximately 29.86°S, 31.02°E. Warmed by the Agulhas Current flowing down the coast, it has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — hot, humid, rainy summers and mild, dry, pleasant winters — with warm temperatures year-round and none of the cold of the high interior. Being in the Southern Hemisphere, its seasons are reversed relative to the Northern.

Summer, from November to March, is hot, humid and muggy, with January and February the warmest — average highs around 28°C — and high humidity that makes the heat feel heavier, eased somewhat by sea breezes off the warm Indian Ocean in the afternoon. It is the main rainy season, when afternoon and evening thunderstorms are common, sometimes heavy, and the warm ocean keeps the sea inviting for swimming throughout the season.

Winter, from June to August, is mild, dry and sunny, and famously pleasant, with July the coolest month — average highs still around 22–23°C and mild nights near 11–12°C, warm enough to enjoy the beach in a t-shirt. The Agulhas Current keeps both the air and the sea mild, with ocean temperatures staying around 21–22°C even in midwinter. This warm, dry, sunny season is comfortably the best time of year.

Durban is fairly wet, receiving around 1,000–1,010 mm of rain a year, concentrated in the summer months from November to March — the wettest period, when thunderstorms are frequent — while winter is markedly drier. Occasional intense storms and cut-off lows can bring devastating floods, as in the catastrophic KwaZulu-Natal floods of April 2022. Live rainfall, humidity, and pressure readings for the city are shown in the panels above.

Durban's mild, warm character owes everything to the Indian Ocean and the warm Agulhas Current running down the coast, which keep both air and sea temperatures pleasant year-round and give the city its reputation as a subtropical, beach-friendly destination even in winter. The humidity of its summers is the trade-off, and its exposure to the occasional severe coastal storm and flood is its most serious weather hazard.

To follow any single measurement in Durban more closely, use our live instruments: the online barometer for atmospheric pressure, the thermometer for temperature, the hygrometer for humidity, the anemometer for wind speed, the wind vane for wind direction, and the rain gauge for rainfall.