Kingston weather in December
December in Kingston: sweltering, a little rain, with clean air — fine if you can take 35°C afternoons.
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
#4 of 12 months in Kingston · #625 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 74/100 (tier B)
- Days
- 32°C
- Nights
- 23°C
- Wet days
- 11
- Sun
- 10 h
- Humidity
- 80%
- Daylight
- 11 h

Traveller notes on Kingston in December
Notes from nearby Ocho Rios (56 km away)
Kingston doesn't have its own notes for December yet — these are about Ocho Rios, close enough to share the season.
Regulars put the good run at December to March and give a number rather than an adjective: on any given day in December the chance of rain is about one in five. Our row says the same thing from the other side - 65mm across 14.7 precipitation days is four millimetres each, so rain is frequent and trivial at once. They name the second of Jamaica's two wet spells as mid-September through November, occasionally lingering into the first days of December, which is the only caveat on the month. They also place this town on the sheltered side of the island, and credit the Christmas breezes with taking the edge off the heat. Our wind is 18.5 kph. The record: 28.4C reading as 31C, 23.4C nights and a 28.5C sea.
Other months in Kingston
Forum posters describe July across Jamaica as hot and notably more humid than the December dry season, with humidity often the bigger day-to-day challenge than the raw temperature itself. Posters describe rain this time of year as highly regionalized - it can be pouring in one spot while a couple of miles away stays bright and sunny. Posters are direct that July sits within hurricane season, though an actual direct hit remains a relatively small possibility for any given visit. It's worth noting Kingston itself sits in something of a rain shadow behind the Blue Mountains, running noticeably drier than Jamaica's wetter north coast - consistent with this destination's own climate data showing well under half the rainy days of the island's rainier regions. Posters generally rate July as hot and humid for Kingston specifically, with rain a real but less dominant factor here than on the north coast.
Forum posters count December-February among Jamaica's best-weather months: dry, warm and balmy, with the ocean genuinely swimmable and generally lower humidity than the wetter months. Regulars are careful to note real regional variation across the island - the north coast tends to see more rain, cloud and wind at this time of year, while the south coast (where Kingston sits) runs sunnier, hotter and just occasionally breezy. One wrinkle worth knowing: because Jamaica sits close to the North Eastern US storm track, a big winter storm passing offshore can push in higher seas, wind and cooler temperatures even during this otherwise dry, sunny stretch.
Add your own note from Kingston's card on the map.
Kingston climate normals — December
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Kingston in December
How busy the place itself is — school and mass holidays, the months an editor tagged, and how sought-after the weather makes them. Never part of the comfort score.
BusyChristmas and New Year, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Kingston's weather
Ranked by this destination's own climate comfort score across the year — a different thing from how busy it gets (see Crowds above).
Fair weatherKingston's weather peaks January–March.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Kingston in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Season
Dry season
1 Dec – 31 Mar · usuallyThe driest stretch in a city that is dry to begin with, tucked behind the Blue Mountains. The trails up to Blue Mountain Peak are at their best and Kingston's outdoor season runs from here to Easter.
- Holiday
Christmas and New Year
18 Dec – 2 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook earlyClosuresJamaicans living abroad fly home, so flights fill and fares peak; Grand Market street fairs run on Christmas Eve, and offices close for Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Kingston — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Kingston?
Kingston in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Kingston?
- December in Kingston: sweltering, a little rain, with clean air — fine if you can take 35°C afternoons. It ranks #4 of 12 months for Kingston on SeasonMap's comfort score (74/100).
- What is the weather like in Kingston in December?
- In December, Kingston averages a daily high of 31.6°C and a low of 22.7°C, with about 33.1 mm of rain over roughly 11.3 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Kingston in December?
- Kingston has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 34 in December.
Within 300 km: Negril's Reggae Marathon on 6 Dec, and Ocho Rios' Cruise season around 1 Nov – 30 Apr.