Medan (Sumatra) weather in December

December in Medan: sweltering, soaked, with muggy air — not the time — 28 rainy days.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Medan🇮🇩 Indonesia · Malaysia, Singapore & Sumatra · City47
  1. 58Jan
  2. 64Feb
  3. 60Mar
  4. 52Apr
  5. 45May
  6. 55Jun
  7. 58Jul
  8. 53Aug
  9. 48Sep
  10. 46Oct
  11. 44Nov
  12. 47Dec

#9 of 12 months in Medan · #1234 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 47/100 (tier F)

Days
31°C
Nights
24°C
Wet days
28
Sun
7.9 h
Humidity
90%
Daylight
12 h
Medan, Indonesia
Photo: Mike Panton · Pexels

Traveller notes on Medan in December

Other months in Medan

Forum posters describe the broader Indonesia dry season, roughly June through August, as generally recommended for travel, though posters note rain remains a near-constant presence across the archipelago's calendar rather than disappearing entirely - a full day of nonstop downpour is unusual, with more typical patterns being a few hours of passing rain followed by sunshine again. It is worth noting that for Medan specifically, the full 12-month climate record shows August is not actually among its driest months - January and February run noticeably drier here, with rain staying elevated from April through December. Posters consistently recommend packing rain gear regardless of the season given how unpredictable North Sumatra's weather can run. Posters generally rate August as warm and genuinely rain-prone for Medan, the wider Indonesian dry-season framing not holding up well for this particular city.
Tripadvisor community · August · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Forum posters describe February as still squarely inside the region's rainy season, with daily rain a real possibility running well into the following months - though posters note February is generally a bit drier than January, even as climate patterns have grown less predictable in recent years. For Medan and North Sumatra specifically, posters describe conditions as genuinely unpredictable day to day, recommending flexibility built into any itinerary through Lake Toba and Berastagi rather than counting on a dry stretch. Posters contrast this with parts of eastern Indonesia like Lombok and Komodo, which tend to run drier at the same time of year for anyone able to adjust their route.
Tripadvisor community · February · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

Add your own note from Medan's card on the map.

Medan climate normals — December

Daytime high31°C / 87°F🔥 sweltering
Nighttime low24°C / 75°F
Feels like (high)36°C / 97°F
Rainfall342 mm / 13.4 in⛈ soaked
Rainy days28 days
Humidity90%💦 very humid
Dew point24°C / 75°F
Sunshine7.9 h/day
Daylight11.9 h
Wind9 km/h / 6 mph
Air quality (US AQI)79🙂 moderate

Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.

Crowds in Medan 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.

Peak crowdsChristmas and New Year, Year-end break in Indonesia, school holidays in 5 of the markets that fill it(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Medan'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 weatherMedan's weather peaks January–March, best around February.

JFMAMJJASOND

Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather

What's on in Medan in December

Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.

  • Hazard

    Sinabung ash and alerts

    1 Jan – 31 DecVolcanic activityClosures

    The volcano above Berastagi, two hours up the road, has spent years at raised alert with an exclusion zone around it. Ash falls close the Karo highland roads and occasionally the flight paths. Source ↗

  • Holiday

    Christmas and New Year

    18 Dec – 5 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

    North Sumatra's Batak population makes Christmas a bigger holiday here than in most of Indonesia; the churches are full and the road to Toba is booked out. Source ↗

  • Season

    Wet season

    MonsoonRisk

    28 rainy days and about 342 mm in the month — the real kind of rainy season, not afternoon showers.

    from the climate normals

What's on around the world in December →

Nearby, and something's on

Within 300 km of Medan — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.

Where is Medan?

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Medan in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Medan?
December in Medan: sweltering, soaked, with muggy air — not the time — 28 rainy days. It ranks #9 of 12 months for Medan on SeasonMap's comfort score (47/100).
What is the weather like in Medan in December?
In December, Medan averages a daily high of 30.5°C and a low of 23.7°C, with about 341.5 mm of rain over roughly 28 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Medan in December?
Medan has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 79 in December.

Within 300 km: Lake Toba's Batak Christmas on 15 Dec – 5 Jan, and Penang's Penang Bridge International Marathon on 13 Dec.