Nouméa weather in December

December in Nouméa: hot, rainy, with clean air — an excellent time to visit.

Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis

Nouméa🇳🇨 New Caledonia · South Pacific · Island83
  1. 83Jan
  2. 74Feb
  3. 79Mar
  4. 73Apr
  5. 84May
  6. 84Jun
  7. 83Jul
  8. 80Aug
  9. 90Sep
  10. 88Oct
  11. 89Nov
  12. 83Dec

#8 of 12 months in Nouméa · #379 of 1413 destinations to visit in December · comfort 83/100 (tier A)

Days
28°C
Nights
23°C
Wet days
14
Sun
10.8 h
Humidity
80%
Daylight
14 h
Nouméa, New Caledonia
Photo: Pilettes · CC BY-SA 3.0

Traveller notes on Nouméa in December

Other months in Nouméa

Forum posters describe May as the start of New Caledonia's cooler season (roughly May through October), a real change from the hotter, more humid November-through-April stretch that runs closer to 30C. Posters cite typical May daytime temperatures not far above 20C, with sunny days occasionally reaching around 25C, and water staying warm enough (never below 21C) that swimming and diving remain fully comfortable regardless. Posters describe May as slow season for tourism, meaning accommodation is easy to book on short notice and boats out to the Île des Pins are rarely full. Posters generally rate May as a comfortable, uncrowded time to visit Noumea, cooler and drier than peak summer without sacrificing swimmable water temperatures.
Tripadvisor community · May · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗
Forum posters name the September-through-December stretch as New Caledonia's peak window, describing November specifically as mild, dry and less humid than the hot season that follows from December onward. Posters consistently rate this shoulder period as more comfortable than the full heat of the November-to-April hot season, with one visitor describing the local weather as warm, humid and sometimes windy but absolutely beautiful overall. Posters generally recommend packing sunscreen and reef shoes for the warm, swimmable water regardless of exact dates. Posters consistently rate November as one of the better months to visit Noumea, ahead of the hotter, more humid peak of summer.
Tripadvisor community · November · 1 month ago · Read more on Tripadvisor ↗

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Nouméa climate normals — December

Daytime high28°C / 82°F🥵 hot
Nighttime low23°C / 73°F
Feels like (high)31°C / 88°F
Sea temperature27°C / 80°F😎 warm sea
Rainfall148 mm / 5.8 in🌧 rainy
Rainy days14 days
Humidity80%💦 very humid
Dew point21°C / 70°F
Sunshine10.8 h/day
Daylight13.5 h
Wind21 km/h / 13 mph
Air quality (US AQI)28🍃 good

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

Crowds in Nouméa 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.

Shoulder seasonschool holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month(estimated)

JFMAMJJASOND

Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet

Best months for Nouméa'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 weatherNouméa's weather doesn't swing hard through the year — comfort stays fairly steady in every month.

JFMAMJJASOND

What's on in Nouméa in December

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

  • Season

    The alizés blow hardest

    1 Sep – 31 DecWind season

    The south-east trades come in most afternoons from spring and turn the Anse Vata into one of the more reliable kite and windsurf spots anywhere. Anyone wanting flat water goes out early or crosses to the leeward side.

  • Hazard

    Cyclone season

    1 Nov – 30 Apr

    The South Pacific season runs November to April and New Caledonia sits at the southern end of the track, where systems arrive weakening but still close roads and shut the airport for a day or two. Source ↗

What's on around the world in December →

Where is Nouméa?

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Nouméa in December — FAQ

Is December a good time to visit Nouméa?
December in Nouméa: hot, rainy, with clean air — an excellent time to visit. It ranks #8 of 12 months for Nouméa on SeasonMap's comfort score (83/100).
What is the weather like in Nouméa in December?
In December, Nouméa averages a daily high of 27.5°C and a low of 22.5°C, with about 147.9 mm of rain over roughly 14.2 rainy days.
What is the air quality in Nouméa in December?
Nouméa has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 28 in December.