SeasonMapPensacola weather in December
United States
December in Pensacola: nice, soaked, with clean air — a gamble, with 9 rainy days.
#12 of 12 months in Pensacola · #945 of 1383 destinations to visit in December · comfort 61/100 (tier C)
Updated September 2026 · climate normals from ERA5 reanalysis
Traveller notes on Pensacola in December
Other months in Pensacola
Pensacola Beach's forum rates May as the sweet spot before Memorial Day changes everything — warm enough water for swimming, but before the crowds, parking hassles, and price jumps that the holiday weekend brings. Regulars say early May specifically is quieter than the tail end of the month.
Add your own note from Pensacola's card on the map.
Pensacola climate normals — December
| Daytime high | 19°C / 67°F | 😎 nice |
|---|---|---|
| Nighttime low | 10°C / 50°F | |
| Feels like (high) | 19°C / 66°F | |
| Sea temperature | 18°C / 65°F | 🧊 bracing |
| Rainfall | 165 mm / 6.5 in | ⛈ soaked |
| Rainy days | 9 days | |
| Humidity | 78% | 💦 very humid |
| Dew point | 10°C / 49°F | |
| Sunshine | 6.7 h/day | |
| Daylight | 10.2 h | |
| Wind | 17 km/h / 11 mph | |
| Air quality (US AQI) | 34 | 🍃 good |
Monthly averages from ERA5 reanalysis. AQI is the mean US Air Quality Index for the month.
Crowds in Pensacola 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 crowdsSnowbird season, Winter / Christmas break in United States, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it(estimated)
Peak crowdsBusyShoulder seasonQuiet
Best months for Pensacola'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).
Toughest weatherPensacola's best weather comes in April, May and October — separate windows, not one continuous season.
December coincides with Red tide risk.
Best weatherFair weatherToughest weather
What's on in Pensacola in December
Recurring seasonal events, natural spectacles, closures and holidays — curated and sourced.
- Rule
Double-red flag closures
1 Jan – 31 DecClosuresThe Gulf here runs strong rip currents and the beach flags are enforced: a double red means the water is closed and entering it is a fine, not a warning. Spring and early summer are when it flies most. Source ↗
- Hazard
Red tide risk
1 Aug – 15 Dec · usuallyAlgae & red tideKarenia brevis blooms drift along the Gulf coast in late summer and autumn in some years, killing fish and putting an irritant in the air along the shore. The state publishes a beach-by-beach status twice a week. Source ↗
- Season
Snowbird season
15 Nov – 31 Mar · usuallyWinter-sun seasonCrowdedLong-stay visitors from the northern states and Canada take the beach condos by the month from about Thanksgiving, so the island is busy while the water is far too cold to swim in. Restaurants keep winter hours regardless. Source ↗
Nearby, and something's on
Within 300 km of Pensacola — a day trip or a short hop — with something on this month. Never part of the comfort score.
Where is Pensacola?
Pensacola in December — FAQ
- Is December a good time to visit Pensacola?
- December in Pensacola: nice, soaked, with clean air — a gamble, with 9 rainy days. It ranks #12 of 12 months for Pensacola on SeasonMap's comfort score (61/100).
- What is the weather like in Pensacola in December?
- In December, Pensacola averages a daily high of 19.4°C and a low of 10.1°C, with about 164.9 mm of rain over roughly 8.6 rainy days.
- What is the air quality in Pensacola in December?
- Pensacola has a mean US Air Quality Index of about 34 in December.
Other months in Pensacola
Compare Pensacola in December
Warmer or cooler than Pensacola in December
Similar destinations in North America — December
Within 300 km: New Orleans' Reveillon dinners on 1–31 Dec.