SeasonMapWhat season is it in December? The world, region by region
In December, 5 of 27 regions are in a dry season, 2 in a wet one and 20 in between; the northern hemisphere is in winter (16 regions), the southern in summer (3) and 8 regions are tropical, with no cool season. The region with most places at their best is South Asia, 45% of its 76.
Each row averages the region's own places from monthly climate normals: the afternoon feels-like high, the month's rain and its share of the year, and the hazard and condition seasons on somewhere in it. Wet means the month carries well over its share of the year's rain; dry, well under.
Every region has its own year. “In season” and “off-season” below compare a region against its own twelve months, never against another region's — a hemisphere in its winter isn't “worse” than one in summer, it's just further from its own best months right now.
In season in December (3 regions)
well over a third of the region's places are at one of their own best three months right now.
South AsiaAsia
45% of 76 places at their bestDecember in South Asia is winter and dry: 22 °C afternoons and 65 mm of rain, 4% of the year's total; winter smog and cyclone season are on in parts of the region, dry season and off-season shutdown in others — 45% of its 76 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Dry season
- Afternoons
- 22 °C
- Rainfall
- 65 mm (4% of the year)
⚠ Winter smog⚠ Cyclone season⚠ Extreme cold⚠ Smoke seasonDry seasonOff-season shutdownSki seasonFog seasonBest-known this month: 🇮🇳 Rishikesh, 🇮🇳 Varanasi, 🇮🇳 Goa, 🇮🇳 Jaipur
West AfricaAfrica
43% of 24 places at their bestDecember in West Africa is tropical and dry: 33 °C afternoons and 18 mm of rain, 2% of the year's total; dust season is on in parts of the region, dry season and wind season in others — 43% of its 24 places are at their best.
- Season
- Tropical
- Rain
- Dry season
- Afternoons
- 33 °C
- Rainfall
- 18 mm (2% of the year)
Central AfricaAfrica
43% of 9 places at their bestDecember in Central Africa is tropical and between wet and dry: 35 °C afternoons and 113 mm of rain, 8% of the year's total; dust season is on in parts of the region, dry season and monsoon in others — 43% of its 9 places are at their best.
- Season
- Tropical
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 35 °C
- Rainfall
- 113 mm (8% of the year)
Shoulder season in December (9 regions)
a mixed bag — some of the region's places are near their best, most aren't.
Central AmericaNorth America
35% of 34 places at their bestDecember in Central America is tropical and dry: 31 °C afternoons and 112 mm of rain, 5% of the year's total; dry season and monsoon are on in parts of the region — 35% of its 34 places are at their best.
- Season
- Tropical
- Rain
- Dry season
- Afternoons
- 31 °C
- Rainfall
- 112 mm (5% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇬🇹 Antigua Guatemala, 🇬🇹 Lake Atitlán, 🇨🇷 Nosara, 🇧🇿 Caye Caulker
Southeast AsiaAsia
34% of 102 places at their bestDecember in Southeast Asia is tropical and between wet and dry: 32 °C afternoons and 170 mm of rain, 7% of the year's total; typhoon season and flood season are on in parts of the region, monsoon and dry season in others — 34% of its 102 places are at their best.
- Season
- Tropical
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 32 °C
- Rainfall
- 170 mm (7% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇹🇭 Pattaya, 🇱🇦 Luang Prabang, 🇱🇦 Vientiane, 🇻🇳 Hanoi
Middle EastAsia
31% of 46 places at their bestDecember in the Middle East is winter and between wet and dry: 20 °C afternoons and 32 mm of rain, 15% of the year's total; flood season and cyclone season are on in parts of the region, winter-sun season and ski season in others — 31% of its 46 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 20 °C
- Rainfall
- 32 mm (15% of the year)
⚠ Flood season⚠ Cyclone season⚠ Extreme cold⚠ Winter smogWinter-sun seasonSki seasonOff-season shutdownSummer season opensBest-known this month: 🇸🇦 AlUla, 🇴🇲 Nizwa, 🇸🇦 Jeddah, 🇦🇪 Ras Al Khaimah
East AsiaAsia
25% of 82 places at their bestDecember in East Asia is winter and dry: 8 °C afternoons and 59 mm of rain, 3% of the year's total; winter smog and extreme cold are on in parts of the region, ski season and monsoon in others — 25% of its 82 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Dry season
- Afternoons
- 8 °C
- Rainfall
- 59 mm (3% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇯🇵 Furano, 🇨🇳 Shenzhen, 🇹🇼 Sun Moon Lake, 🇭🇰 Hong Kong
Central EuropeEurope
24% of 70 places at their bestDecember in Central Europe is winter and between wet and dry: 2 °C afternoons and 83 mm of rain, 7% of the year's total; winter smog and avalanche season are on in parts of the region, ski season and wind season in others — 24% of its 70 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 2 °C
- Rainfall
- 83 mm (7% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇨🇭 St. Moritz, 🇨🇭 Davos, 🇦🇹 Ischgl, 🇦🇹 Sölden
OceaniaOceania
19% of 48 places at their bestDecember in Oceania is summer and between wet and dry: 25 °C afternoons and 120 mm of rain, 9% of the year's total; smoke season and cyclone season are on in parts of the region, trail season and wind season in others — 19% of its 48 places are at their best.
- Season
- Summer
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 25 °C
- Rainfall
- 120 mm (9% of the year)
⚠ Smoke season⚠ Cyclone season⚠ Extreme heat⚠ Flood seasonTrail seasonWind seasonSummer season opensMonsoonBest-known this month: 🇦🇺 Exmouth, 🇦🇺 Melbourne, 🇦🇺 Adelaide, 🇳🇿 Auckland
North AfricaAfrica
18% of 35 places at their bestDecember in North Africa is winter and dry: 18 °C afternoons and 25 mm of rain, 15% of the year's total; flood season is on in parts of the region, harvest and surf season in others — 18% of its 35 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Dry season
- Afternoons
- 18 °C
- Rainfall
- 25 mm (15% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇪🇬 Sharm El Sheikh, 🇪🇬 Marsa Alam, 🇪🇬 Hurghada, 🇪🇬 Luxor
CaucasusAsia
18% of 11 places at their bestDecember in the Caucasus is winter and between wet and dry: 3 °C afternoons and 68 mm of rain, 7% of the year's total; avalanche season is on in parts of the region, ski season and off-season shutdown in others — 18% of its 11 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 3 °C
- Rainfall
- 68 mm (7% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇬🇪 Gudauri, 🇦🇿 Baku, 🇬🇪 Kazbegi, 🇬🇪 Tbilisi
South AmericaSouth America
18% of 121 places at their bestDecember in South America is summer and between wet and dry: 27 °C afternoons and 136 mm of rain, 9% of the year's total; flood season and smoke season are on in parts of the region, monsoon and wind season in others — 18% of its 121 places are at their best.
- Season
- Summer
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 27 °C
- Rainfall
- 136 mm (9% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇨🇱 San Pedro de Atacama, 🇪🇨 Puerto Ayora, 🇵🇪 Lima, 🇧🇷 Maceió
Off-season in December (15 regions)
few of the region's places are near their own best right now — that's a fact about the calendar, not a verdict on the place.
North AmericaNorth America
13% of 225 places at their bestDecember in North America is winter and between wet and dry: 7 °C afternoons and 80 mm of rain, 9% of the year's total; extreme cold and algae & red tide are on in parts of the region, ski season and off-season shutdown in others — 13% of its 225 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 7 °C
- Rainfall
- 80 mm (9% of the year)
⚠ Extreme cold⚠ Algae & red tide⚠ Avalanche season⚠ Smoke seasonSki seasonOff-season shutdownWind seasonDry seasonBest-known this month: 🇲🇽 Puerto Escondido, 🇲🇽 Huatulco, 🇲🇽 Los Cabos, 🇲🇽 San Miguel de Allende
Eastern EuropeEurope
11% of 38 places at their bestDecember in Eastern Europe is winter and between wet and dry: -4 °C afternoons and 53 mm of rain, 7% of the year's total; extreme cold and winter smog are on in parts of the region, ski season and ice season in others — 11% of its 38 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- -4 °C
- Rainfall
- 53 mm (7% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇷🇺 Elbrus, 🇧🇬 Borovets, 🇷🇺 Krasnaya Polyana, 🇷🇴 Brașov
East AfricaAfrica
10% of 32 places at their bestDecember in East Africa is tropical and between wet and dry: 30 °C afternoons and 122 mm of rain, 9% of the year's total; monsoon and dry season are on in parts of the region — 10% of its 32 places are at their best.
- Season
- Tropical
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 30 °C
- Rainfall
- 122 mm (9% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇰🇪 Nairobi, 🇰🇪 Lamu, 🇰🇪 Mombasa, 🇰🇪 Maasai Mara
Southern AfricaAfrica
9% of 35 places at their bestDecember in Southern Africa is summer and wet: 30 °C afternoons and 101 mm of rain, 14% of the year's total; cyclone season and storm season are on in parts of the region, monsoon and wind season in others — 9% of its 35 places are at their best.
- Season
- Summer
- Rain
- Wet season
- Afternoons
- 30 °C
- Rainfall
- 101 mm (14% of the year)
⚠ Cyclone season⚠ Storm season⚠ Extreme heat⚠ Flood seasonMonsoonWind seasonDry seasonForaging seasonBest-known this month: 🇿🇦 Cape Town, 🇿🇦 Stellenbosch, 🇿🇦 Hermanus, 🇿🇦 Knysna
Western EuropeEurope
8% of 38 places at their bestDecember in Western Europe is winter and between wet and dry: 7 °C afternoons and 89 mm of rain, 10% of the year's total; storm season is on in parts of the region, wind season and ski season in others — 8% of its 38 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 7 °C
- Rainfall
- 89 mm (10% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇫🇷 Courchevel, 🇫🇷 Val d'Isère, 🇫🇷 Chamonix, 🇫🇷 Marseille
CaribbeanNorth America
6% of 47 places at their bestDecember in the Caribbean is tropical and between wet and dry: 31 °C afternoons and 49 mm of rain, 6% of the year's total; dry season and winter-sun season are on in parts of the region — 6% of its 47 places are at their best.
- Season
- Tropical
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 31 °C
- Rainfall
- 49 mm (6% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇯🇲 Negril, 🇱🇨 Castries, 🇩🇴 Punta Cana, 🇩🇴 Samaná
Northern EuropeEurope
5% of 75 places at their bestDecember in Northern Europe is winter and between wet and dry: 2 °C afternoons and 103 mm of rain, 10% of the year's total; storm season and flood season are on in parts of the region, ski season and off-season shutdown in others — 5% of its 75 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 2 °C
- Rainfall
- 103 mm (10% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇫🇮 Ruka, 🇸🇪 Åre, 🇫🇮 Levi, 🇬🇧 Aviemore
Southern EuropeEurope
5% of 108 places at their bestDecember in Southern Europe is winter and between wet and dry: 12 °C afternoons and 83 mm of rain, 12% of the year's total; extreme cold and flood season are on in parts of the region, off-season shutdown and ski season in others — 5% of its 108 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 12 °C
- Rainfall
- 83 mm (12% of the year)
⚠ Extreme cold⚠ Flood season⚠ Winter smog⚠ Avalanche seasonOff-season shutdownSki seasonHarvestSurf seasonBest-known this month: 🇪🇸 Las Palmas, 🇪🇸 Tenerife, 🇮🇹 Livigno, 🇮🇹 Madonna di Campiglio
Western AsiaAsia
4% of 26 places at their bestDecember in Western Asia is winter and wet: 11 °C afternoons and 117 mm of rain, 16% of the year's total; extreme cold and winter smog are on in parts of the region, off-season shutdown and ski season in others — 4% of its 26 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Wet season
- Afternoons
- 11 °C
- Rainfall
- 117 mm (16% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇹🇷 Uludağ, 🇹🇷 Göreme, 🇹🇷 Pamukkale, 🇹🇷 Selçuk
PacificOceania
3% of 33 places at their bestDecember in the Pacific is tropical and between wet and dry: 33 °C afternoons and 259 mm of rain, 11% of the year's total; cyclone season and flood season are on in parts of the region, monsoon and surf season in others — 3% of its 33 places are at their best.
- Season
- Tropical
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 33 °C
- Rainfall
- 259 mm (11% of the year)
Best-known this month: Rarotonga, 🇲🇵 Saipan, Avarua, 🇫🇯 Nadi
Southeast EuropeEurope
0% of 25 places at their bestDecember in Southeast Europe is winter and between wet and dry: 9 °C afternoons and 129 mm of rain, 11% of the year's total; winter smog is on in parts of the region, off-season shutdown and wind season in others — 0% of its 25 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 9 °C
- Rainfall
- 129 mm (11% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇭🇷 Split, 🇭🇷 Plitvice Lakes, 🇷🇸 Belgrade, 🇭🇷 Zagreb
Indian OceanAfrica
0% of 18 places at their bestDecember in the Indian Ocean is tropical and between wet and dry: 35 °C afternoons and 154 mm of rain, 12% of the year's total; cyclone season is on in parts of the region, monsoon and wind season in others — 0% of its 18 places are at their best.
- Season
- Tropical
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 35 °C
- Rainfall
- 154 mm (12% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇲🇺 Grand Baie, 🇲🇺 Port Louis, 🇲🇻 Malé, 🇲🇬 Antananarivo
Central AsiaAsia
0% of 16 places at their bestDecember in Central Asia is winter and between wet and dry: 2 °C afternoons and 34 mm of rain, 7% of the year's total; extreme cold and winter smog are on in parts of the region, ski season and off-season shutdown in others — 0% of its 16 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 2 °C
- Rainfall
- 34 mm (7% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇺🇿 Bukhara, 🇰🇿 Almaty
MediterraneanEurope
0% of 5 places at their bestDecember in the Mediterranean is winter and between wet and dry: 17 °C afternoons and 61 mm of rain, 20% of the year's total; winter-sun season and off-season shutdown are on in parts of the region — 0% of its 5 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- 17 °C
- Rainfall
- 61 mm (20% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇲🇹 Valletta, 🇨🇾 Limassol, 🇨🇾 Paphos
ArcticNorth America
0% of 3 places at their bestDecember in the Arctic is winter and between wet and dry: -10 °C afternoons and 49 mm of rain, 8% of the year's total; ski season and off-season shutdown are on in parts of the region — 0% of its 3 places are at their best.
- Season
- Winter
- Rain
- Between wet and dry
- Afternoons
- -10 °C
- Rainfall
- 49 mm (8% of the year)
Best-known this month: 🇬🇱 Ilulissat
The two hemispheres in December
Northern hemisphere
Winter in 16 regions (South Asia, Middle East, East Asia, Central Europe, North Africa, Caucasus, North America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Northern Europe, Southern Europe, Western Asia, Southeast Europe, Central Asia, Mediterranean, Arctic). Tropical, with no cool season: West Africa, Central Africa, Central America, Southeast Asia, Caribbean. Driest: North Africa at 25 mm; wettest: Southeast Europe at 129 mm. Most places at their best: South Asia, 45%.
Southern hemisphere
Summer in 3 regions (Oceania, South America, Southern Africa). Tropical, with no cool season: East Africa, Pacific, Indian Ocean. Driest: Southern Africa at 101 mm; wettest: South America at 136 mm. Most places at their best: Oceania, 19%.