Port Hedland weather in December

In December, Port Hedland sees average daytime highs of 32°C and overnight lows near 27°C, with 29 mm of rain across 2 wet days and about 13.2 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 4th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 32°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 79% of the time in December, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 06 min at the start of December to 13 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Port Hedland's 6th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Port Hedland's year-round climate.

Daytime high
32°
5th warmest
Overnight low
27°
9th coldest
Rainfall
29 mm
2 wet days
Daylight
13 h 12 min
5:25 AM – 6:38 PM
Cloud cover
23%
6th clearest
Wind
20 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
7.72 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.4
out of 10

Port Hedland is port city in Pilbara region of Western Australia.

Density
204/km²
people per km²

Air quality: WHO Ambient Air Quality Database. Density & description: Wikidata (CC0), GeoNames.

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 32°C through the month.

A typical December day in Port Hedland reaches about 32°C in the afternoon and slips back to 27°C overnight — a 5°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 29°C and 35°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs on par with November and on par with January.

20°25°30°35°40°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13126
23126
33126
43127
53127
63127
73227
83227
93227
103227
113227
123227
133227
143227
153227
163227
173227
183227
193227
203227
213227
223227
233227
243227
253227
263227
273228
283228
293228
303228
313228

How December really feels in Port Hedland

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 31 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
31
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in December is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

Port Hedland weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 5th-warmest and 4th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan32° / 28°705.113.14.8
Feb32° / 28°100612.74.5
Mar33° / 28°804.512.14.3
Apr32° / 26°231.511.55.1
May28° / 22°222.3117.4
Jun25° / 19°232.110.88.7
Jul25° / 18°110.910.99.2
Aug26° / 18°40.611.39.2
Sep28° / 21°20.311.98.4
Oct30° / 24°10.112.56.7
Nov31° / 26°10.2136.1
Dec32° / 27°29213.25.4

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 79% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 6% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 15%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
1928
2928
3919
4919
59010
68911
78812
88812
98713
108614
118515
128515
138416
148416
158416
168416
178416
188317
198317
208317
218317
228317
238317
248317
258317
268317
278317
288317
298317
308317
318218

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Port Hedland gets around 29 mm of rain over 2 wet days in December. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.

Day to day, the chance of measurable rain averages around 6% and peaks near 9% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
12
22
33
43
53
64
74
85
95
106
116
127
137
147
157
167
177
187
197
207
217
228
238
248
258
268
278
288
299
309
319

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

Most of December feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.

By dew point, December lands in the oppressive band about 48% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 97% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
126295112
216285213
315275314
415265315
515255316
614245318
714235319
814215321
914205223
1003195424
1103185326
1203175228
1303165229
1403155131
1503145132
1603135133
1703135035
1803124936
1902124937
2002114838
2102114740
2202114641
2302114542
2401114444
2501114246
2601114147
2701103949
2801103851
2901103752
300193555
310183457

Wind in December

Winds average 20 km/h in December, the windiest month of the year.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 20 km/h on the calmest days to 20 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
120breezy
220breezy
320breezy
420breezy
520breezy
620breezy
720breezy
820breezy
920breezy
1020breezy
1120breezy
1220breezy
1320breezy
1420breezy
1520breezy
1620breezy
1720breezy
1820breezy
1920breezy
2020light breeze
2120light breeze
2220light breeze
2320light breeze
2420light breeze
2520light breeze
2620light breeze
2720light breeze
2820light breeze
2920light breeze
3020light breeze
3120light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 06 min at the start of December to 13 h 12 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 5:21 AM to 5:32 AM, and sunset from 6:30 PM to 6:45 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.15:216:30
213.25:216:30
313.25:216:31
413.25:226:31
513.25:226:32
613.25:226:33
713.25:226:33
813.25:226:34
913.25:236:34
1013.25:236:35
1113.25:236:36
1213.25:246:36
1313.25:246:37
1413.25:246:37
1513.25:256:38
1613.25:256:38
1713.25:256:39
1813.25:266:39
1913.25:266:40
2013.25:276:41
2113.25:276:41
2213.25:286:41
2313.25:286:42
2413.25:296:42
2513.25:296:43
2613.25:306:43
2713.25:306:44
2813.25:316:44
2913.25:316:44
3013.25:326:45
3113.25:326:45

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 7.72 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.26 kWh/m² to a high of 8.06 kWh/m² in November across the year — December's 7.72 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

02468151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
18.0Intense
27.9Intense
37.9Intense
47.9Intense
57.9Intense
67.8Intense
77.8Intense
87.8Intense
97.8Intense
107.8Intense
117.7Intense
127.7Intense
137.7Intense
147.7Intense
157.7Intense
167.7Intense
177.7Intense
187.7Intense
197.7Intense
207.7Intense
217.7Intense
227.7Intense
237.7Intense
247.8Intense
257.8Intense
267.8Intense
277.8Intense
287.8Intense
297.8Intense
307.8Intense
317.8Intense
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Port Hedland

In seasonPeak

In December, Port Hedland sits inside its cyclone season. The full year is below, with each hazard's peak months called out.

Port Hedland sits in the South Indian Ocean cyclone belt; the season peaks January–March.

Cyclone
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Port Hedland?

Our two travel scores rate December for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal).

5.4
Sightseeing
8th-best month of the year
8.3
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Port Hedland for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Port Hedland in December

From December's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.

In December, Port Hedland sees daytime highs around 32°C and nights near 27°C. Pack light clothes and sun protection. Worth having: a windbreaker.

light clothessun protectiona windbreaker

Sea temperature near Port Hedland in December

The nearest coast averages about 29°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea at the nearest coast (about 21 km away) is warmest in March at about 30°C and coldest in August near 22°C.

The water stays above 20°C all year — warm enough for a swim any month.

20°25°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan30Tropical
Feb30Tropical
Mar30Tropical
Apr29Tropical
May26Warm
Jun24Refreshing
Jul23Refreshing
Aug22Refreshing
Sep24Refreshing
Oct26Warm
Nov28Warm
Dec29Tropical

UV index in Port Hedland in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 15 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Port Hedland peaks around January 24 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 18 at about 7 (high).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highVery highExtremeJan 24UV 15Jun 18UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan15Extreme
Feb15Extreme
Mar14Extreme
Apr10Very high
May8Very high
Jun7High
Jul7Very high
Aug8Very high
Sep10Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov13Extreme
Dec15Extreme

Air quality in Port Hedland in December

GoodModeratePoorUnhealthyVery unhealthy

Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where December falls, not just the annual average.

Air quality in Port Hedland is worst in January — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.0× the cleanest month (July, 6 µg/m³).

Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateGoodModerateJan 1617 µg/m³Jul 246 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan17Moderate
Feb14Moderate
Mar9Good
Apr7Good
May7Good
Jun6Good
Jul6Good
Aug6Good
Sep8Good
Oct10Good
Nov11Good
Dec15Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Port Hedland?

Port Hedland sits at 20.3°S, 118.6°E, 5 m above sea level, in Australia. The nearest listed city is Karratha, 190 km away.

BroomeGeraldtonKalgoorlieWaingapuTambolakaKupangTaliwang

Topography around Port Hedland

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Port Hedland.

Within 3 km, the terrain around Port Hedland has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 15 m around an average of 3 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 26 m; within 80 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 189 m.

The land around Port Hedland is covered by water (41%) within 3 km, water (54%) and grassland (23%) within 16 km, and grassland (44%) and water (34%) within 80 km.

3 km
15 m
16 km
26 m
80 km
189 m
shrubsgrasslandartificial surfacesbare terrainwatermangroves
December weather nearby: Karratha 190 km · Broome 463 km · Geraldton 1,024 km · Kalgoorlie 1,195 km · Waingapu 1,198 km · Tambolaka 1,212 km · Kupang 1,248 km · Taliwang 1,300 km

Australia travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type I
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 90% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$65,130
2025
Happiness
6.9 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
0.9
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
4.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
Religion
none 38%Roman Catholic 20%Protestant 18%other Christian 4%

Sources: World Bank, US State Department, World Happiness Report, WHO/UNICEF, EF EPI, CIA World Factbook.

Data sources

Temperature, precipitation, cloud, humidity, wind and solar figures are a 1991–2020 climatology for Port Hedland (-20.3121°, 118.6106°, elevation 5 m), computed from hourly ERA5 reanalysis — contains modified Copernicus Climate Change Service information. Sun figures are astronomical calculations, not observations. City data © GeoNames, CC BY 4.0. Map outlines from Natural Earth (public domain); interactive map © Google. Tropical-cyclone seasons are the published climatological basin seasons (NOAA National Hurricane Center / regional warning centres). Sea temperatures are the NOAA OISST v2.1 1991–2020 monthly climatology (public domain), sampled at the nearest ocean point. UV index is derived from CAMS (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) clear-sky UV data — contains modified Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service information. Monthly air-quality (PM2.5) seasonality is from the CAMS EAC4 reanalysis (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service), scaled to the WHO annual mean where available. Topography is sampled from the Copernicus DEM GLO-90 elevation model (© ESA/Airbus) and ESA WorldCover 2021 land cover (CC BY 4.0).