Port Macquarie weather in December

In December, Port Macquarie sees average daytime highs of 23°C and overnight lows near 21°C, with 87 mm of rain across 10.9 wet days and about 14 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 23°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 40% of the time in December, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 54 min at the start of December to 14 hours by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Port Macquarie's 11th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Port Macquarie's year-round climate.

Daytime high
23°
4th warmest
Overnight low
21°
9th coldest
Rainfall
87 mm
10.9 wet days
Daylight
14 hours
5:43 AM – 7:46 PM
Cloud cover
52%
11th clearest
Wind
22 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
6.78 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.9
out of 10

Port Macquarie is city in New South Wales, Australia.

Density
802/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 23°C through the month.

A typical December day in Port Macquarie reaches about 23°C in the afternoon and slips back to 21°C overnight — a 2°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 21°C and 25°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 2°C warmer than November and about 1°C cooler than January.

15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12320
22320
32320
42320
52320
62320
72321
82321
92321
102321
112321
122321
132321
142321
152321
162321
172321
182321
192321
202321
212321
222321
232321
242421
252422
262422
272422
282422
292422
302422
312422

Port Macquarie weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 4th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan24° / 22°9311.213.87.1
Feb24° / 22°12712.113.16.6
Mar24° / 21°13714.412.26.5
Apr22° / 19°11612.911.36.4
May20° / 17°10912.110.46.2
Jun18° / 15°12912.2105.9
Jul17° / 14°759.810.26.0
Aug18° / 14°54710.96.7
Sep19° / 16°516.711.87.1
Oct20° / 18°608.712.86.8
Nov22° / 19°9010.113.66.7
Dec23° / 21°8710.9146.9

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 40% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 19% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 41%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15644
25644
35644
45644
55545
65545
75545
85545
95644
105644
115644
125743
135743
145842
155941
165941
176040
186040
196040
206139
216139
226238
236238
246337
256337
266337
276238
286337
296337
306337
316436

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Port Macquarie gets around 87 mm of rain over 10.9 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 35% and peaks near 39% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
135
235
336
436
537
638
738
838
939
1039
1138
1238
1338
1437
1537
1636
1736
1835
1935
2034
2133
2233
2332
2432
2531
2631
2731
2831
2932
3032
3132

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, December lands in the muggy band about 38% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 49% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
192028376
292028376
392028386
482028386
582028386
672028387
772029387
872029387
971929387
1061929388
1161929388
1261929398
1361829399
1461828399
15518283910
16517283910
17617283911
18616274011
19616274012
20615273912
21615273913
22615283913
23614283814
24514283814
25514283814
26514283815
27514293815
28414293815
29413293915
30413293915
31313293916

Wind in December

Winds average 22 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 22 km/h on the calmest days to 23 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
123breezy
223breezy
323breezy
423breezy
523breezy
623breezy
723breezy
823breezy
923breezy
1023breezy
1123breezy
1223breezy
1322breezy
1422breezy
1522breezy
1622breezy
1722breezy
1822breezy
1922breezy
2022breezy
2122breezy
2222breezy
2322breezy
2422breezy
2522breezy
2622breezy
2722breezy
2822breezy
2922breezy
3022breezy
3122breezy

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 54 min at the start of December to 14 hours by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 5:41 AM to 5:51 AM, and sunset from 7:35 PM to 7:52 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.95:417:35
213.95:417:36
313.95:417:37
413.95:417:37
513.95:417:38
614.05:417:39
714.05:417:40
814.05:427:40
914.05:427:41
1014.05:427:42
1114.05:427:42
1214.05:427:43
1314.05:437:44
1414.05:437:44
1514.05:437:45
1614.05:437:46
1714.05:447:46
1814.05:447:47
1914.05:457:47
2014.05:457:48
2114.05:457:48
2214.05:467:49
2314.05:467:49
2414.05:477:50
2514.05:477:50
2614.05:487:51
2714.05:487:51
2814.05:497:51
2914.05:507:52
3014.05:507:52
3114.05:517:52

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 6.78 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 2.7 kWh/m² to a high of 6.93 kWh/m² in January across the year — December's 6.78 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

02468151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
16.7Intense
26.7Intense
36.7Intense
46.7Intense
56.7Intense
66.7Intense
76.7Intense
86.7Intense
96.7Intense
106.7Intense
116.7Intense
126.8Intense
136.8Intense
146.8Intense
156.8Intense
166.8Intense
176.8Intense
186.9Intense
196.9Intense
206.9Intense
217.0Intense
227.0Intense
237.0Intense
247.1Intense
257.1Intense
267.2Intense
277.2Intense
287.2Intense
297.3Intense
307.3Intense
317.3Intense
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Port Macquarie

In seasonPeak

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

Port Macquarie 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 Macquarie?

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

6.9
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
5.4
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Port Macquarie for sightseeing.

What to pack for Port Macquarie in December

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

In December, Port Macquarie sees daytime highs around 23°C and nights near 21°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes, rain gear and a windbreaker. About 11 days see rain.

sun protectionlight clothesrain geara windbreaker

Sea temperature near Port Macquarie in December

The nearest coast averages about 24°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 February at about 26°C and coldest in August near 20°C.

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

18°20°22°24°26°28°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDeccoolrefreshingwarmcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan25Warm
Feb26Warm
Mar25Warm
Apr25Warm
May23Refreshing
Jun22Refreshing
Jul21Refreshing
Aug20Refreshing
Sep21Refreshing
Oct21Refreshing
Nov23Refreshing
Dec24Refreshing

UV index in Port Macquarie in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 12 (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 Macquarie peaks around January 17 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 19 at about 3 (moderate).

The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — in 11 months of the year.

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highModerateHighVery highExtremeJan 17UV 13Jun 19UV 3
UV index (midday)Level
Jan13Extreme
Feb12Extreme
Mar10Very high
Apr7High
May4Moderate
Jun3Moderate
Jul3Moderate
Aug5Moderate
Sep6High
Oct8Very high
Nov10Very high
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in Port Macquarie 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 Macquarie is worst in November — around 26 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 6.0× the cleanest month (June, 4 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateNov 1824 µg/m³Jun 174 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb6Good
Mar7Good
Apr5Good
May5Good
Jun4Good
Jul5Good
Aug7Good
Sep8Good
Oct10Good
Nov26Moderate
Dec16Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Port Macquarie?

Port Macquarie sits at 31.4°S, 152.9°E, 10 m above sea level, in Australia. The nearest listed city is Taree, 69 km away.

Topography around Port Macquarie

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Port Macquarie has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 68 m around an average of 10 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 192 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,274 m.

The land around Port Macquarie is covered by water (41%), artificial surfaces (24%) and trees (21%) within 3 km, water (50%) and trees (23%) within 16 km, and trees (48%) and water (36%) within 80 km.

3 km
68 m
16 km
192 m
80 km
1,274 m
treesgrasslandartificial surfaceswaterwetland
December weather nearby: Taree 69 km · Coffs Harbour 128 km · Armidale 157 km · Tamworth 192 km · Maitland 193 km · Grafton 195 km · Newcastle 198 km · Muswellbrook 212 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 Macquarie (-31.4308°, 152.9089°, elevation 10 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).