Praia weather in December

In December, Praia sees average daytime highs of 25°C and overnight lows near 21°C, with 4 mm of rain across 0.7 wet days and about 11.1 hours of daylight. It is the 8th-warmest and 6th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 25°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 44% of the time in December, and the air most often feels humid.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 12 min at the start of December to 11 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Praia's 9th-clearest and 5th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Praia's year-round climate.

Daytime high
25°
8th warmest
Overnight low
21°
7th coldest
Rainfall
4 mm
0.7 wet days
Daylight
11 h 06 min
6:57 AM – 6:04 PM
Cloud cover
50%
9th clearest
Wind
18 km/h
5th windiest
Solar energy
4.87 kWh/m²
Travel score
8.4
out of 10

Praia is capital of Cape Verde.

Density
1,344/km²
people per km²
Founded
1858

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 25°C through the month.

A typical December day in Praia reaches about 25°C in the afternoon and slips back to 21°C overnight — a 4°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 24°C and 27°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 2°C cooler than November and about 1°C warmer than January.

15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12622
22622
32622
42622
52622
62622
72622
82622
92622
102522
112522
122522
132521
142521
152521
162521
172521
182521
192521
202521
212521
222521
232521
242521
252521
262521
272521
282521
292521
302521
312421

Praia weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 8th-warmest and 6th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan24° / 20°40.711.28.7
Feb24° / 19°10.511.58.9
Mar24° / 19°10.211.99.2
Apr25° / 20°10.112.39.0
May25° / 20°00.112.79.1
Jun26° / 21°00.112.98.9
Jul27° / 23°91.912.87.9
Aug28° / 24°487.812.56.5
Sep28° / 25°72912.16.2
Oct28° / 24°323.911.77.2
Nov27° / 23°61.211.37.9
Dec25° / 21°40.711.18.4

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 44% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 11% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 45%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
15644
25644
35644
45644
55644
65644
75644
85644
95545
105545
115545
125545
135545
145545
155545
165545
175545
185545
195545
205545
215644
225644
235644
245644
255644
265644
275545
285545
295545
305545
315644

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Praia gets around 4 mm of rain over 0.7 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 2% and peaks near 3% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
12
22
32
42
52
62
72
82
92
102
112
122
132
142
152
162
173
183
192
202
212
222
232
242
252
262
272
282
292
302
312

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, December lands in the humid band about 56% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 38% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
1231643
2234613
3236602
4239572
5241552
6244531
7246511
8248481
9250471
10351451
11354430
12356410
13357400
14359380
15360370
16362350
17363340
18463330
19464320
20564310
21565300
22665290
23765280
24865270
25965260
261066240
271166230
281266220
291367200
301467190
311666180

Wind in December

Winds average 18 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 18 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
118light breeze
218light breeze
318light breeze
418light breeze
518light breeze
618light breeze
718light breeze
818light breeze
918light breeze
1018light breeze
1118light breeze
1218light breeze
1318light breeze
1418light breeze
1518light breeze
1618light breeze
1718light breeze
1818light breeze
1919light breeze
2019light breeze
2119light breeze
2219light breeze
2319light breeze
2419light breeze
2519light breeze
2619light breeze
2719light breeze
2819light breeze
2919light breeze
3019light breeze
3120light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 12 min at the start of December to 11 h 06 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days shrink by about 6 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 6:48 AM to 7:03 AM, and sunset from 5:59 PM to 6:11 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.26:485:59
211.26:495:59
311.26:506:00
411.26:506:00
511.26:516:00
611.26:516:00
711.16:526:01
811.16:526:01
911.16:536:01
1011.16:536:02
1111.16:546:02
1211.16:556:02
1311.16:556:03
1411.16:566:03
1511.16:566:03
1611.16:576:04
1711.16:576:04
1811.16:586:05
1911.16:586:05
2011.16:596:06
2111.16:596:06
2211.17:006:06
2311.17:006:07
2411.17:016:07
2511.17:016:08
2611.17:016:08
2711.17:026:09
2811.17:026:09
2911.17:036:10
3011.17:036:10
3111.17:036:11

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.87 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.87 kWh/m² to a high of 7.25 kWh/m² in May across the year — December's 4.87 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

024151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.0Bright
25.0Bright
35.0Bright
45.0Bright
55.0Bright
64.9Bright
74.9Bright
84.9Bright
94.9Bright
104.9Bright
114.9Bright
124.9Bright
134.9Bright
144.8Bright
154.8Bright
164.8Bright
174.8Bright
184.8Bright
194.8Bright
204.8Bright
214.8Bright
224.8Bright
234.8Bright
244.8Bright
254.8Bright
264.8Bright
274.9Bright
284.9Bright
294.9Bright
304.9Bright
314.9Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Praia

In seasonPeak

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

Praia sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Praia sees dust haze year-round, heaviest in June.

Atlantic hurricane
Dust
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Is December a good time to visit Praia?

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

8.4
Sightseeing
7th-best month of the year
7.6
Beach & pool
8th-best month of the year

December is one of the better times to visit Praia for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Praia in December

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

In December, Praia sees daytime highs around 25°C and nights near 21°C. Worth packing: light clothes and sun protection.

light clothessun protection

Sea temperature near Praia in December

The nearest coast averages about 25°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 14 km away) is warmest in October at about 27°C and coldest in February near 23°C.

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

22°24°26°28°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan24Refreshing
Feb23Refreshing
Mar23Refreshing
Apr23Refreshing
May24Refreshing
Jun24Warm
Jul25Warm
Aug27Warm
Sep27Warm
Oct27Warm
Nov27Warm
Dec25Warm

UV index in Praia in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 6 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Praia peaks around March 12 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 18 at about 7 (high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeExtremeVery highExtremeVery highMar 12UV 12Dec 18UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan8Very high
Feb12Extreme
Mar12Extreme
Apr10Very high
May13Extreme
Jun10Very high
Jul10Very high
Aug10Very high
Sep11Extreme
Oct10Very high
Nov9Very high
Dec6High

Air quality in Praia 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 Praia is worst in December — around 71 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 5.0× the cleanest month (May, 14 µg/m³).

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

020406080JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecUnhealthyPoorModerateUnhealthyDec 2471 µg/m³May 1115 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan71Unhealthy
Feb55Poor
Mar32Moderate
Apr16Moderate
May14Moderate
Jun28Moderate
Jul30Moderate
Aug26Moderate
Sep26Moderate
Oct32Moderate
Nov33Moderate
Dec71Unhealthy
Location & terrain

Where is Praia?

Praia sits at 14.9°N, 23.5°W, 0 m above sea level, in Cabo Verde. The nearest listed city is Assomada, 26 km away.

AssomadaEspargosMindelo

Topography around Praia

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Praia has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 216 m around an average of 70 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 943 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,283 m.

The land around Praia is covered by artificial surfaces (43%) and grassland (34%) within 3 km, water (57%) and grassland (27%) within 16 km, and water (90%) within 80 km.

3 km
216 m
16 km
943 m
80 km
1,283 m
treesshrubsgrasslandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Assomada 26 km · Espargos 212 km · Mindelo 268 km · Dakar 653 km · Le Plateau 654 km · Guédiawaye 657 km · Pikine 658 km · N’diareme limamoulaye 659 km

Cabo Verde travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type C / F
220 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 48% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$5,796
2025
Homicide rate
7
per 100k, 2020
Road deaths
26.8
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
Religion
Roman Catholic 73%none 16%Protestant 4%Christian Rationalism 2%

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 Praia (14.9315°, -23.5125°, elevation 0 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).