Copiapó weather in December

In December, Copiapó sees average daytime highs of 25°C and overnight lows near 15°C, with 1 mm of rain across 0.1 wet days and about 13.7 hours of daylight. It is the 3rd-warmest and 8th-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 91% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 36 min at the start of December to 13 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Copiapó's 4th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Copiapó's year-round climate.

Daytime high
25°
3rd warmest
Overnight low
15°
9th coldest
Rainfall
1 mm
0.1 wet days
Daylight
13 h 42 min
6:46 AM – 8:29 PM
Cloud cover
9%
4th clearest
Wind
8 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
9.44 kWh/m²
Travel score
9.5
out of 10

Copiapó is city in northern Chile.

Air quality
Moderate
PM2.5 12.3 µg/m³ · 2019
Density
3,769/km²
people per km²
Founded
1744

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 Copiapó reaches about 25°C in the afternoon and slips back to 15°C overnight — a 10°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 1°C warmer than November and about 1°C cooler than January.

10°15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12514
22514
32514
42514
52514
62514
72514
82514
92515
102515
112515
122515
132515
142515
152515
162515
172515
182515
192515
202515
212515
222515
232615
242615
252615
262615
272615
282615
292615
302615
312616

Copiapó weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 3rd-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 16°0013.59.2
Feb26° / 16°00.1139.3
Mar25° / 15°50.312.29.5
Apr23° / 13°20.311.49.5
May22° / 8110.78.6
Jun20° / 60.810.38.3
Jul20° / 61.210.48.3
Aug21° / 30.6118.7
Sep22° / 10°20.411.89.1
Oct23° / 12°00.212.79.5
Nov24° / 14°00.113.49.7
Dec25° / 15°10.113.79.5

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 91% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 4% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 5%. Skies tend to cloud over as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
1973
2973
3973
4982
5973
6973
7973
8973
9964
10964
11964
12964
13964
14964
15964
16955
17946
18946
19946
20946
21937
22937
23937
24937
25937
26928
27928
28928
29928
30928
31919

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Copiapó gets around 1 mm of rain over 0.1 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 0% and peaks near 1% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
81
91
101
111
121
131
141
151
161
170
180
190
200
210
220
230
240
250
260
270
280
290
300
310

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, December lands in the dry band about 100% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)
1100
2100
3100
4100
5100
6100
7100
8100
9100
10100
11100
12100
13100
14100
15100
16100
17100
18100
19100
20100
21100
22100
23100
24100
25100
26100
27100
28100
29100
30100
31100

Wind in December

Winds average 8 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 8 km/h on the calmest days to 8 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
18calm
28calm
38calm
48calm
58calm
68calm
78calm
88calm
98calm
108calm
118calm
128calm
138calm
148calm
158calm
168calm
178calm
188calm
198calm
208calm
218calm
228calm
238calm
248calm
258calm
268calm
278calm
288calm
298calm
308calm
318calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 36 min at the start of December to 13 h 42 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 6:43 AM to 6:53 AM, and sunset from 8:19 PM to 8:36 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.66:438:19
213.66:438:20
313.66:438:21
413.66:438:21
513.66:438:22
613.76:438:23
713.76:448:23
813.76:448:24
913.76:448:25
1013.76:448:25
1113.76:448:26
1213.76:458:27
1313.76:458:27
1413.76:458:28
1513.76:468:28
1613.76:468:29
1713.76:468:30
1813.76:478:30
1913.76:478:31
2013.76:488:31
2113.76:488:32
2213.76:488:32
2313.76:498:33
2413.76:498:33
2513.76:508:34
2613.76:508:34
2713.76:518:34
2813.76:528:35
2913.76:528:35
3013.76:538:35
3113.76:538:36

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 9.44 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.02 kWh/m² to a high of 9.44 kWh/m² in December across the year — December's 9.44 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

0246810151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
19.4Intense
29.4Intense
39.4Intense
49.4Intense
59.4Intense
69.4Intense
79.4Intense
89.4Intense
99.4Intense
109.4Intense
119.4Intense
129.4Intense
139.4Intense
149.4Intense
159.4Intense
169.4Intense
179.4Intense
189.4Intense
199.4Intense
209.4Intense
219.4Intense
229.4Intense
239.4Intense
249.4Intense
259.4Intense
269.4Intense
279.4Intense
289.4Intense
299.4Intense
309.4Intense
319.4Intense
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit Copiapó?

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

9.5
Sightseeing
2nd-best month of the year
8.5
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Copiapó in December

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

In December, Copiapó sees daytime highs around 25°C and nights near 15°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes.

sun protectionlight clothes

Sea temperature near Copiapó in December

The nearest coast averages about 17°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 54 km away) is warmest in February at about 19°C and coldest in August near 14°C.

The water stays below 20°C all year — cool enough that most swimmers want a wetsuit.

12°14°16°18°20°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcoolrefreshing
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan19Cool
Feb19Cool
Mar18Cool
Apr17Cool
May16Cool
Jun15Cool
Jul15Bracing
Aug14Bracing
Sep14Bracing
Oct15Bracing
Nov16Cool
Dec17Cool

UV index in Copiapó in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 14 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Copiapó peaks around January 20 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 21 at about 5 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeHighModerateHighVery highExtremeJan 20UV 15Jun 21UV 5
UV index (midday)Level
Jan15Extreme
Feb15Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr7Very high
May6High
Jun5Moderate
Jul5Moderate
Aug7High
Sep9Very high
Oct12Extreme
Nov13Extreme
Dec14Extreme

Air quality in Copiapó 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 Copiapó is worst in August — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.4× the cleanest month (January, 7 µg/m³).

Seasonal pattern from CAMS reanalysis, scaled to Copiapó's WHO annual average of 12.3 µg/m³.

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodAug 1217 µg/m³Jan 197 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan7Good
Feb8Good
Mar10Good
Apr16Moderate
May16Moderate
Jun14Moderate
Jul16Moderate
Aug17Moderate
Sep14Moderate
Oct13Moderate
Nov9Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Copiapó?

Copiapó sits at 27.4°S, 70.3°W, 381 m above sea level, in Chile. The nearest listed city is Caldera, 59 km away.

La SerenaVicuñaCoquimboBelénChilecitoOvalle

Topography around Copiapó

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Copiapó has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 504 m around an average of 464 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,341 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,668 m.

The land around Copiapó is covered by bare terrain (55%) and artificial surfaces (43%) within 3 km, bare terrain (94%) within 16 km, and bare terrain (88%) within 80 km.

3 km
504 m
16 km
1,341 m
80 km
4,668 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Caldera 59 km · Vallenar 141 km · La Serena 296 km · Vicuña 299 km · Coquimbo 304 km · Belén 328 km · Chilecito 342 km · Ovalle 369 km

Chile travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type C / F / L
220 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 48% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$17,995
2025
Happiness
6.3 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
98%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
6.3
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
14.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
High
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 517
Religion
Catholic 57%none 26%Evangelical or Protestant 16%other Christians and traditions related to Christ 1%

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 Copiapó (-27.3674°, -70.3322°, elevation 381 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. 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).