La Serena weather in December

In December, La Serena sees average daytime highs of 22°C and overnight lows near 15°C, with 1 mm of rain across 0.1 wet days and about 13.9 hours of daylight. It is the 3rd-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 22°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 79% of the time in December, and the air most often feels dry.

Daylight stretches from about 13 h 48 min at the start of December to 13 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is La Serena's 2nd-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see La Serena's year-round climate.

Daytime high
22°
3rd warmest
Overnight low
15°
9th coldest
Rainfall
1 mm
0.1 wet days
Daylight
13 h 54 min
6:44 AM – 8:39 PM
Cloud cover
27%
2nd clearest
Wind
7 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
8.4 kWh/m²
Travel score
9.0
out of 10

La Serena is city in Chile.

Air quality
Moderate
PM2.5 13.5 µg/m³ · 2019
Density
2,880/km²
people per km²
Founded
1544

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 22°C through the month.

A typical December day in La Serena reaches about 22°C in the afternoon and slips back to 15°C overnight — a 8°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 21°C and 24°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 1°C warmer than November and about 1°C cooler than January.

10°15°20°25°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12214
22214
32214
42214
52214
62214
72214
82214
92214
102214
112214
122214
132215
142215
152215
162215
172215
182215
192315
202315
212315
222315
232315
242315
252315
262315
272315
282315
292315
302316
312316

La Serena weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 3rd-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan24° / 16°00.113.79.2
Feb23° / 16°1013.19.1
Mar22° / 15°50.412.28.7
Apr20° / 14°30.711.38.0
May18° / 12°21210.57.1
Jun17° / 10°302.510.16.3
Jul16° / 161.910.36.3
Aug17° / 151.910.96.8
Sep18° / 11°50.911.87.5
Oct20° / 12°50.612.78.1
Nov21° / 13°10.113.58.7
Dec22° / 15°10.113.99.0

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 13% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 8%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
1937
2937
3937
4937
5928
6928
7928
8928
9928
10928
11928
12928
13928
14928
15928
16928
17928
18928
19928
20928
21928
22928
23928
24928
25928
26928
27928
28928
29928
30928
31928

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

La Serena 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 0% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
110
120
130
140
150
160
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 55% of days. It rarely turns muggy — the humid and sticky bands barely register.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)
183170
281190
380200
479210
577230
675250
773270
871290
969310
1067330
1165350
1263370
1361390
1459410
1558420
1656440
1754460
1852480
1950500
2048520
2146540
2243570
2341581
2439601
2537621
2635641
2732671
2830691
2928711
3026731
3124751

Wind in December

Winds average 7 km/h in December, the windiest month of the year.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 7 km/h on the calmest days to 7 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
17calm
27calm
37calm
47calm
57calm
67calm
77calm
87calm
97calm
107calm
117calm
127calm
137calm
147calm
157calm
167calm
177calm
187calm
197calm
207calm
217calm
227calm
237calm
247calm
257calm
267calm
277calm
287calm
297calm
307calm
317calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 13 h 48 min at the start of December to 13 h 54 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 6:41 AM to 6:51 AM, and sunset from 8:28 PM to 8:45 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
113.86:418:28
213.86:418:29
313.86:418:30
413.86:418:31
513.86:418:31
613.86:418:32
713.96:428:33
813.96:428:33
913.96:428:34
1013.96:428:35
1113.96:428:35
1213.96:438:36
1313.96:438:37
1413.96:438:37
1513.96:438:38
1613.96:448:39
1713.96:448:39
1813.96:448:40
1913.96:458:40
2013.96:458:41
2113.96:468:41
2213.96:468:42
2313.96:478:42
2413.96:478:43
2513.96:488:43
2613.96:488:43
2713.96:498:44
2813.96:498:44
2913.96:508:45
3013.96:518:45
3113.96:518:45

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 8.4 kWh/m² — the sunniest month for solar.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.04 kWh/m² to a high of 8.4 kWh/m² in December across the year — December's 8.4 kWh/m² sits near the top of that range.

02468151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
18.3Intense
28.3Intense
38.3Intense
48.3Intense
58.3Intense
68.4Intense
78.4Intense
88.4Intense
98.4Intense
108.4Intense
118.4Intense
128.4Intense
138.4Intense
148.4Intense
158.4Intense
168.4Intense
178.4Intense
188.4Intense
198.4Intense
208.4Intense
218.4Intense
228.4Intense
238.4Intense
248.4Intense
258.4Intense
268.4Intense
278.4Intense
288.4Intense
298.4Intense
308.4Intense
318.4Intense
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit La Serena?

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

9.0
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
6.5
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

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

What to pack for La Serena in December

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

In December, La Serena sees daytime highs around 22°C and nights near 15°C. Pack sun protection. Worth having: light clothes.

sun protectionlight clothes

Sea temperature near La Serena in December

The nearest coast averages about 16°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 13 km away) is warmest in February at about 18°C and coldest in August near 13°C.

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

12°14°16°18°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecbracingcool
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan17Cool
Feb18Cool
Mar17Cool
Apr16Cool
May15Bracing
Jun14Bracing
Jul13Bracing
Aug13Bracing
Sep13Bracing
Oct14Bracing
Nov14Bracing
Dec16Cool

UV index in La Serena in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 13 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in La Serena peaks around January 20 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near June 19 at about 4 (moderate).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeModerateHighVery highExtremeJan 20UV 14Jun 19UV 4
UV index (midday)Level
Jan14Extreme
Feb14Extreme
Mar11Extreme
Apr6High
May4Moderate
Jun4Moderate
Jul4Moderate
Aug5High
Sep8Very high
Oct11Extreme
Nov12Extreme
Dec13Extreme

Air quality in La Serena 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 La Serena is worst in July — around 18 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 1.8× the cleanest month (March, 10 µg/m³).

Seasonal pattern from CAMS reanalysis, scaled to La Serena's WHO annual average of 13.5 µg/m³.

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 2218 µg/m³Mar 1210 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan11Good
Feb11Good
Mar10Good
Apr12Moderate
May15Moderate
Jun17Moderate
Jul18Moderate
Aug18Moderate
Sep16Moderate
Oct12Moderate
Nov11Good
Dec11Good
Location & terrain

Where is La Serena?

La Serena sits at 29.9°S, 71.3°W, 30 m above sea level, in Chile. The nearest listed city is Coquimbo, 10 km away.

CabildoLa Ligua

Topography around La Serena

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around La Serena has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 131 m around an average of 37 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,022 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 4,315 m.

The land around La Serena is covered by artificial surfaces (50%) within 3 km, bare terrain (28%) and water (26%) within 16 km, and bare terrain (32%), water (27%) and grassland (26%) within 80 km.

3 km
131 m
16 km
1,022 m
80 km
4,315 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: Coquimbo 10 km · Vicuña 54 km · Ovalle 77 km · Vallenar 155 km · Illapel 192 km · Los Vilos 224 km · Cabildo 281 km · La Ligua 283 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 La Serena (-29.9059°, -71.2501°, elevation 30 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).