San Carlos in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), San Carlos sees average daytime highs around 33°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 149 mm of rain over about 33 wet days across the season. It is the warmest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 31°C in early December to 35°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 35% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels oppressive.
Winter is San Carlos's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see San Carlos's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 33°C
- warmest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 24°C
- Rainfall
- 149 mm
- 33 wet days
- Avg wind
- 7 km/h
- Travel score
- 3.4
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in San Carlos in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 31°C in early December to 35°C by late February.
A typical winter day in San Carlos reaches about 33°C and drops to 24°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest December.
How winter really feels in San Carlos
Once humidity and wind are folded in, winter brings about 90 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C.
The story in winter is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.
San Carlos weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 33° / 24° | 28 | 7.3 | 11.5 | 3.9 |
| Feb | 34° / 25° | 33 | 7.3 | 11.7 | 3.0 |
| Mar | 34° / 25° | 70 | 15 | 11.9 | 2.5 |
| Apr | 33° / 25° | 170 | 24.5 | 12.2 | 2.2 |
| May | 32° / 25° | 265 | 29.1 | 12.4 | 2.2 |
| Jun | 32° / 24° | 238 | 27.4 | 12.5 | 2.2 |
| Jul | 32° / 24° | 240 | 27.9 | 12.5 | 2.3 |
| Aug | 32° / 24° | 233 | 28.1 | 12.3 | 2.2 |
| Sep | 32° / 24° | 226 | 28.3 | 12.1 | 2.3 |
| Oct | 31° / 24° | 218 | 29.1 | 11.8 | 2.3 |
| Nov | 31° / 24° | 168 | 26 | 11.6 | 2.6 |
| Dec | 32° / 24° | 88 | 17.9 | 11.5 | 3.4 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 35% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
San Carlos gets around 149 mm of rain over 33 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels oppressive — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 7 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 30 min in early December to 11 h 48 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 5.0 kWh/m².
Is winter a good time to visit San Carlos?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in San Carlos. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for San Carlos in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, San Carlos sees daytime highs around 33°C and nights near 24°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. Worth having: sun protection. About 33 days see rain.
UV index in San Carlos in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in San Carlos peaks around June 14 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 13 at about 10 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 10 | 10 |
| Level | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 11 | Extreme |
| Feb | 12 | Extreme |
| Mar | 12 | Extreme |
| Apr | 12 | Extreme |
| May | 12 | Extreme |
| Jun | 13 | Extreme |
| Jul | 12 | Extreme |
| Aug | 12 | Extreme |
| Sep | 12 | Extreme |
| Oct | 12 | Extreme |
| Nov | 10 | Extreme |
| Dec | 10 | Very high |
Air quality in San Carlos in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in San Carlos is worst in March — around 27 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.0× the cleanest month (November, 14 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 16 | 20 | 27 | 27 | 24 | 21 | 23 | 19 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 16 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 16 | Moderate |
| Feb | 20 | Moderate |
| Mar | 27 | Moderate |
| Apr | 27 | Moderate |
| May | 24 | Moderate |
| Jun | 21 | Moderate |
| Jul | 23 | Moderate |
| Aug | 19 | Moderate |
| Sep | 16 | Moderate |
| Oct | 15 | Moderate |
| Nov | 14 | Moderate |
| Dec | 16 | Moderate |
Where is San Carlos?
San Carlos sits at 8.8°N, 75.7°W, 15 m above sea level, in Colombia. The nearest listed city is Ciénaga de Oro, 12 km away.
Topography around San Carlos
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of San Carlos.
Within 3 km, the terrain around San Carlos has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 162 m around an average of 18 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 356 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 602 m.
The land around San Carlos is covered by grassland (84%) within 3 km, grassland (76%) within 16 km, and grassland (72%) within 80 km.
Colombia travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 3
- Reconsider Travel
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 / 240 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 38% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $8,562
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.0 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 74%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 24.9
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 15.4
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Upper middle
- World Bank
- English
- Low
- EF EPI 480
- Religion
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 San Carlos (8.7958°, -75.6995°, elevation 15 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.