Santiago de Cuba weather in December

In December, Santiago de Cuba sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 21°C, with 22 mm of rain across 3.4 wet days and about 10.8 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 65% of the time in December, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 54 min at the start of December to 10 h 48 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Santiago de Cuba's 4th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Santiago de Cuba's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
9th warmest
Overnight low
21°
4th coldest
Rainfall
22 mm
3.4 wet days
Daylight
10 h 48 min
6:36 AM – 5:23 PM
Cloud cover
36%
4th clearest
Wind
11 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
4.25 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.4
out of 10

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 28°C through the month.

A typical December day in Santiago de Cuba reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 21°C overnight — a 7°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 26°C and 29°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs on par with November and on par with January.

15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12822
22822
32822
42822
52822
62822
72822
82822
92822
102822
112822
122822
132822
142821
152821
162821
172821
182821
192821
202821
212821
222821
232821
242821
252821
262821
272821
282821
292821
302821
312821

How December really feels in Santiago de Cuba

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 0 days that feel above 32°C and 0 that feel at or below 0°C — the comfort signal a plain temperature reading hides.

Days feeling ≥ 32°C
0
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

December sits comfortably in between — no days that feel dangerously hot or drop to a hard freeze once humidity and wind are folded in.

Santiago de Cuba weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 9th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan28° / 21°122.610.98.0
Feb28° / 20°122.711.37.9
Mar28° / 21°285.511.97.1
Apr29° / 22°468.112.46.1
May29° / 23°11415.612.94.8
Jun30° / 24°8013.313.24.4
Jul31° / 24°5612.613.14.3
Aug31° / 25°8214.912.74.0
Sep30° / 24°1152012.13.7
Oct29° / 24°11117.311.54.4
Nov29° / 23°597.811.16.0
Dec28° / 21°223.410.87.4

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 65% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 18% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 18%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
18020
28020
38119
48218
58218
68317
78317
88317
98317
108416
118416
128317
138218
148218
158218
168218
178218
188218
198218
208218
218218
228218
238218
248218
258218
268317
278317
288317
298317
308317
318317

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Santiago de Cuba gets around 22 mm of rain over 3.4 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 11% and peaks near 15% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
115
214
314
413
512
612
712
811
911
1011
1111
1211
1311
1412
1512
1612
1712
1812
1912
2011
2111
2211
2311
2410
2510
269
279
288
298
308
317

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 67% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 82% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
101106029
201106128
301106326
401116325
502116324
602116522
702116621
802126620
912126619
1012126718
1112136618
1212136717
1312146716
1413146616
1513156516
1613156615
1713156615
1813156714
1914156614
2014156713
2114156713
2214156812
2315156712
2415156811
2505157010
2605157010
270516709
280516718
290516727
300516736
310517735

Wind in December

Winds average 11 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 11 km/h on the calmest days to 11 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
111calm
211calm
311calm
411calm
511calm
611calm
711calm
811calm
911calm
1011calm
1111calm
1211calm
1311calm
1411calm
1511calm
1611calm
1711calm
1811calm
1911calm
2011calm
2111calm
2211calm
2311calm
2411calm
2511calm
2611calm
2711calm
2811calm
2911calm
3011calm
3111calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 54 min at the start of December to 10 h 48 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 6:27 AM to 6:42 AM, and sunset from 5:19 PM to 5:31 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.96:275:19
210.96:275:19
310.96:285:20
410.96:295:20
510.86:295:20
610.86:305:20
710.86:305:20
810.86:315:21
910.86:325:21
1010.86:325:21
1110.86:335:22
1210.86:335:22
1310.86:345:22
1410.86:355:23
1510.86:355:23
1610.86:365:23
1710.86:365:24
1810.86:375:24
1910.86:375:25
2010.86:385:25
2110.86:385:25
2210.86:395:26
2310.86:395:26
2410.86:405:27
2510.86:405:27
2610.86:405:28
2710.86:415:28
2810.86:415:29
2910.86:425:29
3010.86:425:30
3110.86:425:31

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.25 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.25 kWh/m² to a high of 6.69 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 4.25 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.3Bright
24.3Bright
34.3Bright
44.3Bright
54.3Bright
64.3Bright
74.3Bright
84.3Bright
94.3Bright
104.3Bright
114.3Bright
124.3Bright
134.3Bright
144.3Bright
154.3Bright
164.3Bright
174.2Bright
184.2Bright
194.2Bright
204.3Bright
214.3Bright
224.3Bright
234.3Bright
244.3Bright
254.3Bright
264.3Bright
274.3Bright
284.3Bright
294.3Bright
304.3Bright
314.3Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Santiago de Cuba

In seasonPeak

None of Santiago de Cuba's seasonal hazards are active in December. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do peak.

Santiago de Cuba sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

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

Is December a good time to visit Santiago de Cuba?

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

7.4
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
8.3
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Santiago de Cuba in December

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

In December, Santiago de Cuba sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 21°C. Pack light clothes. About 3 days see rain.

light clothes

Sea temperature near Santiago de Cuba in December

The nearest coast averages about 28°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 17 km away) is warmest in September at about 30°C and coldest in February near 27°C.

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

26°28°30°32°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb27Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr28Warm
May28Tropical
Jun29Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug30Tropical
Sep30Tropical
Oct30Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec28Warm

UV index in Santiago de Cuba in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 7 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Santiago de Cuba peaks around June 14 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 15 at about 7 (high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highHighJun 14UV 12Dec 15UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan8Very high
Feb10Very high
Mar12Extreme
Apr11Extreme
May12Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct10Very high
Nov7Very high
Dec7High

Air quality in Santiago de Cuba 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 Santiago de Cuba is worst in June — around 25 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.6× the cleanest month (December, 7 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJun 2124 µg/m³Dec 167 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb9Good
Mar10Good
Apr12Good
May15Moderate
Jun25Moderate
Jul23Moderate
Aug19Moderate
Sep15Moderate
Oct12Moderate
Nov8Good
Dec7Good
Location & terrain

Where is Santiago de Cuba?

Santiago de Cuba sits at 20.0°N, 75.8°W, 33 m above sea level, in Cuba. The nearest listed city is San Luis, 19 km away.

GuantánamoCuetoSan GermánJiguaníGuisa

Topography around Santiago de Cuba

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Santiago de Cuba has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 125 m around an average of 29 m above sea level; within 16 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 993 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,730 m.

The land around Santiago de Cuba is covered by artificial surfaces (56%) and trees (31%) within 3 km, trees (59%) and water (26%) within 16 km, and trees (47%) and water (32%) within 80 km.

3 km
125 m
16 km
993 m
80 km
1,730 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwater
December weather nearby: San Luis 19 km · Palma Soriano 28 km · Contramaestre 54 km · Guantánamo 65 km · Cueto 70 km · San Germán 72 km · Jiguaní 74 km · Guisa 79 km

Cuba travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type A / B / C / L
110 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 39% of US
price level, 2011
GDP per capita
$9,605
2020
Happiness
5.4 / 10
World Happiness, 2011
Homicide rate
4.5
per 100k, 2019
Road deaths
8.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 515
Religion
Christian 59%none 23%folk religion 18%

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 Santiago de Cuba (20.0229°, -75.8217°, elevation 33 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).