Varadero weather in December

In December, Varadero sees average daytime highs of 25°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 37 mm of rain across 7.6 wet days and about 10.6 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 9th-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 51% of the time in December, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 42 min at the start of December to 10 h 36 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Varadero's 5th-clearest and 2nd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Varadero's year-round climate.

Daytime high
25°
9th warmest
Overnight low
23°
4th coldest
Rainfall
37 mm
7.6 wet days
Daylight
10 h 36 min
7:04 AM – 5:39 PM
Cloud cover
45%
5th clearest
Wind
24 km/h
2nd windiest
Solar energy
3.63 kWh/m²
Travel score
7.5
out of 10

Varadero is resort town in Matanzas province, Cuba.

Density
625/km²
people per km²
Founded
1887

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 Varadero reaches about 25°C in the afternoon and slips back to 23°C overnight — a 2°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 23°C and 26°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 1°C cooler than November and about 1°C warmer than January.

15°20°25°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12524
22524
32524
42524
52524
62524
72524
82524
92523
102523
112523
122523
132523
142523
152523
162523
172523
182523
192523
202523
212523
222523
232523
242523
252523
262523
272523
282423
292423
302423
312423

How December really feels in Varadero

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.

Varadero weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan24° / 22°427.910.77.6
Feb24° / 22°295.211.28.2
Mar25° / 23°245.211.88.2
Apr26° / 24°335.112.58.0
May27° / 25°699.513.17.0
Jun28° / 26°7512.413.45.8
Jul29° / 27°5110.713.35.7
Aug29° / 27°7313.412.85.3
Sep28° / 27°10917.712.14.7
Oct27° / 26°11616.811.55.6
Nov26° / 25°6310.410.96.9
Dec25° / 23°377.610.67.5

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 51% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 16% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 33%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17228
27228
37228
47129
57129
67030
77030
87030
96931
106832
116733
126634
136634
146634
156634
166535
176535
186436
196436
206535
216535
226535
236535
246634
256634
266634
276733
286733
296733
306733
316733

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Varadero gets around 37 mm of rain over 7.6 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 25% and peaks near 28% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
128
228
328
427
527
627
727
826
926
1026
1125
1225
1325
1425
1524
1624
1724
1824
1924
2024
2124
2224
2324
2424
2525
2625
2725
2825
2926
3026
3126

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 36% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 70% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1171443351
2171442350
3171343360
4281341360
5281340370
6291339370
7291338380
83101337380
93101336390
103111335390
113111334390
123121433390
133121432380
143131532380
153131532370
163131632360
173141632350
183141733340
193141733330
203141834320
214131834310
224131835300
234131935290
244131936290
254121936290
264121936290
274121936290
285121836290
295121836290
305121835290
315121835290

Wind in December

Winds average 24 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 24 km/h on the calmest days to 25 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0102030151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
125breezy
224breezy
324breezy
424breezy
524breezy
624breezy
724breezy
824breezy
924breezy
1024breezy
1124breezy
1224breezy
1324breezy
1424breezy
1524breezy
1624breezy
1724breezy
1825breezy
1925breezy
2025breezy
2125breezy
2225breezy
2325breezy
2425breezy
2525breezy
2625breezy
2725breezy
2825breezy
2925breezy
3025breezy
3125breezy

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 10 h 42 min at the start of December to 10 h 36 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 6:54 AM to 7:10 AM, and sunset from 5:35 PM to 5:46 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.76:545:35
210.76:555:35
310.76:565:35
410.76:565:35
510.66:575:36
610.66:585:36
710.66:585:36
810.66:595:36
910.67:005:36
1010.67:005:37
1110.67:015:37
1210.67:015:37
1310.67:025:38
1410.67:035:38
1510.67:035:38
1610.67:045:39
1710.67:045:39
1810.67:055:39
1910.67:055:40
2010.67:065:40
2110.67:065:41
2210.67:075:41
2310.67:075:42
2410.67:085:42
2510.67:085:43
2610.67:085:43
2710.67:095:44
2810.67:095:44
2910.67:105:45
3010.67:105:45
3110.67:105:46

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 3.63 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.63 kWh/m² to a high of 6.74 kWh/m² in July across the year — December's 3.63 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.8Moderate
23.8Moderate
33.7Moderate
43.7Moderate
53.7Moderate
63.7Moderate
73.7Moderate
83.7Moderate
93.7Moderate
103.7Moderate
113.6Moderate
123.6Moderate
133.6Moderate
143.6Moderate
153.6Moderate
163.6Moderate
173.6Moderate
183.6Moderate
193.6Moderate
203.6Moderate
213.6Moderate
223.6Moderate
233.6Moderate
243.6Moderate
253.6Moderate
263.6Moderate
273.6Moderate
283.6Moderate
293.6Moderate
303.6Moderate
313.6Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Varadero

In seasonPeak

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

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

Varadero's rainy season runs May–June, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is December a good time to visit Varadero?

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

7.5
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
6.7
Beach & pool
6th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Varadero in December

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

In December, Varadero sees daytime highs around 25°C and nights near 23°C. Worth packing: light clothes and a windbreaker. About 8 days see rain.

light clothesa windbreaker

Sea temperature near Varadero in December

The nearest coast averages about 26°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 August at about 29°C and coldest in February near 25°C.

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

24°26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan26Warm
Feb25Warm
Mar26Warm
Apr26Warm
May27Warm
Jun28Tropical
Jul29Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov27Warm
Dec26Warm

UV index in Varadero 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 Varadero peaks around June 20 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 17 at about 6 (high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecHighVery highExtremeVery highHighJun 20UV 12Dec 17UV 6
UV index (midday)Level
Jan6High
Feb8Very high
Mar10Extreme
Apr11Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep11Extreme
Oct9Very high
Nov6High
Dec6High

Air quality in Varadero 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 Varadero is worst in July — around 20 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.5× the cleanest month (November, 6 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1520 µg/m³Nov 236 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan6Good
Feb7Good
Mar8Good
Apr10Good
May11Good
Jun18Moderate
Jul20Moderate
Aug17Moderate
Sep12Good
Oct9Good
Nov6Good
Dec6Good
Location & terrain

Where is Varadero?

Varadero sits at 23.2°N, 81.2°W, 8 m above sea level, in Cuba. The nearest listed city is Cárdenas, 14 km away.

Topography around Varadero

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Varadero has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 13 m around an average of 1 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 130 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 365 m.

The land around Varadero is covered by water (89%) within 3 km, water (76%) within 16 km, and water (44%) and trees (24%) within 80 km.

3 km
13 m
16 km
130 m
80 km
365 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetlandmangroves
December weather nearby: Cárdenas 14 km · Limonar 29 km · Matanzas 37 km · Jovellanos 40 km · Pedro Betancourt 48 km · Perico 49 km · Unión de Reyes 50 km · Colón 60 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 Varadero (23.1568°, -81.2444°, elevation 8 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).