Las Terrenas weather in December

In December, Las Terrenas sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 57 mm of rain across 15.5 wet days and about 10.9 hours of daylight. It is the 10th-warmest and 9th-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 44% of the time in December, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 10 h 54 min at the start of December to 10 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Las Terrenas's 4th-clearest and 8th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Las Terrenas's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
10th warmest
Overnight low
23°
4th coldest
Rainfall
57 mm
15.5 wet days
Daylight
10 h 48 min
7:09 AM – 6:00 PM
Cloud cover
48%
4th clearest
Wind
11 km/h
8th windiest
Solar energy
3.92 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.4
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 Las Terrenas reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 23°C overnight — a 6°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 26°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 1°C cooler than November and on par with January.

20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12923
22923
32823
42823
52823
62823
72823
82823
92823
102823
112823
122823
132823
142823
152823
162823
172823
182823
192823
202823
212822
222822
232822
242822
252822
262822
272822
282822
292822
302822
312822

How December really feels in Las Terrenas

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.

Las Terrenas weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan28° / 22°4513.1116.2
Feb28° / 22°4111.511.35.9
Mar29° / 22°5612.711.95.4
Apr30° / 23°7014.812.44.8
May30° / 24°11618.312.93.9
Jun31° / 25°8215.713.13.8
Jul31° / 25°7617133.8
Aug31° / 25°8718.912.73.5
Sep31° / 25°10519.512.13.3
Oct31° / 25°11021.111.63.5
Nov29° / 24°10018.511.14.4
Dec28° / 23°5715.510.95.4

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 44% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 27% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 29%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16931
26931
36931
46931
57030
66931
77030
87030
97030
107129
117129
127129
137129
147129
157129
167228
177228
187228
197228
207327
217327
227228
237327
247327
257327
267426
277327
287327
297327
307327
317228

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Las Terrenas gets around 57 mm of rain over 15.5 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 50% and peaks near 51% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
150
249
349
449
550
650
750
850
950
1050
1150
1250
1350
1451
1551
1651
1751
1851
1951
2051
2151
2251
2351
2450
2550
2650
2749
2848
2948
3047
3147

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, December lands in the oppressive band about 67% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 94% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
10426664
20426664
30426673
40426673
50525673
60525682
70524692
80524692
90524692
100624691
110623701
120623701
130623701
140623701
150623710
160623710
170624700
180624700
190625690
201525690
211526680
221527670
231528660
241529650
251530640
261531630
271532620
281533610
291534600
301535590
311537570

Wind in December

Winds average 11 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 10 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
110calm
210calm
310calm
410calm
510calm
610calm
710calm
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 54 min by month's end. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.

Days grow by about 0 minutes over December. Sunrise moves from 7:00 AM to 7:16 AM, and sunset from 5:55 PM to 6:07 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
110.97:005:55
210.97:015:56
310.97:025:56
410.97:025:56
510.97:035:56
610.97:035:56
710.97:045:57
810.97:055:57
910.97:055:57
1010.97:065:58
1110.97:065:58
1210.97:075:58
1310.97:075:58
1410.87:085:59
1510.87:095:59
1610.87:096:00
1710.87:106:00
1810.87:106:00
1910.87:116:01
2010.87:116:01
2110.87:126:02
2210.87:126:02
2310.87:136:03
2410.87:136:03
2510.87:136:04
2610.87:146:04
2710.87:146:05
2810.87:156:05
2910.87:156:06
3010.87:156:06
3110.97:166:07

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 3.92 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.92 kWh/m² to a high of 6.2 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 3.92 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.0Bright
24.0Bright
34.0Bright
44.0Bright
54.0Bright
64.0Moderate
74.0Moderate
84.0Moderate
94.0Moderate
104.0Moderate
113.9Moderate
123.9Moderate
133.9Moderate
143.9Moderate
153.9Moderate
163.9Moderate
173.9Moderate
183.9Moderate
193.9Moderate
203.9Moderate
213.9Moderate
223.9Moderate
233.9Moderate
243.9Moderate
253.9Moderate
263.9Moderate
273.9Moderate
283.9Moderate
293.9Moderate
303.9Moderate
313.9Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Las Terrenas

In seasonPeak

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

Las Terrenas 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 Las Terrenas?

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

5.4
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
6.2
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

December is a reasonable time to visit Las Terrenas for sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.

What to pack for Las Terrenas in December

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

In December, Las Terrenas sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. About 16 days see rain.

light clothesrain gear

Sea temperature near Las Terrenas in December

The nearest coast averages about 27°C in December — the other half of the beach question. The full-year curve and swim-comfort zones are below.

The sea offshore is warmest in September at about 29°C and coldest in February near 26°C.

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

24°26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan26Warm
Feb26Warm
Mar26Warm
Apr26Warm
May27Warm
Jun28Warm
Jul28Warm
Aug28Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov28Tropical
Dec27Warm

UV index in Las Terrenas 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 Las Terrenas peaks around August 15 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 highHighAug 15UV 12Dec 15UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan8Very high
Feb10Very high
Mar12Extreme
Apr12Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep11Extreme
Oct10Very high
Nov8Very high
Dec7High

Air quality in Las Terrenas 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 Las Terrenas is worst in June — around 26 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.1× the cleanest month (December, 9 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJun 2326 µg/m³Dec 219 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan9Good
Feb10Good
Mar11Good
Apr12Good
May18Moderate
Jun26Moderate
Jul26Moderate
Aug21Moderate
Sep18Moderate
Oct18Moderate
Nov11Good
Dec9Good
Location & terrain

Where is Las Terrenas?

Las Terrenas sits at 19.3°N, 69.5°W, 0 m above sea level, in Dominican Republic. The nearest listed city is Santa Barbara De Samana, 25 km away.

Santa Barbara De SamanaNaguaSabana Grande de BoyáMonte PlataBayaguanaMichesHato Mayor del ReyCotuí

Topography around Las Terrenas

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Las Terrenas has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 283 m around an average of 43 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 521 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 971 m.

The land around Las Terrenas is covered by trees (55%) and water (26%) within 3 km, water (60%) and trees (32%) within 16 km, and water (43%) and trees (36%) within 80 km.

3 km
283 m
16 km
521 m
80 km
971 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswaterwetlandmangroves
December weather nearby: Santa Barbara De Samana 25 km · Nagua 33 km · Sabana Grande de Boyá 48 km · Monte Plata 61 km · Bayaguana 63 km · Miches 63 km · Hato Mayor del Rey 68 km · Cotuí 70 km

Dominican Republic travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type A / B / C
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 39% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$11,059
2025
Happiness
6.1 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
45%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
10.9
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
64.6
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 503

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 Las Terrenas (19.311°, -69.5428°, elevation 0 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).