Punta Cana weather in December

In December, Punta Cana sees average daytime highs of 27°C and overnight lows near 24°C, with 53 mm of rain across 13.1 wet days and about 10.9 hours of daylight. It is the 9th-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 27°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 65% of the time in December, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 hours at the start of December to 10 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Punta Cana's 4th-clearest and 1st-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Punta Cana's year-round climate.

Daytime high
27°
9th warmest
Overnight low
24°
5th coldest
Rainfall
53 mm
13.1 wet days
Daylight
10 h 54 min
7:03 AM – 5:56 PM
Cloud cover
38%
4th clearest
Wind
17 km/h
1st windiest
Solar energy
4.39 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.4
out of 10

Punta Cana is resort town in La Altagracia Province, Dominican Republic.

Density
210/km²
people per km²
Founded
2006

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 27°C through the month.

A typical December day in Punta Cana reaches about 27°C in the afternoon and slips back to 24°C overnight — a 3°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 26°C and 28°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 1°C cooler than November and on par with January.

20°23°25°28°30°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12724
22724
32724
42724
52724
62724
72724
82724
92724
102724
112724
122724
132724
142724
152724
162724
172724
182724
192724
202724
212724
222724
232724
242724
252724
262724
272724
282724
292724
302724
312724

How December really feels in Punta Cana

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.

Punta Cana weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 9th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 23°3912116.8
Feb27° / 23°319.811.47.0
Mar27° / 23°369.811.97.1
Apr27° / 24°5111.412.46.5
May28° / 25°10016.612.95.2
Jun29° / 26°7115.213.14.8
Jul29° / 26°9018.2134.6
Aug29° / 26°10518.612.64.4
Sep29° / 26°12118.912.14.2
Oct29° / 25°11720.911.64.3
Nov28° / 25°10317.611.15.3
Dec27° / 24°5313.110.96.4

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 17%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17921
28020
38119
48119
58119
68218
78218
88218
98218
108218
118218
128218
138218
148218
158218
168317
178317
188317
198317
208317
218317
228317
238317
248416
258416
268515
278614
288614
298614
308614
318614

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Punta Cana gets around 53 mm of rain over 13.1 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 42% and peaks near 43% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
143
243
342
442
542
642
742
842
942
1042
1142
1242
1342
1442
1542
1642
1743
1843
1943
2043
2143
2243
2343
2442
2542
2642
2741
2841
2941
3041
3141

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 74% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 96% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1217792
2217792
3217792
4317782
5317791
6317791
7317791
8318781
9318781
10318781
11318781
12319780
13319780
14319780
15320770
16320770
17321760
18421750
19422740
20422740
21423730
22424720
23424720
24425710
25425710
26426700
27427690
28427690
29428680
30429670
31429670

Wind in December

Winds average 17 km/h in December, the windiest month of the year.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 16 km/h on the calmest days to 17 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

05101520151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
116light breeze
216light breeze
316light breeze
416light breeze
517light breeze
617light breeze
717light breeze
817light breeze
917light breeze
1017light breeze
1117light breeze
1217light breeze
1317light breeze
1417light breeze
1517light breeze
1617light breeze
1717light breeze
1817light breeze
1917light breeze
2017light breeze
2117light breeze
2217light breeze
2317light breeze
2417light breeze
2517light breeze
2617light breeze
2717light breeze
2817light breeze
2917light breeze
3017light breeze
3117light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 hours at the start of December to 10 h 54 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 5:52 PM to 6:04 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.06:545:52
211.06:555:52
310.96:565:53
410.96:565:53
510.96:575:53
610.96:575:53
710.96:585:53
810.96:595:54
910.96:595:54
1010.97:005:54
1110.97:005:55
1210.97:015:55
1310.97:015:55
1410.97:025:56
1510.97:035:56
1610.97:035:56
1710.97:045:57
1810.97:045:57
1910.97:055:58
2010.97:055:58
2110.97:065:59
2210.97:065:59
2310.97:076:00
2410.97:076:00
2510.97:076:01
2610.97:086:01
2710.97:086:02
2810.97:096:02
2910.97:096:03
3010.97:096:03
3110.97:106:04

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.39 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.39 kWh/m² to a high of 6.59 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 4.39 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.5Bright
24.5Bright
34.5Bright
44.5Bright
54.4Bright
64.4Bright
74.4Bright
84.4Bright
94.4Bright
104.4Bright
114.4Bright
124.4Bright
134.4Bright
144.4Bright
154.4Bright
164.4Bright
174.4Bright
184.4Bright
194.4Bright
204.4Bright
214.4Bright
224.4Bright
234.4Bright
244.4Bright
254.4Bright
264.4Bright
274.4Bright
284.4Bright
294.4Bright
304.4Bright
314.4Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Punta Cana

In seasonPeak

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

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

Punta Cana sees seasonal dust haze (July), heaviest in July.

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

Is December a good time to visit Punta Cana?

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

6.4
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
6.5
Beach & pool
5th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Punta Cana in December

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

In December, Punta Cana sees daytime highs around 27°C and nights near 24°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear. About 13 days see rain.

light clothesrain gear

Sea temperature near Punta Cana 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
Jan27Warm
Feb26Warm
Mar26Warm
Apr27Warm
May27Warm
Jun28Warm
Jul28Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov28Tropical
Dec27Warm

UV index in Punta Cana 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 Punta Cana peaks around April 11 at about 12 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 15 at about 7 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highApr 11UV 12Dec 15UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan8Very high
Feb10Extreme
Mar12Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct10Very high
Nov8Very high
Dec7High

Air quality in Punta Cana 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 Punta Cana is worst in July — around 25 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 4.8× the cleanest month (December, 5 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJul 1125 µg/m³Dec 235 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan5Good
Feb7Good
Mar7Good
Apr8Good
May15Moderate
Jun25Moderate
Jul25Moderate
Aug21Moderate
Sep16Moderate
Oct15Moderate
Nov7Good
Dec5Good
Location & terrain

Where is Punta Cana?

Punta Cana sits at 18.6°N, 68.4°W, 28 m above sea level, in Dominican Republic. The nearest listed city is Salvaleón de Higüey, 32 km away.

Salvaleón de HigüeyLa RomanaSanta Cruz de El SeiboMichesHato Mayor del ReySan Pedro de MacorisQuisqueyaSanta Barbara De Samana

Topography around Punta Cana

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Punta Cana has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 40 m around an average of 27 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 114 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 683 m.

The land around Punta Cana is covered by trees (40%), grassland (39%) and artificial surfaces (20%) within 3 km, water (39%), trees (30%) and grassland (26%) within 16 km, and water (67%) within 80 km.

3 km
40 m
16 km
114 m
80 km
683 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
December weather nearby: Salvaleón de Higüey 32 km · La Romana 62 km · Santa Cruz de El Seibo 70 km · Miches 81 km · Hato Mayor del Rey 92 km · San Pedro de Macoris 96 km · Quisqueya 106 km · Santa Barbara De Samana 120 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 Punta Cana (18.5818°, -68.4043°, elevation 28 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).