Salvaleón de Higüey weather in December

In December, Salvaleón de Higüey sees average daytime highs of 29°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 38 mm of rain across 11.6 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 29°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 56% 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 Salvaleón de Higüey's 3rd-clearest and 3rd-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Salvaleón de Higüey's year-round climate.

Daytime high
29°
10th warmest
Overnight low
23°
4th coldest
Rainfall
38 mm
11.6 wet days
Daylight
10 h 54 min
7:04 AM – 5:58 PM
Cloud cover
42%
3rd clearest
Wind
12 km/h
3rd windiest
Solar energy
4.31 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.8
out of 10

Salvaleón de Higüey is capital city of La Altagracia Province, Dominican Republic.

Density
61/km²
people per km²
Founded
1503

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 29°C through the month.

A typical December day in Salvaleón de Higüey reaches about 29°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 27°C and 30°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs on par with November and on par with January.

20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12923
22923
32923
42923
52923
62923
72923
82923
92923
102923
112923
122923
132923
142923
152923
162923
172923
182923
192923
202923
212923
222823
232823
242823
252822
262822
272822
282822
292822
302822
312822

How December really feels in Salvaleón de Higüey

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.

Salvaleón de Higüey 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°279.1116.3
Feb28° / 22°237.811.46.3
Mar29° / 22°318.611.96.0
Apr29° / 23°4912.112.45.1
May30° / 24°981612.94.3
Jun31° / 25°661413.14.1
Jul31° / 25°7314.9134.1
Aug31° / 25°881712.63.8
Sep31° / 25°10718.212.13.6
Oct30° / 24°10720.311.63.7
Nov29° / 24°821611.14.6
Dec29° / 23°3811.610.95.8

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 56% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 24% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 20%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17624
27624
37723
47723
57822
67921
77921
87921
98020
108020
118020
128020
138020
147921
158020
168020
178020
188020
198020
208119
218020
228119
238119
248119
258218
268317
278317
288317
298416
308416
318416

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Salvaleón de Higüey gets around 38 mm of rain over 11.6 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 37% and peaks near 37% on the wettest days.

0%10%20%30%40%50%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
137
237
337
437
537
637
737
837
937
1037
1137
1237
1337
1437
1537
1637
1737
1837
1937
2037
2137
2237
2337
2437
2537
2636
2736
2835
2934
3034
3133

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 65% 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 (%)
10320734
20321724
30421723
40422713
50422713
60422713
70422712
80523702
90523702
100523702
110523711
120524701
130624691
140625681
150625681
160626680
171626670
181627660
191628650
201629640
211630630
221631620
231632610
241633600
251634590
261536580
271537570
281538560
291540540
301541530
311442530

Wind in December

Winds average 12 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 12 km/h on the calmest days to 13 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
112calm
212calm
312light breeze
412light breeze
512light breeze
612light breeze
712light breeze
812light breeze
912light breeze
1012light breeze
1112light breeze
1212light breeze
1312light breeze
1412light breeze
1512light breeze
1612light breeze
1712light breeze
1812light breeze
1912light breeze
2013light breeze
2113light breeze
2213light breeze
2313light breeze
2413light breeze
2513light breeze
2613light breeze
2713light breeze
2813light breeze
2913light breeze
3013light breeze
3113light 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 6:56 AM to 7:11 AM, and sunset from 5:53 PM to 6:05 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.06:565:53
211.06:565:54
310.96:575:54
410.96:585:54
510.96:585:54
610.96:595:54
710.96:595:55
810.97:005:55
910.97:005:55
1010.97:015:55
1110.97:025:56
1210.97:025:56
1310.97:035:56
1410.97:035:57
1510.97:045:57
1610.97:045:58
1710.97:055:58
1810.97:055:58
1910.97:065:59
2010.97:065:59
2110.97:076:00
2210.97:076:00
2310.97:086:01
2410.97:086:01
2510.97:096:02
2610.97:096:02
2710.97:106:03
2810.97:106:03
2910.97:106:04
3010.97:116:04
3110.97:116:05

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.31 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.31 kWh/m² to a high of 6.45 kWh/m² in June across the year — December's 4.31 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

012345151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.4Bright
24.4Bright
34.4Bright
44.4Bright
54.4Bright
64.3Bright
74.3Bright
84.3Bright
94.3Bright
104.3Bright
114.3Bright
124.3Bright
134.3Bright
144.3Bright
154.3Bright
164.3Bright
174.3Bright
184.3Bright
194.3Bright
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 Salvaleón de Higüey

In seasonPeak

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

Salvaleón de Higüey 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 Salvaleón de Higüey?

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

5.8
Sightseeing
4th-best month of the year
7.1
Beach & pool
4th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Salvaleón de Higüey in December

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

In December, Salvaleón de Higüey sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear. About 12 days see rain.

light clothesrain gear

Sea temperature near Salvaleón de Higüey 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 at the nearest coast (about 30 km away) 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
Apr27Warm
May27Warm
Jun28Warm
Jul28Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov28Tropical
Dec27Warm

UV index in Salvaleón de Higüey 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 Salvaleón de Higüey peaks around August 16 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 highAug 16UV 12Dec 15UV 7
UV index (midday)Level
Jan8Very high
Feb10Very high
Mar12Extreme
Apr12Extreme
May11Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug13Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct10Very high
Nov8Very high
Dec7High

Air quality in Salvaleón de Higüey 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 Salvaleón de Higüey is worst in June — around 27 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.5× the cleanest month (December, 8 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJun 2327 µg/m³Dec 218 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb10Good
Mar11Good
Apr11Good
May18Moderate
Jun27Moderate
Jul27Moderate
Aug23Moderate
Sep18Moderate
Oct18Moderate
Nov11Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Salvaleón de Higüey?

Salvaleón de Higüey sits at 18.6°N, 68.7°W, 95 m above sea level, in Dominican Republic. The nearest listed city is Punta Cana, 32 km away.

Punta CanaLa RomanaSanta Cruz de El SeiboMichesHato Mayor del ReySan Pedro de MacorisQuisqueyaSanta Barbara De Samana

Topography around Salvaleón de Higüey

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Salvaleón de Higüey has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 93 m around an average of 99 m above sea level; within 16 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 562 m; within 80 km, large variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 683 m.

The land around Salvaleón de Higüey is covered by artificial surfaces (44%) and grassland (40%) within 3 km, grassland (72%) and trees (21%) within 16 km, and water (60%) and grassland (20%) within 80 km.

3 km
93 m
16 km
562 m
80 km
683 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
December weather nearby: Punta Cana 32 km · La Romana 35 km · Santa Cruz de El Seibo 39 km · Miches 54 km · Hato Mayor del Rey 60 km · San Pedro de Macoris 66 km · Quisqueya 74 km · Santa Barbara De Samana 93 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 Salvaleón de Higüey (18.615°, -68.708°, elevation 95 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).