San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas weather in December

In December, San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas sees average daytime highs of 29°C and overnight lows near 23°C, with 357 mm of rain across 25.7 wet days and about 11.9 hours of daylight. It is the 6th-warmest and 8th-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 0% of the time in December, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 54 min at the start of December to 11 h 54 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas's 2nd-clearest and 6th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas's year-round climate.

Daytime high
29°
6th warmest
Overnight low
23°
7th coldest
Rainfall
357 mm
25.7 wet days
Daylight
11 h 54 min
6:14 AM – 6:09 PM
Cloud cover
86%
2nd clearest
Wind
5 km/h
6th windiest
Solar energy
3.35 kWh/m²
Travel score
3.5
out of 10

San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas is city of Esmeraldas Province, Ecuador.

Founded
1743

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 San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas 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 26°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)
12823
22823
32823
42823
52823
62823
72823
82823
92823
102823
112823
122823
132823
142823
152823
162823
172823
182823
192823
202823
212823
222923
232923
242923
252923
262923
272923
282923
292923
302923
312923

How December really feels in San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 10 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
10
heat index over the day's high
Days feeling ≤ C
0
wind chill below the day's low

The story in December is heat — humidity pushes the afternoon "feels like" well above the raw temperature.

San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 6th-warmest and 8th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan29° / 23°44228.811.93.1
Feb29° / 23°36425.4123.0
Mar29° / 23°40527.6123.0
Apr29° / 23°46727.8122.9
May29° / 23°54629.412.12.9
Jun29° / 23°42827.412.13.1
Jul28° / 22°39627.312.13.3
Aug28° / 22°31926.3123.5
Sep28° / 22°32625.3123.5
Oct28° / 22°28824.5123.6
Nov28° / 22°23822.111.93.7
Dec29° / 23°35725.711.93.5

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 0% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 3% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 97%.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
1298
2298
3298
4298
5298
6298
7298
8298
9298
10298
11298
12298
13298
14298
15397
16397
17397
18397
19496
20496
21496
22496
23595
24595
25595
26595
27595
28694
29694
30694
31694

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas gets around 357 mm of rain over 25.7 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 83% and peaks near 89% on the wettest days. The odds climb toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%80%100%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
174
274
375
476
576
677
777
878
979
1079
1180
1281
1381
1482
1583
1684
1785
1885
1986
2086
2187
2287
2388
2488
2588
2688
2788
2888
2988
3089
3189

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 85% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
118811
218712
318712
418712
518712
608812
708812
808812
908812
1008713
1108713
1208713
1308713
1408713
1508713
1608614
1708614
1808614
1908614
2008515
2108515
2208416
2308416
2408416
2508317
2608317
2708317
2808218
2918118
3018118
3118118

Wind in December

Winds average 5 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 5 km/h on the calmest days to 6 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0246810151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
16calm
26calm
36calm
46calm
56calm
66calm
76calm
86calm
96calm
106calm
115calm
125calm
135calm
145calm
155calm
165calm
175calm
185calm
195calm
205calm
215calm
225calm
235calm
245calm
255calm
265calm
275calm
285calm
295calm
305calm
315calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 54 min at the start of December to 11 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 6:07 AM to 6:21 AM, and sunset from 6:03 PM to 6:16 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.96:076:03
211.96:086:03
311.96:086:04
411.96:086:04
511.96:096:05
611.96:096:05
711.96:106:05
811.96:106:06
911.96:116:06
1011.96:116:07
1111.96:116:07
1211.96:126:07
1311.96:126:08
1411.96:136:08
1511.96:136:09
1611.96:146:09
1711.96:146:10
1811.96:156:10
1911.96:156:11
2011.96:166:11
2111.96:166:12
2211.96:176:12
2311.96:176:13
2411.96:176:13
2511.96:186:13
2611.96:186:14
2711.96:196:14
2811.96:196:15
2911.96:206:15
3011.96:206:16
3111.96:216:16

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 3.35 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 3.25 kWh/m² to a high of 4.14 kWh/m² in March across the year — December's 3.35 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

01234151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
13.3Moderate
23.3Moderate
33.3Moderate
43.3Moderate
53.3Moderate
63.3Moderate
73.3Moderate
83.3Moderate
93.3Moderate
103.3Moderate
113.3Moderate
123.3Moderate
133.3Moderate
143.3Moderate
153.3Moderate
163.3Moderate
173.3Moderate
183.3Moderate
193.3Moderate
203.3Moderate
213.4Moderate
223.4Moderate
233.4Moderate
243.4Moderate
253.4Moderate
263.4Moderate
273.5Moderate
283.5Moderate
293.5Moderate
303.5Moderate
313.5Moderate
Planning a trip in December

Is December a good time to visit San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas?

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

3.5
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
4.2
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

December is a weaker month for outdoor sightseeing in San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas.

What to pack for San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas in December

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

In December, San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas sees daytime highs around 29°C and nights near 23°C. Pack light clothes and rain gear. About 26 days see rain.

light clothesrain gear

Sea temperature near San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas 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 May at about 28°C and coldest in December near 27°C.

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

26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb27Warm
Mar27Warm
Apr28Warm
May28Warm
Jun27Warm
Jul27Warm
Aug27Warm
Sep27Warm
Oct27Warm
Nov27Warm
Dec27Warm

UV index in San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 12 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas peaks around February 22 at about 15 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near July 19 at about 11 (extreme).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeFeb 22UV 15Jul 19UV 11
UV index (midday)Level
Jan14Extreme
Feb15Extreme
Mar15Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May13Extreme
Jun11Extreme
Jul11Extreme
Aug11Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct13Extreme
Nov11Extreme
Dec12Extreme

Air quality in San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas 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 San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas is worst in March — around 17 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.0× the cleanest month (July, 8 µg/m³).

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

01020JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodModerateMar 1716 µg/m³Jul 188 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan10Good
Feb13Moderate
Mar17Moderate
Apr14Moderate
May11Good
Jun9Good
Jul8Good
Aug9Good
Sep9Good
Oct10Good
Nov13Moderate
Dec12Good
Location & terrain

Where is San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas?

San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas sits at 1.3°N, 78.8°W, 14 m above sea level, in Ecuador. The nearest listed city is Tumaco, 56 km away.

AtuntaquiRosa ZarateIbarraOtavaloTulcánTúquerres

Topography around San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas

How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas.

Within 3 km, the terrain around San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 44 m around an average of 12 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 125 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,370 m.

The land around San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas is covered by mangroves (33%), trees (32%) and water (21%) within 3 km, trees (56%) and mangroves (24%) within 16 km, and trees (65%) and water (29%) within 80 km.

3 km
44 m
16 km
125 m
80 km
2,370 m
treesgrasslandartificial surfaceswatermangroves
December weather nearby: Tumaco 56 km · Esmeraldas 98 km · Atuntaqui 127 km · Rosa Zarate 128 km · Ibarra 131 km · Otavalo 133 km · Tulcán 135 km · Túquerres 137 km

Ecuador travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type A / B
120 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 43% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$7,125
2025
Happiness
6.1 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
70%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
45.7
per 100k, 2023
Road deaths
20.1
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Low
EF EPI 466
Religion
Roman Catholic 68%Protestant 19%none 8%other 2%

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 San Lorenzo de Esmeraldas (1.2863°, -78.8351°, elevation 14 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. 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).