Zacatecoluca weather in December

In December, Zacatecoluca sees average daytime highs of 32°C and overnight lows near 21°C, with 9 mm of rain across 2.1 wet days and about 11.2 hours of daylight. It is the 5th-warmest and 10th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 32°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 76% of the time in December, and the air most often feels muggy.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 18 min at the start of December to 11 h 12 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Zacatecoluca's 3rd-clearest and 4th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Zacatecoluca's year-round climate.

Daytime high
32°
5th warmest
Overnight low
21°
2nd coldest
Rainfall
9 mm
2.1 wet days
Daylight
11 h 12 min
6:15 AM – 5:28 PM
Cloud cover
28%
3rd clearest
Wind
6 km/h
4th windiest
Solar energy
5.42 kWh/m²
Travel score
5.2
out of 10

Zacatecoluca is city in El Salvador.

Density
123/km²
people per km²
Founded
1852

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 32°C through the month.

A typical December day in Zacatecoluca reaches about 32°C in the afternoon and slips back to 21°C overnight — a 11°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 30°C and 33°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs about 1°C warmer than November and about 1°C cooler than January.

15°20°25°30°35°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
13121
23121
33121
43121
53221
63221
73221
83221
93221
103221
113221
123221
133221
143221
153221
163221
173221
183220
193220
203220
213220
223220
233220
243220
253220
263220
273220
283220
293220
303220
313220

How December really feels in Zacatecoluca

Once humidity and wind are folded in, December averages 31 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
31
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.

Zacatecoluca weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 5th-warmest and 10th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan33° / 20°30.911.34.8
Feb33° / 21°41.211.64.3
Mar34° / 22°154.411.93.8
Apr33° / 23°6413.712.33.2
May32° / 23°2962612.62.7
Jun31° / 23°3262612.82.8
Jul31° / 23°23021.412.73.1
Aug31° / 23°30325.312.42.9
Sep30° / 22°37328.212.12.8
Oct30° / 22°34025.211.73.3
Nov31° / 21°7510.511.44.7
Dec32° / 21°92.111.25.2

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 76% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 12% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 13%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17921
27921
38119
48317
58317
68515
78614
88614
98713
108713
118812
128812
138911
148911
158911
168911
178911
188911
198911
208911
219010
228911
239010
249010
259010
269010
278911
288911
298911
308911
318812

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Zacatecoluca gets around 9 mm of rain over 2.1 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 7% and peaks near 14% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%10%20%30%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
114
213
312
411
510
69
79
88
98
107
117
127
137
147
157
167
176
186
196
206
216
226
236
246
256
266
276
286
296
305
315

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 44% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 61% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Dry (%)Comfortable (%)Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
106194332
206204431
306214429
406224527
516224526
616234625
716244624
816254623
916254622
1016264621
1116264521
1217274520
1317274519
1417284518
1517294517
1618304517
1718314416
1818324415
1919334414
2019344413
2119344312
2219354311
2319364410
2411037449
2511037448
2611038447
2711038447
2811138446
2911138446
3021238445
3121238435

Wind in December

Winds average 6 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 6 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
116calm
126calm
136calm
146calm
156calm
166calm
176calm
186calm
196calm
206calm
216calm
226calm
236calm
246calm
256calm
266calm
276calm
286calm
296calm
306calm
316calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 18 min at the start of December to 11 h 12 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 6:07 AM to 6:22 AM, and sunset from 5:23 PM to 5:35 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.36:075:23
211.36:085:23
311.26:095:24
411.26:095:24
511.26:105:24
611.26:105:24
711.26:115:25
811.26:115:25
911.26:125:25
1011.26:125:26
1111.26:135:26
1211.26:135:26
1311.26:145:27
1411.26:145:27
1511.26:155:27
1611.26:155:28
1711.26:165:28
1811.26:165:29
1911.26:175:29
2011.26:175:30
2111.26:185:30
2211.26:185:31
2311.26:195:31
2411.26:195:31
2511.26:205:32
2611.26:205:32
2711.26:215:33
2811.26:215:33
2911.26:215:34
3011.26:225:35
3111.26:225:35

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 5.42 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 5.03 kWh/m² to a high of 6.51 kWh/m² in March across the year — December's 5.42 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
15.4Bright
25.4Bright
35.4Bright
45.4Bright
55.4Bright
65.4Bright
75.4Bright
85.4Bright
95.4Bright
105.4Bright
115.4Bright
125.4Bright
135.4Bright
145.4Bright
155.4Bright
165.4Bright
175.4Bright
185.4Bright
195.4Bright
205.4Bright
215.4Bright
225.4Bright
235.4Bright
245.4Bright
255.4Bright
265.4Bright
275.4Bright
285.5Bright
295.5Bright
305.5Bright
315.5Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Zacatecoluca

In seasonPeak

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

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

Zacatecoluca's monsoon runs May–October, when most of the year's rain falls.

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

Is December a good time to visit Zacatecoluca?

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

5.2
Sightseeing
1st-best month of the year
8.1
Beach & pool
2nd-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Zacatecoluca in December

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

In December, Zacatecoluca sees daytime highs around 32°C and nights near 21°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: sun protection.

light clothessun protection

Sea temperature near Zacatecoluca in December

The nearest coast averages about 29°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 31 km away) is warmest in August at about 30°C and coldest in January near 28°C.

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

26°28°30°32°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan28Tropical
Feb28Tropical
Mar29Tropical
Apr29Tropical
May30Tropical
Jun30Tropical
Jul30Tropical
Aug30Tropical
Sep30Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec29Tropical

UV index in Zacatecoluca in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 9 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Zacatecoluca peaks around April 10 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 13 at about 9 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeVery highApr 10UV 13Dec 13UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan10Very high
Feb13Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May12Extreme
Jun13Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug12Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct11Extreme
Nov9Very high
Dec9Very high

Air quality in Zacatecoluca 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 Zacatecoluca is worst in April — around 34 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 2.6× the cleanest month (January, 13 µg/m³).

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

010203040JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecModerateApr 2234 µg/m³Jan 1113 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan13Moderate
Feb15Moderate
Mar22Moderate
Apr34Moderate
May32Moderate
Jun21Moderate
Jul25Moderate
Aug20Moderate
Sep18Moderate
Oct17Moderate
Nov16Moderate
Dec13Moderate
Location & terrain

Where is Zacatecoluca?

Zacatecoluca sits at 13.5°N, 88.9°W, 220 m above sea level, in El Salvador. The nearest listed city is San Vicente, 17 km away.

San VicenteCojutepequeSan MartínIlopangoSoyapangoSan MarcosSan SalvadorDelgado

Topography around Zacatecoluca

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Zacatecoluca has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 319 m around an average of 210 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,166 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,143 m.

The land around Zacatecoluca is covered by trees (55%) and grassland (26%) within 3 km, trees (44%), grassland (33%) and cropland (20%) within 16 km, and trees (42%), water (28%) and grassland (21%) within 80 km.

3 km
319 m
16 km
2,166 m
80 km
2,143 m
treesshrubsgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswatermangroves
December weather nearby: San Vicente 17 km · Cojutepeque 24 km · San Martín 31 km · Ilopango 34 km · Soyapango 37 km · San Marcos 38 km · San Salvador 40 km · Delgado 40 km

El Salvador travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type A / B
115 V · 60 Hz
Prices
≈ 41% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$5,767
2025
Happiness
6.6 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Homicide rate
7.9
per 100k, 2022
Road deaths
20.9
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Upper middle
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 523
Religion
Roman Catholic 44%Protestant 40%none 16%

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 Zacatecoluca (13.5087°, -88.8702°, elevation 220 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).