Cape Coast weather in December

In December, Cape Coast sees average daytime highs of 28°C and overnight lows near 26°C, with 28 mm of rain across 9.4 wet days and about 11.7 hours of daylight. It is the 4th-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 54% of the time in December, and the air most often feels miserable.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 42 min at the start of December to 11 h 42 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Cape Coast's 1st-clearest and 11th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Cape Coast's year-round climate.

Daytime high
28°
4th warmest
Overnight low
26°
9th coldest
Rainfall
28 mm
9.4 wet days
Daylight
11 h 42 min
6:10 AM – 5:52 PM
Cloud cover
43%
1st clearest
Wind
11 km/h
11th windiest
Solar energy
4.95 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.7
out of 10

Cape Coast is capital city of Central Region in Ghana.

Founded
1482

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 28°C through the month.

A typical December day in Cape Coast reaches about 28°C in the afternoon and slips back to 26°C overnight — a 2°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 27°C and 29°C. Set against its neighbours, December runs on par with November and on par with January.

24°26°28°30°32°151015202531
Avg high (°C)Avg low (°C)
12826
22826
32826
42826
52826
62826
72826
82826
92826
102826
112826
122826
132826
142826
152826
162826
172826
182826
192826
202826
212826
222826
232826
242826
252826
262826
272826
282826
292826
302826
312826

How December really feels in Cape Coast

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.

Cape Coast weather by month

How December compares with the rest of the year at a glance. December is the 4th-warmest and 9th-wettest month here — the current month is highlighted below.

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan28° / 26°185.911.77.2
Feb28° / 26°256.811.86.4
Mar29° / 27°4111.6125.4
Apr29° / 26°7116.312.14.8
May28° / 26°1662512.24.0
Jun27° / 25°20423.812.34.3
Jul25° / 24°6513.212.36.1
Aug25° / 24°287.312.27.0
Sep25° / 24°5210.8126.6
Oct27° / 25°671711.95.6
Nov28° / 26°4915.211.85.7
Dec28° / 26°289.411.76.7

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 54% of the time in December, the clearest month of the year.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 20% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 27%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
16733
26733
36832
46832
56832
66931
76931
86931
97129
107129
117129
127327
137327
147426
157525
167624
177624
187624
197723
207723
217723
227723
237723
247723
257624
267624
277525
287525
297327
307327
317228

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Cape Coast gets around 28 mm of rain over 9.4 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 30% and peaks near 45% on the wettest days. The odds ease toward the end of the month.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
145
244
343
442
541
640
739
838
936
1035
1134
1232
1331
1430
1529
1628
1727
1826
1925
2025
2124
2224
2323
2423
2523
2623
2722
2822
2922
3022
3121

Humidity in December

DryComfortableHumidMuggyOppressiveMiserable

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

By dew point, December lands in the miserable band about 63% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 100% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)Miserable (%)
1004258
2004159
3004159
4004060
5003961
6003961
7003961
8003961
9003961
10003862
11003862
12003862
13003763
14003763
15003664
16003664
17003565
18003466
19003466
20003367
21003367
22003367
23003367
24003367
25013465
26013465
27013465
28023563
29023563
30133561
31133561

Wind in December

Winds average 11 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 11 km/h on the calmest days to 12 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

051015151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
111calm
211calm
311calm
411calm
511calm
611calm
711calm
811calm
911calm
1011calm
1111calm
1211calm
1311calm
1411calm
1511calm
1611calm
1711calm
1811calm
1911calm
2011calm
2111calm
2211calm
2311calm
2411calm
2511calm
2611calm
2712calm
2812calm
2912calm
3012calm
3112calm

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 42 min at the start of December to 11 h 42 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 6:03 AM to 6:17 AM, and sunset from 5:46 PM to 5:59 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.76:035:46
211.76:035:47
311.76:045:47
411.76:045:47
511.76:055:48
611.76:055:48
711.76:065:49
811.76:065:49
911.76:075:49
1011.76:075:50
1111.76:085:50
1211.76:085:51
1311.76:095:51
1411.76:095:51
1511.76:095:52
1611.76:105:52
1711.76:105:53
1811.76:115:53
1911.76:115:54
2011.76:125:54
2111.76:125:55
2211.76:135:55
2311.76:135:56
2411.76:145:56
2511.76:145:57
2611.76:155:57
2711.76:155:57
2811.76:165:58
2911.76:165:58
3011.76:165:59
3111.76:175:59

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.95 kWh/m².

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.17 kWh/m² to a high of 5.64 kWh/m² in March across the year — December's 4.95 kWh/m² falls in the middle.

0246151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.9Bright
24.9Bright
34.9Bright
44.9Bright
54.9Bright
64.9Bright
74.9Bright
84.9Bright
94.9Bright
104.9Bright
114.9Bright
124.9Bright
134.9Bright
144.9Bright
154.9Bright
164.9Bright
175.0Bright
185.0Bright
195.0Bright
205.0Bright
215.0Bright
225.0Bright
235.0Bright
245.0Bright
255.0Bright
265.1Bright
275.1Bright
285.1Bright
295.1Bright
305.1Bright
315.1Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Cape Coast

In seasonPeak

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

Cape Coast's monsoon runs May–June, when most of the year's rain falls.

Cape Coast sees seasonal dust haze (January–April), heaviest in February.

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

Is December a good time to visit Cape Coast?

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

6.7
Sightseeing
3rd-best month of the year
7.2
Beach & pool
3rd-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Cape Coast in December

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

In December, Cape Coast sees daytime highs around 28°C and nights near 26°C. Pack light clothes. Worth having: rain gear and sun protection. About 9 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Cape Coast in December

The nearest coast averages about 28°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 14 km away) is warmest in May at about 29°C and coldest in August near 23°C.

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

22°24°26°28°30°JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecrefreshingwarmtropicalcomfortable to swim
Sea temperature (°C)Comfort
Jan27Warm
Feb28Warm
Mar28Tropical
Apr28Tropical
May29Tropical
Jun27Warm
Jul24Warm
Aug23Refreshing
Sep24Warm
Oct27Warm
Nov28Tropical
Dec28Tropical

UV index in Cape Coast 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 Cape Coast peaks around March 23 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 17 at about 9 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecExtremeExtremeVery highMar 23UV 14Dec 17UV 9
UV index (midday)Level
Jan10Very high
Feb12Extreme
Mar14Extreme
Apr14Extreme
May12Extreme
Jun11Extreme
Jul10Very high
Aug11Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct12Extreme
Nov10Very high
Dec9Very high

Air quality in Cape Coast 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 Cape Coast is worst in January — around 70 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 5.4× the cleanest month (September, 13 µg/m³).

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

020406080JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecUnhealthyPoorModeratePoorJan 1768 µg/m³Sep 1313 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan70Unhealthy
Feb58Unhealthy
Mar35Moderate
Apr33Moderate
May21Moderate
Jun19Moderate
Jul17Moderate
Aug14Moderate
Sep13Moderate
Oct16Moderate
Nov24Moderate
Dec54Poor
Location & terrain

Where is Cape Coast?

Cape Coast sits at 5.1°N, 1.2°W, 21 m above sea level, in Ghana. The nearest listed city is Elmina, 12 km away.

Shama JunctionSekondiApamSekondi-TakoradiTakoradi

Topography around Cape Coast

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Cape Coast has only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 75 m around an average of 13 m above sea level; within 16 km, only modest variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 131 m; within 80 km, significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 325 m.

The land around Cape Coast is covered by water (52%) and artificial surfaces (22%) within 3 km, water (55%) and trees (32%) within 16 km, and trees (60%) and water (35%) within 80 km.

3 km
75 m
16 km
131 m
80 km
325 m
treesgrasslandartificial surfacesbare terrainwaterwetland
December weather nearby: Elmina 12 km · Saltpond 24 km · Mankesim 32 km · Shama Junction 47 km · Sekondi 55 km · Apam 59 km · Sekondi-Takoradi 60 km · Takoradi 61 km

Ghana travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 2
Exercise Increased Caution
Power plugs
Type D / G
230 V · 50 Hz
Prices
≈ 38% of US
price level, 2025
GDP per capita
$3,257
2025
Happiness
4.6 / 10
World Happiness, 2025
Safe drinking water
43%
of population, 2024
Homicide rate
1.8
per 100k, 2022
Road deaths
25.7
per 100k/yr, 2019
Income group
Lower middle
World Bank
English
Moderate
EF EPI 540
Religion
Christian 71%Muslim 20%other 5%traditionalist 3%

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 Cape Coast (5.1053°, -1.2466°, elevation 21 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).