Basse-Terre weather in December

In December, Basse-Terre sees average daytime highs of 26°C and overnight lows near 25°C, with 40 mm of rain across 13.5 wet days and about 11.1 hours of daylight. It is the 8th-warmest and 8th-wettest month of the year here.

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 62% of the time in December, and the air most often feels oppressive.

Daylight stretches from about 11 h 06 min at the start of December to 11 h 06 min by month's end. Set against the rest of the year, December is Basse-Terre's 4th-clearest and 7th-windiest month. For the whole year in context, see Basse-Terre's year-round climate.

Daytime high
26°
8th warmest
Overnight low
25°
5th coldest
Rainfall
40 mm
13.5 wet days
Daylight
11 h 06 min
6:31 AM – 5:35 PM
Cloud cover
40%
4th clearest
Wind
18 km/h
7th windiest
Solar energy
4.75 kWh/m²
Travel score
6.5
out of 10

Temperature in December

Average highAverage lowShaded bands: 10–90% of days

Day-to-day highs hold fairly steady near 26°C through the month.

A typical December day in Basse-Terre reaches about 26°C in the afternoon and slips back to 25°C overnight — a 2°C spread between the day's warmth and the night's chill. On most days the high lands between 25°C and 27°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)
12725
22725
32725
42725
52725
62725
72625
82625
92625
102625
112625
122625
132625
142625
152625
162625
172625
182625
192625
202624
212624
222624
232624
242624
252624
262624
272624
282624
292624
302624
312624

Basse-Terre weather by month

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

MonthHigh / Low (°C)Rainfall (mm)Wet daysDaylight (hours)Travel score
Jan26° / 24°3011.911.26.9
Feb25° / 24°229.111.57.2
Mar26° / 24°197.211.97.5
Apr26° / 24°309.612.36.9
May27° / 25°5011.512.76.3
Jun28° / 26°4512.412.96.0
Jul28° / 26°6215.912.95.7
Aug28° / 26°7917.812.55.3
Sep28° / 26°10718.112.14.9
Oct28° / 26°10819.511.65.1
Nov27° / 25°8716.311.35.7
Dec26° / 25°4013.511.16.5

Cloud cover in December

ClearMostly clearPartly cloudyMostly cloudyOvercast

The sky is clear or mostly clear about 62% of the time in December.

Beyond those clear spells, partly cloudy skies cover about 20% of December, with mostly cloudy or overcast conditions the remaining 18%. Skies tend to open up as the month goes on.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Clearer (%)Cloudier (%)
17822
27822
37822
47822
57822
67822
77822
87822
97921
107921
118020
128020
138020
148119
158119
168119
178218
188218
198218
208218
218218
228317
238416
248515
258515
268515
278713
288713
298713
308812
318812

Chance of precipitation in December

Any precipitation

Basse-Terre gets around 40 mm of rain over 13.5 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 43% and peaks near 46% on the wettest days.

0%20%40%60%151015202531
Rain chance (%)
145
245
345
445
545
645
745
846
946
1046
1146
1245
1345
1445
1544
1644
1743
1843
1942
2042
2142
2241
2341
2441
2541
2641
2741
2841
2941
3041
3142

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 72% of days. Sticky, muggy-or-worse air turns up on roughly 98% of them.

0%25%50%75%100%151015202531
Humid (%)Muggy (%)Oppressive (%)
121880
221880
321979
421979
521979
622078
722078
822078
922078
1022078
1122177
1222177
1322276
1412277
1512376
1622474
1722573
1822672
1922771
2022870
2122969
2223068
2323167
2423266
2523365
2623464
2723563
2823662
2923761
3023860
3114059

Wind in December

Winds average 18 km/h in December.

Across December, daily wind ranges from about 17 km/h on the calmest days to 19 km/h at its breeziest. It stays fairly steady from day to day.

0510152025151015202531
Wind speed (km/h)Feels
117light breeze
217light breeze
317light breeze
417light breeze
517light breeze
617light breeze
717light breeze
817light breeze
917light breeze
1018light breeze
1118light breeze
1218light breeze
1318light breeze
1418light breeze
1518light breeze
1618light breeze
1718light breeze
1818light breeze
1918light breeze
2018light breeze
2118light breeze
2218light breeze
2318light breeze
2418light breeze
2519light breeze
2619light breeze
2719light breeze
2819light breeze
2919light breeze
3019light breeze
3119light breeze

Sunrise & sunset in December

DaylightNight

Daylight runs from about 11 h 06 min at the start of December to 11 h 06 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 6:23 AM to 6:38 AM, and sunset from 5:30 PM to 5:42 PM.

12 AM4 AM8 AM12 PM4 PM8 PM12 AM151015202531
Daylight (h)Sunrise (AM)Sunset (PM)
111.16:235:30
211.16:245:30
311.16:245:31
411.16:255:31
511.16:255:31
611.16:265:31
711.16:275:32
811.16:275:32
911.16:285:32
1011.16:285:32
1111.16:295:33
1211.16:295:33
1311.16:305:34
1411.16:305:34
1511.16:315:34
1611.16:315:35
1711.16:325:35
1811.16:335:36
1911.06:335:36
2011.06:345:36
2111.06:345:37
2211.06:345:37
2311.06:355:38
2411.06:355:38
2511.06:365:39
2611.16:365:39
2711.16:375:40
2811.16:375:40
2911.16:375:41
3011.16:385:41
3111.16:385:42

Solar energy in December

Daily solar energy (kWh/m²)

Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day in December, about 4.75 kWh/m² — the year's lowest.

For context, solar energy here swings from a low near 4.75 kWh/m² to a high of 6.73 kWh/m² in April across the year — December's 4.75 kWh/m² sits near the bottom.

024151015202531
Solar energy (kWh/m²)Level
14.8Bright
24.8Bright
34.8Bright
44.8Bright
54.8Bright
64.8Bright
74.8Bright
84.8Bright
94.8Bright
104.8Bright
114.8Bright
124.8Bright
134.8Bright
144.8Bright
154.8Bright
164.8Bright
174.8Bright
184.8Bright
194.8Bright
204.8Bright
214.8Bright
224.8Bright
234.8Bright
244.8Bright
254.8Bright
264.8Bright
274.8Bright
284.8Bright
294.8Bright
304.8Bright
314.8Bright
Planning a trip in December

Hazard calendar for Basse-Terre

In seasonPeak

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

Basse-Terre sits in the Atlantic hurricane belt; the season peaks August–October.

Basse-Terre's rainy season runs July–November, when most of the year's rain falls.

Basse-Terre sees seasonal dust haze (June–July), heaviest in July.

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

Is December a good time to visit Basse-Terre?

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

6.5
Sightseeing
5th-best month of the year
6.3
Beach & pool
7th-best month of the year

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

What to pack for Basse-Terre in December

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

In December, Basse-Terre sees daytime highs around 26°C and nights near 25°C. Worth packing: light clothes, rain gear and sun protection. About 14 days see rain.

light clothesrain gearsun protection

Sea temperature near Basse-Terre 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 18 km away) is warmest in September at about 29°C and coldest in February 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
Apr27Warm
May28Warm
Jun28Tropical
Jul28Tropical
Aug29Tropical
Sep29Tropical
Oct29Tropical
Nov29Tropical
Dec28Warm

UV index in Basse-Terre in December

LowModerateHighVery highExtreme

Clear-sky midday UV in December peaks around 8 — enough to warrant sun protection. The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.

Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Basse-Terre peaks around March 22 at about 13 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 15 at about 8 (very high).

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

025710JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecVery highExtremeVery highMar 22UV 13Dec 15UV 8
UV index (midday)Level
Jan9Very high
Feb11Extreme
Mar13Extreme
Apr13Extreme
May12Extreme
Jun12Extreme
Jul12Extreme
Aug11Extreme
Sep12Extreme
Oct11Extreme
Nov8Very high
Dec8Very high

Air quality in Basse-Terre 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 Basse-Terre is worst in June — around 26 µg/m³ PM2.5 (moderate), about 3.3× the cleanest month (December, 8 µg/m³).

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

0102030JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecGoodModerateGoodJun 2126 µg/m³Dec 238 µg/m³
PM2.5 (µg/m³)Level
Jan8Good
Feb11Good
Mar9Good
Apr13Moderate
May16Moderate
Jun26Moderate
Jul25Moderate
Aug21Moderate
Sep16Moderate
Oct17Moderate
Nov11Good
Dec8Good
Location & terrain

Where is Basse-Terre?

Basse-Terre sits at 16.0°N, 61.7°W, 11 m above sea level, in Guadeloupe. The nearest listed city is Capesterre-Belle-Eau, 19 km away.

Capesterre-Belle-EauPetit-BourgBaie-MahaultPointe-à-PitreLe GosierSainte-RoseLes AbymesSainte-Anne

Topography around Basse-Terre

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

Within 3 km, the terrain around Basse-Terre has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 337 m around an average of 66 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,456 m; within 80 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,444 m.

The land around Basse-Terre is covered by water (50%) and trees (31%) within 3 km, water (63%) and trees (35%) within 16 km, and water (86%) within 80 km.

3 km
337 m
16 km
1,456 m
80 km
1,444 m
treesgrasslandcroplandartificial surfaceswater
December weather nearby: Capesterre-Belle-Eau 19 km · Petit-Bourg 26 km · Baie-Mahault 34 km · Pointe-à-Pitre 34 km · Le Gosier 35 km · Sainte-Rose 37 km · Les Abymes 39 km · Sainte-Anne 45 km

Guadeloupe travel facts

Travel advisory
Level 1
Exercise Normal Precautions
Power plugs
Type C / E
230 V · 50 Hz

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 Basse-Terre (15.9971°, -61.7321°, elevation 11 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).