Jalapa in Winter
In winter (December, January and February), Jalapa sees average daytime highs around 25°C and overnight lows near 13°C, with 21 mm of rain over about 6 wet days across the season. It is the coldest season of the year and the driest season of the year.
Over the season highs climb from about 24°C in early December to 27°C by late February. The sky is clear or mostly clear about 46% of the time across winter, and the air most often feels comfortable.
Winter is Jalapa's best season of the year to visit on our travel score. For the whole year in context, see Jalapa's year-round climate.
- Avg daytime high
- 25°C
- coldest season of the year
- Avg overnight low
- 13°C
- Rainfall
- 21 mm
- 6 wet days
- Avg wind
- 7 km/h
- Travel score
- 8.4
- best season of the year
- Months
- Dec · Jan · Feb
Temperature in Jalapa in Winter
Over the season highs climb from about 24°C in early December to 27°C by late February.
A typical winter day in Jalapa reaches about 25°C and drops to 13°C overnight. The warmest of the three months is February, the coolest January.
Jalapa weather by month
How the three winter months (December, January and February) compare with the rest of the year — the season's months are highlighted.
| Month | High / Low (°C) | Rainfall (mm) | Wet days | Daylight (hours) | Travel score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 24° / 13° | 6 | 2.1 | 11.2 | 8.5 |
| Feb | 26° / 13° | 4 | 1.3 | 11.5 | 8.4 |
| Mar | 28° / 14° | 12 | 3.2 | 11.9 | 7.7 |
| Apr | 29° / 16° | 41 | 7.3 | 12.3 | 6.1 |
| May | 28° / 17° | 143 | 17.7 | 12.7 | 4.9 |
| Jun | 26° / 17° | 215 | 24.3 | 12.8 | 4.2 |
| Jul | 26° / 16° | 114 | 18.7 | 12.8 | 5.2 |
| Aug | 26° / 17° | 138 | 20.1 | 12.5 | 4.9 |
| Sep | 26° / 17° | 216 | 24.9 | 12.1 | 4.1 |
| Oct | 25° / 16° | 143 | 18.8 | 11.7 | 5.3 |
| Nov | 24° / 15° | 32 | 6.1 | 11.3 | 7.5 |
| Dec | 24° / 14° | 11 | 2.6 | 11.1 | 8.4 |
Cloud cover in Winter
The sky is clear or mostly clear about 46% of the time across winter.
Chance of precipitation in Winter
Jalapa gets around 21 mm of rain over 6 wet days across winter. The line is the day-by-day chance of measurable precipitation.
Humidity in Winter
Most of winter feels comfortable — the stacked bands show each day's mix of comfort levels, read off the dew point.
Wind in Winter
Winds average 7 km/h across winter.
Sunrise & sunset in Winter
Daylight runs from about 11 h 12 min in early December to 11 h 42 min by late February. The lit band spans sunrise to sunset each day.
Solar energy in Winter
Average shortwave solar energy reaching the ground each day across winter, about 5.0 kWh/m².
Hazard calendar for Jalapa
None of Jalapa's seasonal hazards peak in winter. The full-year calendar below shows when the rainy season, cyclone risk and dust haze do.
Jalapa's monsoon runs May–October, when most of the year's rain falls.
Is winter a good time to visit Jalapa?
Our two travel scores rate winter for general sightseeing and for beach or pool weather — 0 (poor) to 10 (ideal), averaged across the three months.
winter is one of the better times to visit Jalapa for general sightseeing. The water and warmth also suit a beach or pool day.
What to pack for Jalapa in Winter
From winter's temperature range, rain chance, sun and wind — what's worth putting in the bag.
In winter, Jalapa sees daytime highs around 25°C and nights near 13°C. Worth packing: light clothes and sun protection. About 6 days see rain.
UV index in Jalapa in Winter
Clear-sky midday UV across winter averages around 11 (very high — sun protection essential). The full-year curve, shaded by WHO exposure level, is below.
Under clear skies, the midday UV index in Jalapa peaks around April 12 at about 14 (extreme) — sunscreen, a hat and midday shade are essential. It bottoms out near December 15 at about 9 (very high).
The index reaches 3 or more — the level where the WHO recommends sun protection — every month of the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UV index (midday) | 10 | 13 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 13 | 12 | 10 | 9 |
| Level | Very high | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Extreme | Very high | Very high |
| UV index (midday) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 10 | Very high |
| Feb | 13 | Extreme |
| Mar | 14 | Extreme |
| Apr | 14 | Extreme |
| May | 13 | Extreme |
| Jun | 13 | Extreme |
| Jul | 13 | Extreme |
| Aug | 13 | Extreme |
| Sep | 13 | Extreme |
| Oct | 12 | Extreme |
| Nov | 10 | Very high |
| Dec | 9 | Very high |
Air quality in Jalapa in Winter
Average fine-particle pollution (PM2.5) through the year — so you can see where winter falls, not just the annual average.
Air quality in Jalapa is worst in April — around 55 µg/m³ PM2.5 (unhealthy), about 3.0× the cleanest month (November, 18 µg/m³).
Modeled monthly averages (CAMS reanalysis, 2015–2024).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | 19 | 20 | 25 | 55 | 39 | 24 | 23 | 21 | 21 | 20 | 18 | 18 |
| Level | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Unhealthy | Poor | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| PM2.5 (µg/m³) | Level | |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 19 | Moderate |
| Feb | 20 | Moderate |
| Mar | 25 | Moderate |
| Apr | 55 | Unhealthy |
| May | 39 | Poor |
| Jun | 24 | Moderate |
| Jul | 23 | Moderate |
| Aug | 21 | Moderate |
| Sep | 21 | Moderate |
| Oct | 20 | Moderate |
| Nov | 18 | Moderate |
| Dec | 18 | Moderate |
Where is Jalapa?
Jalapa sits at 14.6°N, 90.0°W, 1,360 m above sea level, in Guatemala. The nearest listed city is Guastatoya, 26 km away.
Topography around Jalapa
How much the land rises and falls, and what covers it, within 3, 16 and 80 km of Jalapa.
Within 3 km, the terrain around Jalapa has significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 316 m around an average of 1,406 m above sea level; within 16 km, very significant variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 1,831 m; within 80 km, extreme variations in elevation — a maximum elevation change of 2,975 m.
The land around Jalapa is covered by grassland (54%) and artificial surfaces (21%) within 3 km, trees (49%) and grassland (31%) within 16 km, and trees (59%) and grassland (21%) within 80 km.
Guatemala travel facts
- Travel advisory
- Level 3
- Reconsider Travel
- Power plugs
- Type A / B
- 120 V · 60 Hz
- Prices
- ≈ 43% of US
- price level, 2025
- GDP per capita
- $6,598
- 2025
- Happiness
- 6.5 / 10
- World Happiness, 2025
- Safe drinking water
- 49%
- of population, 2024
- Homicide rate
- 23.4
- per 100k, 2023
- Road deaths
- 22.9
- per 100k/yr, 2019
- Income group
- Upper middle
- World Bank
- English
- Moderate
- EF EPI 510
- Religion
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 Jalapa (14.6354°, -89.9911°, elevation 1,360 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.